Three bodies co-operated to bring an essential facility to North East Wales.
James McLaren reports

www.welshmusicfoundation.com
After many months of planning and negotiation, Welsh Music Foundation (WMF),
Live Music Forum (LMF) and Musical Industries Association (MIA) have
confirmed the setting up of a new rehearsal room in Wrexham.

Music Development Officer for WMF, Andy Williams, explained, "Wrexham
council have supplied a large space in the Old Victoria Youth Centre in the
centre of Wrexham. This is a very exciting development which will assist the
area's music scene, as rehearsal rooms have consistently been shown to be
effective in stimulating music production in areas where they exist. Wrexham
has long been an area of talent, but until now there's not been anywhere of
good quality for acts to rehearse. This new venture, with the involvement of
the LMF and MIA is very exciting, and we're very pleased that it's now come
to fruition."

This is a pilot project for the LMF, with two new rehearsal facilities being
based in England in addition to that for the Wrexham area. Chief Executive
of MIA Paul McManus, explained their involvement: "The MIA is the UK's trade
association for the retailers and suppliers of musical instruments and
associated products. Our mission is 'Creating and encouraging music making'.
The MIA works closely with many partners involved in music making, be it
government, schools, charitable organisations and community schemes.
"We are working in partnership with the Live Music Forum (chaired by Feargal
Sharkey) to pilot schemes in the UK to give new opportunities and facilities
to music makers (and potential music makers). The Wrexham project is the
first pilot. The MIA and its members are supporting the project by providing
complementary musical instruments. We clearly hope that the scheme will give
people in the community a vibrant and exciting facility where music can be
learned, practised, rehearsed and performed!

"We'll be equipping the rehearsal room in Wrexham fully with Calsbro Amps,
speakers and effects, JHS electric guitars, bass guitars and drums, as well
as keyboards from Korg and Roland."

Jon Gold of Carlsbro explained their support for the initiative: "We became
involved through the MIA. Andrew Bishop (Carlsbro's Owner) sits on the
education committee and I sit on the promotions committee, and we both
thought it was a great idea that would give something to an area that we
knew was bursting with raw talent. This was without our involvement with
Carlsbro, but solely as MIA members. I visited Wrexham in the summer and saw
the prospective premises and spoke with the key players. My positive report
back to the MIA gave the go ahead for their support and backing, which also
includes canvassing members for equipment.

"I hope that the rehearsal room will be co-ordinated and run to a standard
where young bands can be coached and visibly improved, with an ultimate goal
of turning them into great established live acts. To do this they need good
facilities and equipment, but more importantly they need guidance."
Williams was keen to point out that this is not simply a rehearsal room:
"The centre will also include a coffee shop and space for bands to perform
as well as a small recording set up to record rehearsals. The facility will
be available for any  bands based both in Wales and further afield, there
are also plans to co-ordinate training and teaching events with top level
professional musicians giving lesson in both technical and artistic areas."

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