A city centre music business is literally putting Hull’s performing talent in the shop window.

The partners at Bad Dog Music in Savile Street have announced plans to move their window display of guitars and other instruments and give local musicians the chance to play to the passers-by.

The event, which will take place over the forthcoming May Day Bank Holiday weekend, is intended to promote the selection of guitars in the shop and also to showcase local talent.

“I’m based in Middlesbrough but sometimes when I’ve stayed overnight in Hull I’ve been to the open mic nights in the area and seen the level of musical talent,” said John Capaldi, who runs the shop with fellow musicians Andy Rugg and Brian Farr.

“Not so long ago electric guitars were out-selling acoustic guitars something like six or seven to one, but now it’s turned round and the acoustic guitars are way ahead, by about four to one.

“There are a lot of buskers, inspired by the likes of Ed Sheeran. They buy acoustic guitars and they buy a lot of new strings, usually one at a time because for musicians money is always tight.” Andy has been working in the shop for 40 years, since the days of Gough and Davy. Brian joined about 30 years ago and John became part of the team when Williams Music took over the business in the 1990s. And when Williams Music went into administration six years ago, the three of them decided to run the business themselves.

“We took the business on because it was all we knew,” said John. “We all had similar backgrounds, we had played in bands and we had worked selling equipment to musicians so we decided to take a chance.

” In addition to selling guitars, drums and amplification Bad Dog Music also houses tuition rooms and sells a range of CDs and DVDs – some by local performers and others as teaching tools for the stars of the future.

“The idea of putting performers in our shop window is an extension of that,” said John. “It gives people an opportunity to perform in front of an audience and it helps us to show people what we do here. We’re still working on what sort of format the event will take so if people fancy having a go they should come and see us.”

The fact that Andy and Brian have worked at the store for 70 years between them indicates the heritage side of the business, and the gap between old and new is bridged by Demi Ferrie, a 15-year-old work experience student from Winifred Holtby School. Demi has spent the week at Bad Dog Music – and hearing about how her grandfather, David Hedges, used to buy his guitars there when he played in Hull bands in the 1980s.

“I’m learning guitar myself and I buy my books from here so it was great to get the chance to come here for work experience,” said Demi.

“Apparently my grandfather once bought a Gibson Les Paul guitar from here for about £1,200, left it outside the house when he set off to a gig and then raced back an hour later to find it still there, propped up against the wall!”

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID City Centre Manager, said: “Everyone in the area knows this particular music shop and it is great to see that they are catering for a new generation of performers.

“The attraction of putting on live performances in the shop window is a great idea and one which should benefit other businesses in the area by bringing more people into the city centre and Savile Street in particular.”

Picture Andy Rugg at Bad Dog Music (Photographer: Jack Harland, Hull Daily Mail)