More than 20 years as a sound man

Mark has played guitar in No Paparazzi as well as his work off stage

Mark Guillou first got involved with local music when he picked up the guitar at the age of 12.

Following gigs around the island his involvement in the folk club led him to an interest in being 'the soundman'.

His work around the island led him to launch Rock of Ages in 2008 to provide a forum for local bands in a big venue.

He said: "The idea is to get younger band supporting older bands and just give them the opportunity to play on a big stage."

Mark said his first gig was aged 13 at the now defunct North Regatta at St Sampson's Harbour and from there he went on to play in various school bands before joining Guernsey's folk club.

I wanted to put something on that people would want to play Mark Guillou

He said: "There were people on stage sticking their fingers in their ears and in the audience too, so I thought 'Let's try and make things a bit better'."

Mark's first big gig as soundman was Jake Thackery at the Carlton and from there he went on to do sound at many of the island's famous venues including a stint at The Deep End, now the function room at the Cobo Bay Hotel, and five years as entertainment manager at The Doghouse which he described as "great fun".

It was after the time at The Doghouse that Mark was contacted by Matt Burdett of Ferox about helping out with the sound for a gig at St Margaret's Lodge and after the success of gigs there Matt discovered the ball room at the L'Ancresse Lodge.

Elysium were one of the bands who played at the Lodge

While the Lodge did not last very long as a venue it acted as something of a catalyst for many of the bands who played there and also for many others involved behind the scenes and, indirectly, led onto the Rock of Ages events.

Launched in October of 2008 with two nights featuring a mix of music spanning genres and ages of the performers.

Mark said that as "loads" of big gigs happen over the summer Rock of Ages was designed to provide "an opportunity to do something out of the summer" but still on a big stage like you would find at one of the festivals or bike shows.

Up until October 2009 all of the Rock of Ages had happened at the Princess Royal Centre for the Performing Arts. Mark said he only thought of it as venue for gigs after former Ponder's End front man Pete Frampton told him about the venue.

"Pete had been round and told me what a fantastic place it was and very much aimed at the arts and mentioned that we are part of that... so I just ended up saying lets book something and get on with it," Mark explained.

He went on to say that he "didn't know what to expect" but that the number of bands that have contacted him, since it started, shows a lot of bands want to play the show which is part of Mark was aiming for: "I wanted to put something on that people would want to play... rather than being crammed in the corner of a pub."