clint van damme

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May 3, 2015
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having a go at our beloved council on Twitter.



Anyone know what prompted his outburst, obviously the council being arseholes as usual, but what in particular?
 

theferret

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Oct 14, 2012
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Not sure there's much in this. Ruane (iirc) just said the venues like The Empire are welcome but that the city needs a larger music venue in the city centre, something like Wolves Civic Hall, which seems a pretty fair statement to me.
 
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clint van damme

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Not sure there's much in this. Ruane (iirc) just said the venues like The Empire are welcome but that the city needs a larger music venue in the city centre, something like Wolves Civic Hall, which seems a pretty fair statement to me.

it's needed one for years but it needs smaller venues too. The councils track record for encouraging any sort of independent venture in any sector is appalling.
 
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theferret

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it's needed one for years but it needs smaller venues too. The councils track record for encouraging any sort of independent venture in any sector is appalling.

I agree. Maybe there is more to this than the public statements, but what he said seemed pretty fair on the face of it.
 

chiefdave

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Ruane has a point, and reactions like Clarke's highlight the problem. The people who own / run the venues are happy with a load of tribute bands and student nights and think the occasional band they book is the best that Coventry can get.

We've got the Ricoh which holds 8K, Skydome holds 4K, Empire holds 1.1K, Kasbah has 1K, 200 and 150 capacity rooms and Copper Rooms holds 900. Lack of venues is not the problem.

Compare the upcoming gigs between all those venues with smaller cities than Cov such as Nottingham, Wolvehampton, Southampton or Oxford. Wolverhampton is a great example aa the venues in Cov tend to fall back on the 'bands won't play here', 'we're a small market', 'too close to Birmingham' arguments. Wolverhampton has a smaller population than Cov and is closer to Birmingham so how come they can get a constant stream of gigs when we only have a touring act turn up once every few months?
 
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pusbccfc

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We need a multi-purpose venue in the city centre which could host 5000 capacity events. Having concerts of that size significantly improves footfall.

The Ricoh exhibition hall has been a huge let down really. Struggles to attract artists.
 

Captain Dart

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I think Clarke might be involved in promoting the Empire and is pissed at Ruane sticking his oar in.
Welcome

I agree with Clarke, these councillors should work with existing promoters to improve/develop facilities not make paper talk for the purpose of improving their own standing with the public, tossers the lot of them.
 
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ccfcway

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We need a multi-purpose venue in the city centre which could host 5000 capacity events. Having concerts of that size significantly improves footfall.
.

Sky dome can’t be too far off that is it ?
 

chiefdave

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Sky dome can’t be too far off that is it ?
SkyDome is 4K but they only have about 1 gig a year! The facilities are there the promoters need to work on getting gigs booked. If the council and / or city of culture can help with that then great.

Building a new venue when little use is made of the ones we have seems a waste of money. Would have thought a replacement for the old Hippodrome, somewhere that can take the touring productions that are too big for the Belgrade, is a better option.
 

pusbccfc

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Quite impressive they do it so quick.

I guess there is more to it than that or it would see more than one concert every 3 years. The actual ice rink would have to close for trading and there is a fair amount of Ice Hockey training that goes on as well as the Blaze fixtures.

An actual venue like the 02 Academies they have across the country which are capable of hosting 3000 people for gigs and events 3/4 times a week I feel would be a fantastic edition.

Space is obviously the issue.
 

fernandopartridge

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Dec 9, 2011
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We need a multi-purpose venue in the city centre which could host 5000 capacity events. Having concerts of that size significantly improves footfall.

The Ricoh exhibition hall has been a huge let down really. Struggles to attract artists.

The Ricoh Exhibition Hall is just a warehouse, it was never going to attract much like that.
 
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SkyBlueScottie

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Mar 19, 2011
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Been to a couple of gigs at the Ricoh warehouse, the sound was absolutely terrible, worst place ever for a concert.
 

clint van damme

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Bring back the General Wolfe. Great venue and had some great nights there. Should never have closed !

there have been some legendary venues shut up and down the country.
It's to be expected if they're not viable but I wonder how much the rise of chain venues like the 02 academies have contributed? (the wetherspoons of the live music scene!).

It's a real shame.
 

Covstu

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I am not convinced we need it, surely they can do something with the Jag arena i.e. partitions etc to make that smaller if required. You only have to take the o2 in Brum which attracts decent bands ongoing but probably holds circa 3k I would reckon with the added negative that its a fucker to get served!

I think out cities failing is down to the lack of promotion to attract bands to the city, others have appropriate sponsorship like O2 to get bands going to all their venues and therefore we cant compete. If the Skydome was appropriately sponsored then I think you would see a turnaround (or willing to pay the right prices to attract!)
 

pusbccfc

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To be fair to the Ricoh Exhibition hall, their calendar is as busy as I have ever seen it. Albeit some naff acts.
 

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