How To Build A Music Venue

Colston Hall

Step One. Take one music venue in the south west of the UK. Step Two. Carefully remove the artists, stage managers and production staff. (If you haven’t removed the audience by this point, then do so now). Then remove the seats (use the enclosed allen key for this), stage, lighting rig, trusses and PA. Take down the balcony (yep, the whole thing), staircases, doors and dressing rooms. Then remove all the signs, the floor and the roof. Keep going until you have taken everything out. Now remove the name. (Yes, the name). Step Three. Meticulously pack away the historical artefacts and millions of memories, ensuring you hold on to those iconic music moments. Step Four. Stop. Take a step back. What next?  How do you build a music venue, almost from scratch? Colston Hall in Bristol is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation, the largest capital programme ever to take place in the south west of the UK. This is an exciting moment as we build a world-class venue for Bristol, but our ambitions don’t end with bricks and mortar. We are looking at how we share the joy of music with everyone.  In this podcast series we discuss the highs and lows, the pains, the gains and the complicated decisions we’ve taken as an organisation during this transformation. We also explore the philosophy that envelops this project; one that focuses on inclusion, education and participation, without ever losing sight of the music. Hear from the countless experts driving this renovation forward: acousticians, leading musicians, architects and many, many more… Join us on the journey as we #transformthehall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

  1. 11/21/2019

    How To Build A Music Venue Ep. 8 - Who Can Build A Music Venue?

    Welcome to How To Build A Music Venue – the podcast series which has a backstage pass to the transformation of Colston Hall in Bristol. In this episode, we meet the people who are actually building this thing. Harriet Robinson chats to staff at contractors Willmott Dixon, who have been charged with the task of transforming the Hall into a venue fit for the 21st century. And there are way more jobs involved than you might expect. From construction managers to labourers on the ground, and designers to digital engineers working behind the scenes, this is a snapshot into the variety of roles needed to make this project a reality. What’s more, we get the team to tell us who they’d book for the opening night given the chance, with some interesting suggestions! Follow the journey on social media using the hashtag #transformthehall Credits Presented by Harriet Robinson Produced by Louise Orchard, 2°West Thank you to the contributors: Kimberley Sweet-Roberts – Social Value Manager, Willmott Dixon Ryan Williams – Construction Manager, Willmott Dixon Becky Ray – Health and Safety Manager, Willmott Dixon Lawrence Ashby – Labourer, Willmott Dixon Megan Wintersgill – Design Co-ordinator, Willmott Dixon Kay Jackson – Graphic Designer, Willmott Dixon Ashdon McFall – Digital Engineer, Willmott Dixon Find out more about the transformation: www.colstonhall.org/transformthehall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How To Build A Music Venue Ep. 8 - Who Can Build A Music Venue?
  2. 10/16/2019

    How To Build A Music Venue Ep. 7 - Going Carbon Neutral!

    Welcome back to our new-look podcast - How To Build A Music Venue - the series which has a backstage pass to the transformation of Colston Hall in Bristol. In this episode, and in the wake of the climate crisis, we look at turbo charging our sustainability ambitions and how the venue can go carbon neutral. That's right, in October 2019 the Hall was the first concert venue in the UK to announce its ambition to be carbon neutral by 2030. Harriet Robinson chats to Rosa Corbishley, Development Director at the Hall, about the ambition, as well as Tim Westwell, co-founder of Pukka Herbs and newly appointed board member who will be championing the creation of a sustainability plan for the Hall. What's more we hear from Emma Bombonato from Sydney Opera House about how they became the first carbon neutral concert venue in the world, and their role as international sustainability advisors to the Hall, and Alex Roberts, Senior Sustainability Manager with the Hall's carbon neutral contractor Willmott Dixon. Follow the journey on social media using the hashtag #transformthehall Presented by Harriet Robinson Produced by Louise Orchard, 2°West Thank you to the contributors: Rosa Corbishley – Development Director, Bristol Music Trust Tim Westwell – Co-founder of Pukka Herbs and BMT Board Member Emma Bombonato – Environmental Sustainability Manager, Sydney Opera House Alex Roberts – Senior Sustainability Manager, Willmott Dixon Read the carbon neutrality press announcement here: http://bit.ly/2MhBqdo Find out more about the transformation: www.colstonhall.org/transformthehall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How To Build A Music Venue Ep. 7 - Going Carbon Neutral!
  3. Season 2 Trailer

