Why I created a 'mixtape' of town's musical past
Simon Aeppli has created a mixtape charting the town's musical history
- Published
"When we used to make mixtapes back in the day, you would create a story from song to song to song. It was the idea that a mixtape could take you on a journey, a form of self-expression."
Simon Aeppli, a documentary filmmaker and senior lecturer at University for the Creative Arts in Farnham, has created a mixtape charting the musical history of the town of Aldershot.
His mixtape accompanies a walking trail taking in some key locations in the town and looking at the past, present and future along the way.
Aldershot has hosted some of the biggest names in music, including a Beatles gig in 1961 where only 18 people turned up.
As well as gigs from artists including Blur, Manic Street Preachers and Primal Scream, Aldershot was known for its all night raves.
The first location on the tour is the West End Centre, where The Buzz Club took place until the early 1990s.
"There are some incredible bands, it's almost like every single major indie band that became famous in Britain played Aldershot," Mr Aeppli said.
The walking tour includes venues which have changed use
From the University for the Creative Arts, collaborators on the mixtape also included, James R G Wright, a technical tutor in sound and Jamie Dobson, professor of design education.
A guided walking tour, exhibit and book have also been part of the project, leading to more people sharing their stories with Mr Aeppli.
"What I tried to encapsulate in the project is this idea about how music creates community," he said.
The Shiva Cultural and Community Centre is one of the places on the trail
Other locations on the walking tour include Aldershot Town's ground and the Shiva Cultural and Community Centre, where the importance of music to the Nepali community is explored, as well as the Hippodrome Theatre which no longer exists.
Mr Aeppli said there was a "rich layer of history" to listening to the tracks on the tour in the locations.
"When you listen to those tracks on the street you get this really interesting blend between the past and the present," he added.
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, external, on X, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.