Music / Exchange
Providing Fertile Ground for new bands
In a bid to nurture and support creativity at a time when the music industry is struggling, the Exchange will be paying local bands and artists to pay live streamed shows.
Using money from the Arts Council England Creative Recovery Fund, the venue’s Fertile Ground series will give musicians the chance to play to a live audience, albeit virtually.
“We wanted to create a unique way of presenting live music whilst also making sure it’s an investment that can help support the venue in the future and beyond the pandemic,” says Iwan Best, venue manager of the Exchange.
is needed now More than ever
“We’ve bought some amazing recording equipment including remote control cameras to reduce the number of people needed in the room and built an editing suite upstairs.”
Using funding to buy streaming equipment, which can continue to be used when live shows return, and gives the Exhange more options to stream other events, artists are also being encouraged to devise different ways to present their sets than they would if it was an ordinary set on stage.
Streams begin on Wednesday, December 16 and will take place every week via Exchange’s social media and YouTube channel. All bands and behind-the-scenes crew will be fully paid.
Image: The Exchange
Bands announced so far include Grandma’s House, who will be kicking off the Fertile Ground series, Oh, The Guilt, Rosehip Teahouse and Hamburger.
“It’s a been a really shit year for everyone, venues, bands, promoters and beyond,” says Iwan. “We’re really excited that we have this as a project to work towards and we’re so excited to be able to continue supporting bands.
“Fertile Ground isn’t just a name to us, it’s the mission statement for everything we want to be as a community owned, independent music venue!”
Main photo: Grandma’s House
Read more: Exchange TV brings the much-loved venue into you home
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