HAVING already helped launch the careers of The Kooks, Kate Walsh, Beth Rowley and Tom Odell, contemporary music college BIMM is showcasing more of their stars of the future on a new album.

The compilation Connections 2014 features 13 tracks by students currently studying at BIMM campuses in Brighton, Manchester and Bristol.

Representing Brighton are Kimbah, Blueroom, Jack Watts, Haloscope, The Forègners, Fools Empire, Cirqus and bluegrass folk band Paper Hawk, who also won Sussex Unplugged 2013 at Komedia in Brighton.

The Brighton artists were handpicked by a panel of A&R experts – including the former MD at Sony/ATV Charlie Pinder, one-time BIMM alumni Jordan Whitmore, now A&R manager at Atlantic Records, and BPI chairman Tony Wadsworth.

Supporting them in the studio were BIMM tutors Jake Shillingford of My Life Story, Sleeper drummer Andy Maclure, former Faithless and Martha Reeves touring drummer Adam Bushell, composer Ian Sillett, and Prodigy live drummer Kieron Pepper.

The compilation is raising money for the Amy Winehouse Foundation, which works to prevent the effects of drug and alcohol misuse in young people as well as supporting the vulnerable and disadvantaged.

For more information visit www.bimm.co.uk/news/connections-the-bimm-album-2014-out-now