How To 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 #transformthehallCreditsPresented by Harriet RobinsonProduced by Louise Orchard, 2°WestThank you to the contributors:Kimberley Sweet-Roberts – Social Value Manager, Willmott DixonRyan Williams – Construction Manager, Willmott DixonBecky Ray – Health and Safety Manager, Willmott DixonLawrence Ashby – Labourer, Willmott DixonMegan Wintersgill – Design Co-ordinator, Willmott DixonKay Jackson – Graphic Designer, Willmott DixonAshdon McFall – Digital Engineer, Willmott DixonFind out more about the transformation: www.colstonhall.org/transformthehall

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 #transformthehallPresented by Harriet RobinsonProduced by Louise Orchard, 2°WestThank you to the contributors:Rosa Corbishley – Development Director, Bristol Music TrustTim Westwell – Co-founder of Pukka Herbs and BMT Board MemberEmma Bombonato – Environmental Sustainability Manager, Sydney Opera HouseAlex Roberts – Senior Sustainability Manager, Willmott DixonRead the carbon neutrality press announcement here: http://bit.ly/2MhBqdoFind out more about the transformation: www.colstonhall.org/transformthehall

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

In episode 6 of the podcast we focus on the heritage that is being uncovered at the Hall during the redevelopment.Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, our heritage projects are revealing and bringing to life the history of the Hall.We hear from NLHF Project Co-Ordinator Ella Kenny about the musical heritage of the venue and how we’re asking families and communities to share their memories, as well as archivist Louise Anderson about what artefacts have been uncovered so far – including a time capsule from 1951.We speak also to architect Axel Burrough about the distinctive Bristol Byzantine architecture of the Hall, and Bristol’s own Lady Nade gives us a beautiful rendition of Suffragette Vera Holme’s poem – The Last Chord – composed to commemorate her disruption of a political meeting at the Hall in the fight to win the vote for women.Presented by Harriet RobinsonProduced by Louise Orchard, 2°WestThank you to the contributors:Ella Kenny - Community, Learning & Volunteering, Bristol Music TrustLouise Anderson – ArchivistAxel Burrough – Architect, Levitt BernsteinLady Nade – MusicianFurther reading: Discover more about Vera Holme: https://buff.ly/2LOVRQ1 Find out more about our community work: https://buff.ly/315Hr1c See what we're building in our project to #transformthehall https://buff.ly/318F5i2

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 RobinsonProduced by Louise Orchard, 2°WestThank you to the contributors: Phil Castang – Director of Creative Learning and Engagement, Colston HallJulia Roderick – Community, Learning & Volunteering, Colston HallSolomon O.B – MusicianFurther reading: The power of music: Vicky McClure’s dementia choir https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-48124591Find out more about Bristol Plays Music, our music education hub, here: https://www.bristolplaysmusic.org/

In this episode, we discuss what’s happening on site right now. Project Manager for DSM Demolition Will Scriven talks us through the process of taking apart a concert hall while looking after the Grade II listed architecture. Todd Wills, Artistic Director, explains how we’re continuing to keep the music playing throughout this transformative time by working directly with venues and artists to bring the best new talent to the city. We also meet music fan and epic gig-goer Emma Champion, who attended 79 gigs last year, about what live music means to her and what she is looking forward to when the Hall reopens. Enjoy!Presented by Harriet RobinsonProduced by Louise Orchard, 2°WestThank you to the contributors:Todd Wills – Artistic Director, Colston HallWill Scriven – Project Manager, DSM DemolitionEmma Champion – Colossal live music fan!