BBC Introducing

Venue name and location:

The Studio, Tower Street Hartlepool

What is your venue most famous for?

Offering a diverse range of music for nearly 11 years.

What's the biggest act you've had?

As a small venue in Hartlepool its up to us to get acts on before they become too big to play somewhere so small. We have had Newton Faulkner, Funeral for a Friend & Athlete to name a few!

We also host artists that are very well known in certain genres such as guitar god Albert Lee, or Jan Akkerman from Focus.

What do you do for local bands?

We have always been a place for local bands to perform, be it the first gig or something more established.

From April onwards with the help of Tees Valley Community Foundation we will be running a series of events on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month especially for young local bands. These will be alcohol free all ages events for young performers to play to their peers.

What's the oddest event you've ran?

Maybe Frank Sidebottom, he's quite odd.

What are your plans for the future?

We have just started a monthly film club and we are starting to serve food.

We have held some craft fayres and are looking to hold some on a regular basis, we are continuing to program a diverse range of music and be a community music resource centre.

How can people get involved if they want to work with you?

As a charity we are always looking for people to get involved as volunteers.

We not only have the venue but recording studios, rehearsal rooms, training courses and project work and any assistance on any of those things that people may want to give their time to help with is appreciated.

Contact us on 01429 424440 and speak to Liz Carter.