'It has solidified my passion for music' - the gigs run by teenagers

"It's really solidified that I want to go into a career in the music industry and my passion for music." Anna is living out many teenager's dreams, playing with a bunch like-minded musicians and planning their own gigs. The 16-year-old is part of a programme called Volume Control which has been run by the OhYeah Centre for almost 20 years. The participants, aged 14-18, embrace the jack of all trades lifestyle that comes with being in the music industry, while working on an OCN qualification in Event Management. The group plan a range of themed music events sorting their own logistics, planning their budget, booking bands, marketing gigs, and most importantly, sell tickets. Anna says it's a very gratifying experience. "I'm a musician myself and I want to go into that field. "The information that you learn is really important to go into the music industry." BBC News NI spoke to some of the young people involved. Jackson is the man behind the mic trying to keep things together on the night. As MC, the 14-year-old is at the heart of the action. "It's crazy to see 300 people in here and it just shows how many people support the type of things we put on," he said. "It's great to see all

Mar 7, 2026 → Mar 7, 2026