    How To Build A Music Venue Trailer

    Step One. Take one music venue in the south west of the UK. Step Two. Carefully remove the artists, stage managers and production staff. (If you haven’t removed the audience by this point, then do so now). Then remove the seats (use the enclosed allen key for this), stage, lighting rig, trusses and PA. Take down the balcony (yep, the whole thing), staircases, doors and dressing rooms. Then remove all the signs, the floor and the roof. Keep going until you have taken everything out. Now remove the name. (Yes, the name). Step Three. Meticulously pack away the historical artefacts and millions of memories, ensuring you hold on to those iconic music moments. Step Four. Stop. Take a step back. What next?  How do you build a music venue, almost from scratch? Colston Hall in Bristol is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation, the largest capital programme ever to take place in the south west of the UK. In this podcast series we discuss the highs and lows, the pains, the gains and the complicated decisions we’ve taken as an organisation during this transformation. We also explore the philosophy that envelops this project; one that focuses on inclusion, education and participation, without ever losing sight of the music. Hear from the countless experts driving this renovation forward: acousticians, leading musicians, architects and many, many more… Join us on the journey as we #transformthehall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. 06/05/2019

    How To Build A Music Venue Ep. 5 - Creative Learning, From School To Stage

    Why should we teach music in schools? How can music help people with dementia? What has a concert hall got to do with hip-hop? Bristol Music Trust is not only embarking on an ambitious physical transformation of Colston Hall, but is also on a mission to ensure the power of music is shared by everyone. Harriet Robinson chats to Phil Castang, our Director of Learning and Engagement, about the Trust’s role in running the city’s music education hub – responsible for delivering music education through schools and music centres across the city, and the impact that work can have. She also meets Julia Roderick to discuss how over the next two years of transformation, the Hall is developing ambitious new projects that will ensure that young and old alike in Bristol’s communities are able to engage their passion for music, including in settings such as hospitals and libraries. And finally, Harriet meets Solomon O.B, who explains how through the Hall’s Multi-Track programme, he has been supported to develop as a rising spoken-word and hip-hop artist. Presented by Harriet Robinson Produced by Louise Orchard, 2°West Thank you to the contributors: Phil Castang – Director of Creative Learning and Engagement, Colston Hall Julia Roderick – Community, Learning & Volunteering, Colston Hall Solomon O.B – Musician Further reading: The power of music: Vicky McClure’s dementia choir https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-48124591 Find out more about Bristol Plays Music, our music education hub, here: https://www.bristolplaysmusic.org/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How To Build A Music Venue Ep. 5 - Creative Learning, From School To Stage
  5. 12/19/2018

    How To Build A Music Venue Ep. 3 - Accessibility: physical, cultural and social

    In this third episode, we discuss our ambition to build a venue with gold-standard levels of accessibility for both audiences and performers. We hear from architect Mark Lewis about how the designs for the transformed hall mean backstage areas and stage access, as well as front of house areas, are being designed with access for all as a priority. But that’s only the beginning. We also hear from Siggy Patchitt – Head of the new National Centre for Inclusive Excellence programme at Bristol Music Trust – whose aim is to ensure that opportunities for advanced music training are available to all, no matter disability or background. Conductor Charles Hazlewood talk to us about the pioneering work of the British Paraorchestra and musician Charlotte Bott tells us of her experience as a disabled musician and how the industry needs to change in order for everyone to have the opportunity to express their talent. To find out more about the work of the National Centre for Inclusive Excellence and watch a short film, please visit: www.colstonhall.org/ncie Presented by Harriet Robinson Produced by Julia Hayball and Louise Orchard, 2°West Thank you to the contributors: Siggy Patchitt – Head of the National Centre for Inclusive Excellence, Bristol Music Trust Mark Lewis – Architect, Levitt Bernstein Charles Hazlewood – Founder of The British Paraorchestra Charlotte Bott – Musician Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    How To Build A Music Venue Ep. 3 - Accessibility: physical, cultural and social

Trailer

About

Step One. Take one music venue in the south west of the UK. Step Two. Carefully remove the artists, stage managers and production staff. (If you haven’t removed the audience by this point, then do so now). Then remove the seats (use the enclosed allen key for this), stage, lighting rig, trusses and PA. Take down the balcony (yep, the whole thing), staircases, doors and dressing rooms. Then remove all the signs, the floor and the roof. Keep going until you have taken everything out. Now remove the name. (Yes, the name). Step Three. Meticulously pack away the historical artefacts and millions of memories, ensuring you hold on to those iconic music moments. Step Four. Stop. Take a step back. What next?  How do you build a music venue, almost from scratch? Colston Hall in Bristol is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation, the largest capital programme ever to take place in the south west of the UK. This is an exciting moment as we build a world-class venue for Bristol, but our ambitions don’t end with bricks and mortar. We are looking at how we share the joy of music with everyone.  In this podcast series we discuss the highs and lows, the pains, the gains and the complicated decisions we’ve taken as an organisation during this transformation. We also explore the philosophy that envelops this project; one that focuses on inclusion, education and participation, without ever losing sight of the music. Hear from the countless experts driving this renovation forward: acousticians, leading musicians, architects and many, many more… Join us on the journey as we #transformthehall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.