Luton Music blog: Luton Music Profile: Kelly Betts

We talk local talent and BBC introducing with Kelly Betts in this Luton Music Profile.

In this addition we take a closer look at BBC three counties radio producer Kelly Betts, 24 who is currently working on the BBC introducing show which is the vocal point for the local music scene in Beds, Hearts and Bucks. The show runs every Friday evening from 7 till 8 and has played host to a wide range of musical talent from the local area, and includes bands such as " href="http://www.myspace.com/rivalries">Rivalries &
Pirate Radio

BBC introducing came from humble beginnings just like most visionary projects. Kelly started at the BBC from a young age sitting in on the Big George ‘business of sound’ show, but one section on the show really stirred Kelly’s passions. “On each show he would dedicate fifteen minutes to a local unsigned act; this really interested me as it seemed that the local area had so much unsigned musical talent.”

Circumstances quickly changed at Three Counties and an opportunity arose for Kelly to produce a show which would fill the understandably large void left by Big George. She teamed up with Gareth Lloyd to create the Box Office show, a two hour show on a Sunday which focused on local music and also the latest theatre & cinema releases. This included booking local bands to play live sessions a element which Kelly really enjoyed “It’s manic with all the bands in the studio and around the station, I have a great time with them and it gives them a fantastic opportunity to play their music fact I get to help talented musicians showcase their music on the radio- not just on BBC introducing in the local area but also on Radio One and 6Music.”

Radio one did have bigger ideas for the box office that like many other local radio shows had slots dedicated to their respective music scenes. BBC introducing had been formed with the sole ideal of promoting the local musical talent to a larger audience. With BBC introducing stages being set up at Glastonbury, Latitude and Reading music festivals. With increased exposure to local music the Three Counties brand of BBC introducing has had some success and Kelly is not shy in telling anyone, “Well recently local band the October Game got their session they recorded on the show played in full on 6music, which is pretty good and we also brought down local band Shapes down to Maida Vale in London to record four tracks.”

But the continued popularity of three counties is down to the constant amount of new talent which is attracted to the show, Kelly along with a dedicated team of researchers trudge social network sites such as MySpace & Facebook for the latest musical talent which can be played out on the show, and the one rule they must be from Beds Hearts and Bucks. So within the hour you can expect a fast paced lively show jammed packed with the hottest musical talent, live sessions, and of course the world famous feature band on a bike in which various bands are challenged to ride a child’s tricycle around the hallways of the Three Counties studio.

But it seems like Luton is lagging behind when it comes to the music scene considering neighbouring towns of St Albans & Watford have seen an explosion of local talent as of late. Bands such Friendly Fires, Enter Shakiri and punk upstarts the Gallows have all been making headway in the music press and with mainstream radio airplay. Surely it’s time for Luton to follow suit, but Kelly remains optimistic on the prospects for our fair town. “I think it’s just a matter of time really, we have some good music venues in the form of the Hat factory & the Student union, and also many dedicated promoters I am constantly sending tracks of to 6music & Radio One, hopefully their will be some interest soon, I think Luton deserves to be on the map we have plenty of talent about.”

I also managed to catch up with Kelly and she gave me a couple of youtube gems for you!

First up the rather lovely Guildean Gang who's spacy offering in Dennis Bergkamp is pretty good.