Shed in Somerset attracts musicians from around the globe

Jon Earl has a shed, deep in the Somerset countryside. The basic idea couldn’t be more basic. Bands set up in his shed and Jon records them and posts it on YouTube.

But his unusual venue has become a stop-off point for well-known groups and singers and his site has attracted tens of thousands of hits.

Dave Rotheray, who sold millions of records as a member of the Beautiful South, the award-winning fiddle player Jackie Oates and the American folk rock group The Young Republic have all played here. There are rumours, which Earl will not confirm, that one of the biggest names in contemporary British pop might just be dropping in soon.

The project began life in the local pub. “I was discussing what to do with the shed with three friends,” said Earl. “We were thinking of making it as a base for a cheese and cider society. We’d meet every month and sample cheese and cider.”

Then came the idea of inviting a local musician to play. A couple of local groups turned up, Earl filmed them on a simple camera and posted the results online. After three sessions singers and bands from as far afield as the US and Australia contacted Earl and said they wanted to play the shed.

“I was astounded and it’s taken over my life,” said Earl, who has hosted 50 sessions in a year. “I think bands like the atmosphere and the idea of getting back to making music in a simple way.”

Go and have a look at some of the sessions at http://www.songsfromtheshed.com/

Source (and full story) at http://www.guardian.co.uk/