Music students celebrated a partnership in style when musicians from Basement Jaxx dropped in to give a special performance.

The Swindon Academy of Music and Sound is marking a successful year of partnership with Swindon’s New College.

The academy has been running for four years and the centre manager is Steve Leigh, himself a well known guitarist, singer/songwriter in the Swindon area. Steve is delighted to be welcoming Basement Jaxx back to the centre. The drummer and percussionist are regular visitors to the Swindon academy.

Steve said: “The afternoon event is pretty casual, basically any local musician whatever age is invited to take a look at our Bentley Centre facility. It would be of interest to anyone looking for a rock and pop performance course right up to Degree level, those who need low cost rehearsal rooms, people considering private tuition, those who might appreciate a ProTools recording software course and finally a holiday rock camp for under 16s.’

“In the evening we're putting on a live performance by academy teachers followed by a short talk by Bruce Findlay, manager of 1980s stars Simple Minds, and ending with a performance by Tugg and Oli of Basement Jaxx....wow!’’

The academy moved into the Bentley Centre in Stratton Road last year.

It is a dedicated music college where students learn on their instruments and all the staff are practitioners in their art.

The academy’s motto is 'run by musicians for musicians' and it regularly welcomes celebrated guests to take masterclasses that inspire the students.

Other stars that have already visited the academy are Katie Holmes, backing singer to Lily Allen, Steve Ling who has worked with Ronan Keating, Luke Bullen and Arnulf Lindner from KT Tunstall’s band.

Steve said: “They inspire the students to take the same journey that they have.’’

Along with the glitzy side of meeting famous names the academy students work towards their B-Tech Level 2 Diploma in Music which is the equivalent of a GCSE level and then B-Tech Level 3 Diploma in Music which is A-level standard.

Nathan Curran, alias Tugg, is the drummer with the dance electronic house stars Basement Jaxx, who had hits with Where’s ur Head At, Romeo and many others, but he has also worked with such artists as Lily Allen, MC Kano, Lady Sovereign, Reef and recorded with James Morrison, Tinchy Stryder and Paloma Faith. He is also skilled at producing and has various recordings out through dance labels such as Atlantic Jazz, Urban Mith and Vinyl Junkies.

For more details about the academy call 01793 644477 or email leigh@academyof-music.ac.uk.