BBC Four launches search for UK's best part-time band

Today, at the Edinburgh Television Festival Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four announced a major new commission for the channel - The UK’s Best Part-time Band, a nationwide search for the best non-professional bands in this country.

Published: 27 August 2015
BBC Four is the television home of music, and our Friday night music programming is a much-loved part of the schedule. Next year, we want to go beyond the stars to celebrate the passion of amateur music makers who captivate, entertain and transport audiences up and down the country every week.
— Cassian Harrison, Channel Editor, BBC Four

In this new prime-time BBC Four series from Wall to Wall Media (The Voice UK, Who Do You Think You Are?, Back In Time For Dinner), three respected musicians from much-loved bands will embark on a road trip across the UK to hear talented part-time bands perform.

During each episode, five acts will be selected to compete against each other in a regional heat in a local iconic music venue, each battling for a place in the Grand Final to be broadcast on BBC Two. One act will finally be crowned ‘The UK’s Best Part-time Band’ and will perform at a BBC Music event in 2016.

Cassian Harrison says: “BBC Four is the television home of music, and our Friday night music programming is a much-loved part of the schedule. Next year, we want to go beyond the stars to celebrate the passion of amateur music makers who captivate, entertain and transport audiences up and down the country every week.”

The series is looking for bands of all cultural backgrounds who play music of any genre – rock, ska, pop, skiffle, country, soul, bluegrass, reggae, lounge, folk or jazz. Whatever their music style, the competition is for amateurs who do not make a professional living as musicians. Importantly, the series will look to explore just what makes a great band - what are the unique elements, the riffs and rhythms, that go to make up a band’s sound, what’s the winning dynamic of a successful band, and does creative tension produce great music?

Applications are currently open at parttimebandcasting.co.uk

Commissioned by Jan Younghusband, Head of Commissioning Music, the series will also feature the day-to-day lives of the band members. Viewers will discover what inspires them - what has kept them playing all these years, decades even… and where their love of music comes from.

Leanne Klein, Chief Executive of Wall to Wall Media, says: “I think of The UK’s Best Part-time Band as an anti-talent show as it’s a celebration of normal people living normal lives, yet hiding incredible musical talents, so please encourage your friends, family and colleagues to enter!”

Jan Younghusband comments: “BBC Four is very much the home of music TV for the fans, bringing expert opinion and insights, putting the artists centre screen. This series is a chance to shine a spotlight on and celebrate the brilliant music-making across the UK, and the enthusiasm to perform which was so evident in our recent BBC Music Day.”

The executive producer is Mark Saben, Wall to Wall Media.

BBC Four is the home of music programming and the home of the BBC Proms on UK television with talent, scale and depth at the heart of its remit. In 2014 Country Legends: Nashville and Beyond explored the rich history of country music, and the three-part television series Oh You Pretty Things! explored the relationship between British rock and pop music and fashion. Composer and musician Neil Brand presented Sound Of Song, a three-part series which explored the magical elements that come together to create our favourite songs. Earlier this year, a three-part documentary series, Rock ‘n’ Roll America, explored the roots of rock music in the USA and its subsequent explosion around the world.

Note to Editors

  • The band must comprise a minimum of three people and a minimum of two musical instruments (ie excluding vocals).
  • All band members must be aged 17 and over on 1 September 2015.
  • The band (including all individual band members) must not have a current recording deal with a UK or international record label, nor be in discussions for such deal to commence before September 2016.
  • All band members must be residents of the United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) and have been a resident of the UK since 1 September 2012. You may be asked to provide proof of UK residency.
  • Entrants are invited to submit an application form and video footage of their band performing by 18 October 2015.
  • The regional heats will take place in January 2016
  • Full rules and regulations at parttimebandcasting.co.uk

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