A new live music venue featuring musicians from around the world is set to open in Bradford this weekend.
The opening night, on Saturday, will feature reggae/ska eight-piece No.1 Station, described by Radio 2 presenter Mark Lamarr as ‘the UK’s premier ska band’, and Bradford’s own Analog Bombs.
The Live Room will have its home every Saturday night in the cellar bar of The New Beehive Inn on Westgate. It’s the brainchild of music promoter Ron Dukelow, who was part of the team behind community arts group Cambria Arts in Wales, for 12 years.
“Last year it was decided to close Cambria Arts, and ever since I’ve been looking to find a new venue in which to carry on promoting music,” says Ron.
“I happened to call into The New Beehive on one of my regular trips to Bradford and William Wagstaff, the landlord, was so enthusiastic about the idea of putting a world and roots show together that the Live Room was born.
“Our aim is to put together as exciting and challenging range of roots and world music as we can.”
The club opens just as the new World Mile initiative covering the Ivegate, Westgate and White Abbey Road ribbon area of the city gets under way.
Nick Ackroyd, project manager for World Mile, says the new venue will be a great addition to it.
“This is just what the city needs; a venue that will focus on high-quality music from around the globe, reflecting some of the diversity of the district’s communities,” he says.
“I’m even more pleased that it’s happening on the World Mile. It’s exactly the kind of activity that will add significantly to its cultural profile and development as a distinctive place to visit in the city.”
As well as No.1 Station, upcoming gigs will feature Manchester-based Zimbabweans, The Heritage Survival Band on September 26, as part of Bradford Music Week and the World Mile Festival; Sudani Voodoo band Rango on their first UK tour on October 10; Katy Lied on October 17; Berlin singer/songwriter KC McKanzie on November 14; Mercury Music Prize nominees Led Bib on November 21; slide guitarist and songwriter, Martin Harley on November 28; and dub reggae/ska stars Pama International on December 18.
For more information about The Live Room, visit theliveroom.info
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