West Suffolk College staff members and student heading to Glastonbury Festival

Two staff members and a student from West Suffolk College’s music department are going behind the scenes at Glastonbury Festival this weekend.

Andrew Guy, director of music technology, Ben Sitch, music technician and former student, and Dylan Rapley, level three music technology student, are set to run a new stage called Wango Riley in the Unfairgrounds.

Being erected for the first time this year, the stage is due to host Culture Shock and The Mob and is expected to draw crowds of 3,000 people a night.

The opportunity arose after the parent of a current student, who runs a staging company which supplies Glastonbury, recommended the college’s music technology team to Michael Eaves, festival organiser.

Andrew said: “We have all worked really hard this year and with each production we have tried to outdo outselves. This opportunity at Glastonbury is the perfect way to complete the year.”

Ben said: “The college is always looking for bigger opportunities to give their students, and when it comes to music this is the biggest anyone can offer.”

Dylan said he ‘couldn’t believe his luck’, adding: “I hope this will be the start of my career.”

The team, who left Bury St Edmunds yesterday morning (Wednesday) and took their own kit including mixing desks, mics and amps, will spend around six hours a night setting up the stage, doing sound checks, liaising with artists and managing the front of house.

The hope is for this to become a regular opportunity for all music and music technology students at the college.