| "It's taken time to build up relationships with agents to get bands to play here, but it's worked. They now see the town as an option." | | Matt Bartlett |
Until recently, the stench of the Cellophane factory smothered Bridgwater, adding to the assumption that the town is not the nicest place in our county. I only realised Bridgwater's reputation, when I was in my first semester at university. I met people from Devon and even South Wales who had heard about its notorious smell. In one conversation with a friend from Devon, Bridgwater was the first place he talked about when he discovered I came from Somerset. And, let's put it this way, it wasn't positive things he was mentioning, to say the least! Bridges to Bridgwater But, in stark contrast, some of the biggest bands are being attracted to the town over other places in Somerset - excluding Glastonbury, of course! These have included the Scissor Sisters, Scottish singer KT Tunstall, Seth Lakeman, and the Super Furry Animals. So, why is Bridgwater the main location for mainstream national and international artists to perform within the county?  | | Matt Bartlett |
Matt Bartlett from Midnight Mango has been instrumental in getting many of these musicians into the town. "Many bands and artists warm up for festival dates in Bridgwater. Having Glastonbury Festival nearby helps a lot," he explains. It's not just the big, mainstream artists who Matt has given a chance to perform: "I always put on local bands to support smaller bands." One advantage Bridgwater has over other Somerset towns is its venue, The Palace. The former theatre, which has a capacity of 800, hosted the pre-Glasto gigs by KT Tunstall and the Scissor Sisters. Drums Clash Finding its voice in the Somerset music scene is not a new phenomenon for Bridgwater. "I've played in many bands, and various organisations have contributed to the music scene," Matt explains. The late Joe Strummer, leader of 70s punk band The Clash, lived just outside Bridgwater. Shortly before his death, he worked on a benefit gig to kick-start fundraising for the Engine Room. The media centre on the High Street is providing facilities and support for Julien Temple, the renowned Somerset-based director, while he works on a film detailing the history of Glastonbury, which is due for cinematic release shortly. Future sound of Somerset What is it that makes Bridgwater's musical heart beat? "People in the town make it happen," Matt says.  | | Seth Lakeman played at Bridgwater Arts Centre |
"It's taken time to build up relationships with agents to get bands to play here, but it's worked. They now see the town as an option. "Seth Lakeman, Hayseed Dixie and Tommy Emmanuel (an internationally renowned guitarist) will all be appearing in the town." So, in spite of its reputation, Bridgwater is at the middle of music in Somerset. But how could things be improved? "It would be nice to have a dedicated concert venue," Matt adds. | 
