ACODA Discuss: The Boileroom & UK Live Music
With Guildford venue the Boileroom facing the possibility of closure, TMMP caught up with Stephen Crook of ACODA to discuss the Boileroom and the state of the UK’s live music scene.
This interview is part of a larger TMMP feature which can be read in full here.
What is your general opinion of the Boileroom?
The Boileroom is one of the only reasons we’ve ever been to Guildford! Every time we have visited it’s been apparent that it’s an important part of the local music community, run by people who genuinely have a true passion for live music. Plus the Chinese food is pure amazement!
How did you feel when you heard about the Boileroom’s current problems?
I think it’s a travesty that the Boileroom is even needing to have its license reviewed. The moment you arrive at the venue they’re so organised with load-ins and make the touring party aware of how the venue operates. The ‘house rules’ are all over the walls to make sure the venue / bands know the importance of maintaining minimal disturbance to the local community. It really baffles me that live music is put under such pressure when the benefits for the local area are so obvious!
What would happen if the Boileroom were to shut down? What impact would that event have?
Aside from affecting all of the hundreds of touring bands who love to visit Guildford? Well, you’re taking away a platform for local people to express themselves through creativity, art, and real community spirit. Not to mention that badass Chinese takeaway!
What is your favourite Boileroom-related memory?
Playing on tour with Vera Cruz (who came all the way from Paris!). We ended a UK tour with them at the Boileroom on a Monday night and there was a fair amount of people there. I remember us all being super excited by the line-up that night because it was so eclectic. It was great to see great local bands had somewhere to perform and express their art.
How do you feel about the state of the UK’s live music scene right now? What could be done to improve things?
As with most things there are good and bad sides! There’s no shortage of ‘bedroom artists’ out there, with all the tech advancements. But there isn’t always a place for them to get that live experience and hone their craft. It can be a total glass ceiling. It’s tough running any business these days and the first thing to be cut out of our everyday lives seems to be creativity and art.
We could improve things by putting legislation into place that supports and sustains venues (like the Boileroom) that are part of the cultural fabric of a town, instead of strangling them out of existence!
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Long live LIVE music and long live the Boileroom!
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