A MUSIC co-operative that stages two major festivals is to get a grant of more than £48,000.

Northern Recording Limited, at Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham, is best known as the organiser of the Stanley Blues Festival, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last August with a crowd of 15,000.

It also stages the Allensford Roots Festival, near Consett, although the foot-and-mouth epidemic and funding problems have meant the festival has not been held the past two years.

Northern Recording also provides recording facilities, rehearsal space, and has contributed to a range of county-wide initiatives, including the Making Music Work programme.

It also supports and encourages upcoming musicians, such as singer and rock guitarist Pete Shoulder, from Waldridge, near Chester-le-Street.

Yesterday, Durham County Council agreed a £48,590 grant "to provide a core base for their activities and foundation for other funding applications".

Cultural services director Patrick Conway said the funding, an increase of 1.5 per cent on last year, would enable the co-operative to attract £35,000 from the Northern Rock Foundation.

He said: "A service level agreement is being finalised with the co-operative for the forthcoming year that will cover support for local musicians and bands involved with the contemporary music scene.

"This will cover access to state-of-the-art recording facilities, advice and guidance on musical development and the music industry.

"The co-operative will again take responsibility for the artistic input to the Stanley Blues Festival and Allensford Roots Festival, in association with Derwentside District Council and the county council.

Mr Conway also told councillors: "Discussions are proceeding with the Durham/Sunderland Creative Partnership about the co-operative acting as a contractor for programmes of work in local schools.