A session album recorded at this year’s Simon Says festival which contains 20 songs by different acts will soon be available for free online.

Over 11 hours, Leicester College’s Music and Sound Technology Department recorded songs by 20 different acts during the two-day festival in De Montfort Hall and Gardens last weekend.

The album was recorded live from the Garden Suite at Simon Says. The team is now busy mixing it.

Acts who recorded songs include The Voice star Howard Rose, alternative singer-songwriter David Wyatt, and Michael Vickers, who recently performed at Glastonbury.

John Meredith, the programme area manager for Leicester College’s music and sound department, said: “There is some absolutely brilliant stuff on there.”

He said producing the album was their way of helping local musicians.

“We love local music and we want to support it,” he said.

“One of the great things was De Montfort tuned the grand piano and a few of the acts played it, which we loved, as it is a bit of history in the recordings.”

He said two students , Kenny Megginson, who is on the music technology course, and Emily Reed, who is on the music course, helped to record the tracks.

The team recorded from 11.30am to 4pm on Saturday, and the same again on Sunday.

John said: “We did half hour sessions with each act.

“The atmosphere was great.

“It was really quick. I think the speed added to the excitement.”

He said the album will be available for free through a link on the Leicester College website.

Antony Flint, general manager of De Montfort Hall, said: “I’m really pleased it was another very successful year for Simon Says, with about 5,000 people on site across the weekend.

“Given the poor weather we had on Sunday, this shows strong support for the event.

“Leicester College’s involvement, and the fact almost all the bands, promoters, traders, volunteers and everyone who helped put it on were locally based, shows what a truly Leicester event this is.

“I’m sure that helps contribute to the really relaxed atmosphere.

“Looking ahead, it is important we now fully evaluate the event, for as much as we all love Simon Says, we do have a responsibility to make sure it operates on a sound financial basis.”

Councillor Piara Singh Clair, assistant city mayor for culture, leisure and sport, said: “I’m delighted it has gone so well again. Simon Says is a great Leicester event.”

The Simon Says CD should be available on Leicester College’s website by the end of this week. www.leicestercollege.ac.uk

The Simon Say Session Album is now available to download here: https://leicestercollegemusicandsounddepartment.bandcamp.com/

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