Beth Broomby

IF YOU are in search of a quality home-grown band then there's no better way to keep it local in the New Year than listening out for Seven Seals.

WHEN the Spice Girls started out they were squeezed into a shared house in suburbia former Furness band Gear have gone one better in the Rock credential stakes.

2003 began with efforts to save Lowick School, a visit to the region by Price Charles and protests against the war in Iraq.

As autumn turned to winter the region saw criticisms of the County Council, fears of droughts, a pink barn of protest and a lottery scam.

IT'S a familiar predicament - you hear a track, fall in love with it, but haven't got a clue what its called. Your choices are usually limited - harass the DJ, pretend to know what he is talking about and promptly forget what he has said or try your luck in a music shop with the cringe worthy line 'It's the one that goes a bit like this'.

During Spring a Cumbrian tractor gets a surprise bill from London's congestion charge, the fight was on to save Hebridean hedgehogs and skeletons came out of the closet.

Summer headlines includes a proposed off-road ban in the Lake District, an influx of cocklers to Morecambe Bay and a heatwave across the country.

FRESH efforts to bring bands, promoters and venues together look set to bring a bit of gusto to the local live music scene.

A NEW CD put together by Kendal newcomers Big Green Blue has got of to a flying start, selling 100 copies in advance of its release.

A MUSIC-MAD teenager has been handed the chance to work with one of pop’s biggest producers after her uncle won an auction live on national radio.