New music festival in Wolverhampton city this weekend, multi artist, multi venue and free performances. We meet the organiser.

Express & Star

Watch New music festival in Wolverhampton city this weekend, multi artist, multi venue and free performances. We meet the organiser. - Express & Star on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00So we're here at Wolverhampton Arts Centre and we're here with, introduce yourselves lads.

00:05Hi, I'm Ben, Director of Plugged In Promotions in Wolverhampton.

00:08And I'm Trevelyan, I'm the Chief Executive here at Wolverhampton Arts Centre.

00:13Cool, and just talk us through this festival we've got going on, Wolverhampton Music City.

00:18What's it all about, Ben?

00:19Wolverhampton Music City essentially is both a celebration of Wolverhampton's musical heritage

00:24as well as the scene of today and perspiring future.

00:28Initially it started for me as an opportunity to change maybe the perspective of the town of what we've got today.

00:36There's a lot of people that say it used to be good and there's nothing on.

00:40We've put this together to show there's a lot of places that are putting things on.

00:43More importantly there's a lot of creative people and artists that are really a shining light for the town.

00:50It's just showing off them more than anything and then hopefully that will change that perspective.

00:54That's good, yeah, because we've had the Fringe Festival this year, which I think was the first festival, the first Fringe, Wolverhampton.

01:00So now you're bringing this to the scene, like you say, it just shows there's plenty still happening here in Wolves.

01:06And it's happening this weekend.

01:09Yes, it's going to be kicking off on Halloween itself, Friday the 31st, running through the weekend until Sunday the 2nd of November,

01:19where this place here will be a big stage and it'll be our finale with four cracking local bands, which I'm very excited for.

01:28Fantastic. And is there a few other venues involved as well then?

01:31Yeah, we've got seven venues, which are listed across the top of this poster here.

01:35We've got Wolverhampton Arts Centre, where we are still here.

01:37We've got the Art Gallery, we've got Lockworks Cinema, we've got Hogshead, we've got the Clarendon, we've got Kipsies,

01:43and we've also got Tungwall's Caf, which have combined with a record shop and they're going to have two DJs across two rooms.

01:50That's quite a quirky, exciting event that's happening there on the Saturday.

01:52Fantastic. I'm just curious, what's the event that's happening at the Lockworks then?

01:56Lockworks, we've got Cupid the King. He is doing an intimate solo performance up on the balcony.

02:06I believe there's only 35 tickets available for that, which is free.

02:10Every one we're doing is free, but there's also overflow that can go on the concourse below.

02:15So we'll be performing to a private balcony and then the lower area at Lockworks.

02:19Fantastic. So is there hope that maybe this might become an annual fixture?

02:24I hope so. Next year, to be honest, this is the first one I've done of anything of this size.

02:30I've learnt a lot of lessons. There's a thing I'll be looking to do differently, and if we can go again next year,

02:36it will be bigger and better, but there's already 60 performances, 60-plus performances.

02:41I'd like to go for 100 next year, maybe.

02:44Fantastic. And also, when you've got someone like Ben bringing in something new to the scene, isn't it, in the city?

02:49Yeah, no, it's great. We're delighted to be the hosts.

02:55You know, it joins kind of live and picking for young bands, community, which we do every summer with a local promoter.

03:03So we're always looking for new ways that we can support local promoters, local musicians,

03:09and get great gigs for Wolverhampton people to go to.

03:13Yeah. And of course, you're very busy here on the music scene. You're known for your jazz, jazz events, and Miles Hunt from the Wonder stuff.

03:22He's got a gig booked in. I'll see. I might come along to that myself.

03:25You can't. It's sold out.

03:26Has it?

03:27Yeah, already in about five minutes, there's a matinee that he's put on.

03:32So, yeah, yeah, if you're quick.

03:35Cool. Well, fantastic work, guys, to everyone behind the scenes.

03:38And get yourselves down, guys, and check it out. Wolverhampton Music City.

03:42So we've got one of you, one of our visiting artists, guitar in hand.

03:45And who've we got for you, Ben?

03:47This is the fantastic Sandy Stanton.

03:49How you doing, Sandy? How are you?

03:50How are you?

03:51You're good, yeah? So, you're a Stafford man?

03:53Yes, I am, yeah. That's where I live, anyway.

03:55Cool.

03:56Or Walsall Man, really.

03:57Walsall Man. Black Country Land.

03:59And so your venue you'll be playing at in the fest is?

04:04It's the...

04:06Is it the Art Gallery?

04:09Yeah, it's five o'clock.

04:10Wolverhampton, 12 o'clock Saturday.

04:13Oh, that I know.

04:14No, it's not.

04:16Is it that one?

04:16No, it's the Art Gallery in town.

04:18Oh, is it? Oh, it's a different one, then.

04:19Sandy, you've just learnt something.

04:21I've learnt something.

04:22See, I've put it to a different place.

04:23Right, well, glad we've sorted that up at this stage of the events.

04:28Ben's now panicking, thinking, does everyone else know?

04:31I thought I had this thing organised.

04:32I've seen that many different posters.

04:34I think I've got mixed up with the venues.

04:36You've got a lot of venues going on, Ben.

04:38Seven of them.

04:38Big name, Ben. Big name.

04:40So how long have you been involved in the music world, then?

04:42A long time, now.

04:43Since, since, since, er...

04:46I've been gigging probably since I was about 22.

04:48Yeah, yeah.

04:49I'm 39, now.

04:50Cool.

04:51So, where do you...

04:52Is there much going on, Staffordway?

04:53Music, music fests and stuff?

04:55Yeah, there's a lot of, er...

04:57There's a lot of gigs and stuff.

04:58Yeah, yeah.

04:59And venues.

04:59Yeah.

05:00You know, yeah.

05:01Right, can you give us a taste of what people can expect when they catch you?

05:05Yeah, yeah, you can do, yeah.

05:06Come on.

05:06I mean, I've just got you to whip that out of the box.

05:08I don't know if it's in tune or not.

05:10I can't do this.

05:11Yeah, yeah.

05:12I'll just do it like a cover for you, then, innit?

05:13Wicked, yeah.

05:14Take me out tonight

05:20It's music, it's people who are young and alive

05:27Driving in your car

05:33Please don't drive me home

05:36I haven't got God

05:40Anymore

05:42If the double-decker bus

05:56Rashes into us

05:59To die by your side

06:03Is a heavenly way to die

06:06And if it's...

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended