With Local and Live due to take Tunbridge Wells by storm on Monday 29th August, Helen Garrod, lead vocalist from the incredibly talented ‘Goldie Reed,’ gives an insight into the four K College students who are being tipped for great things in the music industry.


I am Goldie Reed, a vocalist who regularly performs around London and the South East alongside my lovely four-piece band. We can be caught at the brilliant Local and Live Festival in Tunbridge Wells on August 29th, amongst other gigs around the area over the summer. The material is written by myself and the band’s guitarists, Paul Rippengal and Andy Vickery, accompanied by Phil Wakeman on bass and Matt Bennie on drums.

The band are all based around the Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells area, although I previously hailed from Biggin Hill, with Paul from Cranbrook and Matt from Leigh. We all met at K College in Tonbridge on the Performing Musician course. Paul, Matt and Andy were friends, with Phil gigging regularly with Paul and Matt. I was a couple of levels below them, and was lucky enough to meet them via the opportunity to gig at the Tonbridge Castle Festival in 2008. Andy teaches on the music course at K College, with Paul and Matt having graduated from the Performing Musician degree, whilst I am about to undertake my BA year. Phil hasn’t studied music at the college and our friendship is a result of Matt’s role as drummer for Phil’s wonderful originals band – ‘Sarah Tonin.’

I had always wanted to write my own music but was far too apprehensive to take the risk. Although when the opportunity then came as an option on my degree, I could not resist. I was required to write 3 songs over the academic year, which felt like much less pressure then I had anticipated. I did that in 2009/2010, and then had a bit of a line-up change towards the end of 2010 to make it what it is today. I feel very proud of the band, and wouldn’t have done it without that opportunity.


We later came in to contact with a manager who is working with us to record a full album with a possible eye to managing us thereafter. This is a perfect opportunity for us, allowing us to take time in the studio recording all of our tracks, whilst continuing to write, and then selecting the tracks we think work best collectively and individually.

I feel very strongly about supporting local bands and the live music scene, because as of late, we have endured a big slump in all markets following the recession, which has definitely not bi-passed the music scene. It is very difficult to achieve success let alone a living in this area, with many local musicians making their income from various jobs including teaching and function gigs, both of which seem to be considered as ‘luxuries’ since the purse strings have tightened. Putting all of this aside, it is a wonderful atmosphere that you would struggle to find anywhere else, whilst possibly supporting the next successful act to hit the charts! You can rest assured that your support is always recognised and greatly appreciated.

From here we are busy continuing with writing for the album, whilst performing at South East venues and festivals. Get along and catch some live music very soon!

Goldie Reed
Search ‘Goldie Reed’ on Facebook or www.myspace.com/goldiereed

Local and Live 2011, co-sponsored by K College, will be taking place on the Bank Holiday Weekend of 26th-29th August at the Pantiles Band Stand, Tunbridge Wells. For more information visit http://www.localandlive.org/