Tapestry creating new room for music lovers and new artists

Tapestry – Arts, Performance, Eats, Studios, in Factory Street, Dudley Hill, has begun work on 'The Bunker' which will add to its current offerings in The Tapestry Warehouse and The Neighbourhood.

The new space will be situated in The Neighbourhood Craft Ale Bar & Kitchen and will be able to host 100 people standing.

This will be useful for when the venue hosts its normal club nights – a second room for customers to enjoy.

Tapestry, in Factory Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

But its main focus will be providing opportunity to those that often fall by the wayside in the industry.

Jason Brooks, 54, one of two directors of Tapestry, said: “The Bunker is a smaller room that will cater for original, emerging, up-and-coming artists, no cover bands, no tribute bands.

“The whole concept is about original bands that are struggling to get gigs that they wouldn’t normally be getting.”

The acts will be given guidance and the chance to ticket the event themselves, with revenue going their way too.

One rule is, the bands must bring at least 20 people to the gig.

Mr Brooks said: “We’ve had a lot of original acts that are looking to get gigs and emerging talents in the area looking to get gigs.

“The space is a reality for them, a real entry, grassroots type venue downstairs.

“Whereas upstairs it’s set up in a full proper setup.

“Upstairs is not for a starting-out band, it’s more aimed at professionals.

“Downstairs is very well situated for new and emerging talent.”

The full building is hard to miss now a huge colourful mural celebrating all things music sits opposite it.

The colourful mural opposite Tapestry, in Factory Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford (Image: Telegraph & Argus)

It features greats such as Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury and has been painted on a building above a car park opposite Tapestry, which it also owns.

The mural was worked on throughout 2022 and completed at the start of this year.

Tapestry opened in October 2019, just before the impending Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown that put a halt on lives, art, music and business.

But the venue has flourished like the mural opposite its building since a semblance of normality returned.

Tapestry is scaling down slightly while works are underway but the new room could be finished within a month.

Mr Brooks said: “We’re building a stage, which is pretty much done.”

He added: “We’re painting, decorating.

“It may be done by the end of the month but we’re just scaling things down so we’ve got time to get the concept into place properly.”