Studio time
Hands on the desk, the mics and the room. Record, mix and produce with a professional producer or engineer beside you.
- Recording and production sessions
- Mixing and the basics of mastering
A not-for-profit for Colchester & Tendring
Real skills.
Real skills.
Real pathways.
Real careers.
Free studio time, courses and gigs for the artists and bands coming up through the grassroots scene, run out of a working recording studio by people who do this for a living. If you love music and can't see a way in, this is it.
What we do
Three ways in, one place to grow
Everything runs from a real facility with real gear, not a classroom pretending to be one. Musicians start where they're at and build from there, guided by working professionals.
Courses & workshops
Structured sessions that build a skill from the ground up, from writing songs to running live sound to understanding the music business and the different elements of the industry.
- Songwriting and artist development
- Music production and engineering
- Live sound and event production
- Music business and industry
Real sessions & shows
Once trained, participants work on real sessions and real shows, paid at industry-standard rates where they're contributing labour.
- Perform and crew at proper venues
- Paid in line with Musicians' Union rates
- Placed with partner studios, venues and labels
Our current programme · five projects
Five projects, one mission
The Academy programme is made up of five projects across the grassroots music scene in Colchester and Tendring. Here's what each one does.
Recording & Production Access
Bands and artists record, produce and release at Black Cactus Studio, guided by industry producers, with PR, touring and industry network access plus workshops.
Together in Sound
A quarterly community showcase series tackling isolation and loneliness across Colchester and Tendring, bringing people together around live music.
Practice Space Project
Free rehearsal space, gear hire, transport and mentoring for individuals and bands who can't otherwise afford to rehearse.
School Songwriting & Free Lessons
In-school group songwriting workshops paired with free ongoing music lessons, reaching young musicians where they already are.
Industry & Skills Workshops
A monthly industry-speaker series on the business side of music, from rights and royalties to marketing and release strategy.
Set up as a Community Interest Company, so everything we do is locked to community benefit.
The pathway
From first session to first pay cheque
Most music schemes stop at the taster. Ours is built to carry someone the whole way, from picking up a skill to getting paid for it.
01
Real skills
Learn the actual craft on real equipment. Production, performance, live sound, the things the industry runs on.
02
Real pathways
Turn a skill into a portfolio, a credit list and connections, through gigs, recordings and time with working professionals.
03
Real careers
Move into paid work, further training or a project of your own, placed directly with partner studios, venues and labels.
Who it's for
Built for grassroots musicians without an easy way in
Cactus Music Academy CIC works with musicians and artists facing barriers to the industry, in supportive, safe and inclusive spaces. Whether you play, produce, want to work behind the scenes, or just want to find out more, there's a way in.
No conservatoire, no expensive kit at home, no problem. Tell us what you're into and we'll point you at the right thing.
AgesAny ageOpen to anyone from 14 upwards
WhoAnyone facing barriers to the industryYoung people and adults alike
WhereColchester & TendringBased at Black Cactus Studio, Great Bromley
FocusMusic & the industry around itMaking it, recording it, staging it, selling it
StatusCommunity Interest CompanyNon-profit, locked to community benefit
Meet the team
Run by people who've done the work
Cactus Music Academy CIC is run by people with real industry track records, so the training and the connections are the genuine article.
Co-founder & Director
Jo Belcher
A music expert, A&R, composer and artist project manager with over 20 years in the industry, specialising in producing albums for production music and sync, from concept and briefing through to release across genres. Jo is a classically trained musician herself, on clarinet, piano and sax, who performs across a range of styles.
Co-founder & Director
Alan Jones
A producer with over five years producing EPs, CDs and full albums freelance. In 2020 AJ designed, built and established Black Cactus Studio to a professional standard, now a hub for local artists. His background spans UK studios and live music from grassroots venues to arenas, bringing strong technical, project management and organisational skills.
Social Media Manager & Digital Creator
Rosie Low
Rosie runs the Academy's social media and digital content, telling the story of the people and the music coming through the door. She also looks after social and content for Black Cactus Studio, so what you see online is made by someone who's in the room when it happens.
Why back us
The community arm of a studio with six years in the district
Black Cactus Studio has been recording, rehearsing and putting on shows for local artists since 2020. Cactus Music Academy CIC turns that into a route in for the people who'd otherwise never get through the door.
#1
Tendring 018A (Clacton-on-Sea) is the single most deprived neighbourhood in England, ranked 1 of 33,755, and among the worst nationally for employment and for education and skills. Colchester and Tendring have a thriving music scene, but no genuine pathway into the industry for the artists coming up through it. Cactus Music Academy CIC fills that gap. Source: English Indices of Deprivation 2025, gov.uk
Support & partnerships
Back the grassroots music scene in Colchester & Tendring
As a Community Interest Company, everything we do goes back into the community. We're looking for partners, venues and supporters to help us deliver these projects from a standing start.
01
Funders & supporters
Support the projects that matter most to you, or the whole programme.
02
Venues & industry
Offer stages, sessions, work experience and real credits through our network.
03
Schools & youth services
Refer students, or run a songwriting or lessons project with us in your area.
Funded by
Backed by people who want this to work
Our first projects are funded by organisations that back grassroots music and the communities it comes from.
The Cactus family
Built on a working network
The Academy sits inside a group of studios, production companies and venues. These are the places our participants train, record, crew and play.
Get involved
Whoever you are, there's a way in.
Musician, parent, funder or venue, we'd like to hear from you. Drop us a line and we'll take it from there.
Drop us a line
Tell us who you are (musician, parent, school, venue or funder) and what you're into or what you'd like to offer. We'll get back to you.
Email the Academy →