o/t The Beat live at the Winter Gardens last night

[SimplyRed MFC]

Well done to all the fans who came to Seaside Specialised this weekend at the Gardens

Skaville hosted the Launch Party on Friday night with guests Get Carter and there were almost 700 in last night with an amazing Morecambe big Saturday night out with great sets from the Specials' Roddy Radiation and one of the best sets for ages from Rankin' Roger and The Beat.

Ten bands on stage, awesome atmosphere and loads raised for the Teenage Cancer Trust
Well done to the Big Man and his team !

Oh, and a reminder that it's the first MFC Fans Super Saturday in the Globe Bar on March 25th right after the Mansfield game

[outsider]

Glad it went well, was hoping to come after the game but din't make it.

[Christies Child]

I've thought for a long time that the Gardens is so underused and would be an ideal venue for bands who want to take the next step in their development.

My future son in law goes to numerous gigs around the North West and regularly comments about the lack of activity at the Gardens which with the right promotion could be a favoured venue for up and coming bands.

Problem of course is that the 'owners' don't appear on the face of it to have any interest in utilizing the venue to promote bands that appeal to the areas 'younger' folk.

[KenH]

Problem of course is that the 'owners' don't appear on the face of it to have any interest in utilizing the venue to promote bands that appeal to the areas 'younger' folk.

No, the problem is that the "owners" (a charitable trust) are a small but dedicated group of amateur volunteers who've managed to bring it back to life despite no council/lottery/EU funding. They rely wholly on donations and simply don't have the money to pay for wages for staff to run events nor to market/advertise it. They can't put on any "show" unless they have enough unpaid volunteers to set up the seating, man the doors, provide stewards, do the catering, not to mention the cleaning and tidying up afterwards - all of which is done by dedicated unpaid volunteers. At the same time, those same people are trying their best to actually renovate the place, again in their own time, by trying to reverse the appalling damage done during the years when it was abandoned (theft of lead from roof causing widespread water damage, theft of stained glass windows, etc.). The entire electric system, water system, heating systems, etc were all beyond repair, so the unpaid volunteers have done a remarkable job to actually bring it back into any form of use at all! The number of shows/events they can put on is limited by the availability of their few unpaid volunteers.

Rather than having a pop at them, why not become a "friend" yourself and volunteer a bit of your time to help them out, or make a donation to help them renovate it a little bit faster? If it wasn't for those few people, it would still be derelict and deteriorating.

[marky No.1]

That's all a very good point , Ken, the volunteers should take a lot of credit for that.

I don't think CC was having a pop at them, he did say the "owners". It is a massive shame when superb historical buildings like this are not used to their potential. Anyone considering pumping money into it will no doubt have to put it back to it's same decor as a listed building so the outlay would be huge.

Having spent a bit of time in Blackpool this weekend, they are certainly updating a lot of their venues - barr a few dives we found I don't think we would want to see their Queen St. late on a Saturday night though, couldn't move for police cars.

Wetherspoons are quite good at renovating old theatres and chapels up and down the country.

[Seasider9601]

Wetherspoons are quite good at renovating old theatres and chapels up and down the country.

Llandudno being my particular favourite Mark. My family and I love this place.

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all- ... -llandudno

[marky No.1]

Wetherspoons are quite good at renovating old theatres and chapels up and down the country.

Llandudno being my particular favourite Mark. My family and I love this place.

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/all- ... -llandudno

Colchester, Playhouse is mine

colchester wethers.jpg (231.28 KiB) Viewed 832 times

[SimplyRed MFC]

Whoa, whoa, whoa Sweet Child of Mine Neil !!
Everything you've said was so pre 2014.

The last 18 months have seen tens of thousands of pounds in improvements to the ground floor level. That's why we are allowed 700 capacity now.
The volunteers - many who are MFC fans - are amazing to have got us to this level but the new Operations Team are scheduling monthly Blues, Soul, Jazz, Ska & Rock events and the 2017 diary is packed solid

We know the promotions need upping next and have an arrangement with the Bay soon that will see us promoting top shows like The Diane Shaw Band in May and from America the Drifters in June

The main problem is that people still think it's closed !!

[Christies Child]

[quote="SimplyRed MFC"]Whoa, whoa, whoa Sweet Child of Mine Neil !!
Everything you've said was so pre 2014.

The last 18 months have seen tens of thousands of pounds in improvements to the ground floor level. That's why we are allowed 700 capacity now.
The volunteers - many who are MFC fans - are amazing to have got us to this level but the new Operations Team are scheduling monthly Blues, Soul, Jazz, Ska & Rock events and the 2017 diary is packed solid

We know the promotions need upping next and have an arrangement with the Bay soon that will see us promoting top shows like The Diane Shaw Band in May and from America the Drifters in June

The main problem is that people still think it's closed !![/quote]

.....and my post highlights that factor.

I remember in the 60's seeing numerous bands and solo artists who used to tour the UK as a collective doing one night stands up and down the country. I seem to recall an all girl Motown group being bombed on the stage as punters waited for The Who to headline the nights show. Great times.....

Bet there are few if any SVers who remember The Byrds appearing at the old Central Pier...they finally arrived on stage some 60 minutes late and were utter crap....such a let down to the vast majority there....

CC you are showing your age...you old fart...

[morecambewba]

i saw the Beat saturday night and they were brilliant. Been trying to see them for awhile but tours dates never near here. So no excuse this time and they put on great show. Winter Gardens ideal for this kind of show.
Pleased to see event well attended and there are more concerts coming up this year plus there will be live music in the lounge bar on some weekends.
Visited a year ago and impressed with progress made since then.
Well done everyone at Winter Gardens,

[Little Shrimp]

Glad something is being done about the Winter Gardens. I've played there a few times with big bands a few years ago now and it safely secured a spot, still to this day, as the worst venue I have ever played in. A thick layer of dust on the stage floor, tatty audience space unsuited to live music, looking around backstage was dreary and a complete mess, and the high ceiling on the stage originally meant for theatre was utterly dreadful for live music acoustically. I remember that being a massive problem, has something been done about that? The sound just gets completely lost in there.

[SimplyRed MFC]

Regarding the sound, the initial acoustics when it was built in 1897 - 120 years ago this year - are amazing. However that was of course before electric amplification and the volume levels needed now

You really have to have an adequate PA system to handle all the various types of events and sound technicians who know their skills.

Little Shrimp, I'm not sure which big band you were in but there was one gig a few years back when the giant metal Safety Curtain on stage was too low and that affected the sound balance quite a bit

We now bring in outside PA systems for our main shows

[morecambewba]

I thought the sound was very good and whole experience has made us want to return for the planned events this year. Some good artists/bands booked.