Broadwick Live launches new music initiative
Broadwick Live, the UK promoter and venue operator behind Printworks, Drumsheds and Field Day Festival, is launching a new music initiative.
Under the banner Broadwick Live Presents, the firm will collaborate with some of London’s best-loved clubs to foster up-and-coming talent and “make a healthy contribution to club culture”.
The first collection of shows launch in October and include Otik at the Carpet Shop in Peckham, D.O.D at Phonox and Nils Hoffmann at Electric Brixton.
The firm says the new endeavor will “connect the dots in a new way” by engaging venues operating at all levels, as well as a range of artists from emerging to established talent.
“With one eye firmly on the future, our Broadwick Live Presents events reflect our passion and dedication towards ensuring the most exciting emerging talent in electronic music achieve their potential,” says Jeff Gray, BWL head of music.
“These events reflect our dedication towards ensuring the most exciting emerging talent in electronic music achieve their potential”
“This will involve us hosting events across our favourite London venues, all of which are equally committed to pushing the dance music scene forward. We can’t wait to get started…”
Other Broadwick Live Presents shows include tech-house stalwart Tita Lau at giant warehouse venue E1, DJ and producer hitty at St John’s Hackney and pop-rock band SWIM at the Carpet Shop.
Broadwick Live recently expanded out of London into New York, US, via a transatlantic partnership with independent live music firm TCE Presents.
Together, they have opened a new 5,000-capacity venue in the Brooklyn Navy Yard called Brooklyn Storehouse, which will host concerts from Justice, Charlotte de Witte and Eric Prdyz in the coming months.
See the full list of Broadwick Live Presents shows here:
SWIM @ Carpet Shop [03/10/24]
D.O.D @ Phonox [05/10/24]
Otik Live @ Carpet Shop [10/10/24]
Tita Lau @ E1 [11/10/24]
hitty @ St Johns Hackney [30/11/24]
Nils Hoffmann @ Electric Brixton [07/12/24]
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TCE & Broadwick Live team to launch Brooklyn venue
Independent live music firms TCE Presents and Broadwick Live have unveiled collaborative venue Brooklyn Storehouse in the US as the first major project of their newly formed transatlantic partnership.
The 5,000-cap space will open this month at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and will be continuously reconfigured and transformed to create a “wide array of spatial environments” and welcome “innovative and dynamic shows at the intersection of arts, music and culture”.
Confirmed upcoming gigs at the New York venue include Justice, Charlotte de Witte and Eric Prdyz, with more shows slated to be announced in the coming weeks.
“As a native New Yorker, born in the boroughs, creating something at this scale in this location, that will bring jobs and world class culture into the heart of Brooklyn, is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” says TCE Presents founder Rob Toma. “As independents, Broadwick and TCE have shared a similar approach in looking to create incredible experiences in iconic locations, and I believe our partnership will develop spaces that set a new standard across Pan America.”
Broadwick and TCE Presents say they share “a commitment to delivering unforgettable moments and experiences in spaces that merge industrial heritage with creative innovation”.
“We are committed to repurposing industrial spaces in an unexpected way that honours their past and creates lasting value for local areas and communities”
“We are committed to repurposing industrial spaces in an unexpected way that honours their past and creates lasting value for local areas and communities,” adds Luke Huxham, director – development & place at Broadwick Group. “The Brooklyn Navy Yard has a history that dates back to 1801, and we couldn’t be prouder to contribute to its legacy, working in partnership with The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation to generate jobs and economic impact for the city.
“Brooklyn Storehouse is an impressive hybrid home for culture. The top goal of our development is that it becomes a global institution and urban landmark. We strive to provide visitors with a broad range of experiences and content that will stick with them on an emotional level.”
Since being established in the UK in 2010, Broadwick has acquired 30-plus venues and entertainment spaces, selling in excess of one million tickets per year. It has developed cultural brands including Printworks London, Drumsheds, Depot Mayfield, Magazine and Field Day, while also venturing outside music into immersion art exhibitions, fashion shows, corporate events, filming and celebrations.
TCE Presents has been a major player in New York nightlife over the past decade, pioneering large-scale events under a portfolio of event brands led by the house and techno-focused Teksupport. It produces more than 150 shows per year.
Broadwick and TCE Presents are also supported by Rockstar Games, which is a strategic investment partner in Broadwick, and collaborates with TCE Presents on an array of events, as well as the Circoloco Records music label.
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Superstruct acquires trio of European festivals
Superstruct has bought majority stakes in London-based festivals Mighty Hoopla and Cross the Tracks, as well as Austria’s Snowbombing.
IQ understands the controlling stakes were bought from various companies owned by Gareth Cooper (founder and former CEO of Broadwick Live). Financial details have not been disclosed.
The deal marks the second time the two companies have done business together, after divvying up Global’s festival portfolio in April 2019. Snowbombing and Mighty Hoopla were among the festivals that remained under Broadwick’s control.
Established in 1999, Snowbombing is the biggest and longest-standing of the three events. The luxury ski holiday, touted as Europe’s biggest snow and music festival, now brings 100+ international acts to perform around the slopes of Mayrhofen, in the Austrian state of Tyrol.
Fatboy Slim, Madness, Pendulum, Example, Magnetic Man, Sub Focus, Tinie Tempah, Chase & Status, Skream & Benga, Mark Ronson and Dizzee Rascal are among the acts that have performed at the festival.
The inaugural edition of Snowbombing took place in Risoul, France. It then moved to Villars, Switzerland, in 2002-2003 and Les Arcs, France, in 2004 before settling in Mayrhofen in 2005.
Superstruct’s acquisition of the festival is a result of the company taking a stake in Snowbombing parent SBH Events – a company controlled by Cooper.
Mighty Hoopla is described as “a pop festival embracing the best of pop, alternative and queer culture” and has featured acts including Sugababes, Steps, Jessie Ware, Cheryl, Chaka Khan and TLC, Kelly Rowland and Kelis.
Mighty Hoopla is described as “a pop festival embracing the best of pop, alternative and queer culture”
Launched in 2017, the festival’s inaugural edition took place in east London’s Victoria Park on the Sunday after the two-day Field Day festival, also produced by Broadwick Live.
In 2018, Mighty Hoopla and Field Day moved to south London’s Brockwell Park (cap. 30,000) after AEG Presents/Goldenvoice was awarded a five-year contract for the exclusive use of Victoria Park for events. AEG Presents’ All Points East was launched that same year.
In 2019, Field Day festival moved again, trading fields for warehouses located at Meridian Water in north London. Mighty Hoopla remained at Brockwell Park and Broadwick Live launched new festival Cross The Tracks on the Sunday of the same weekend.
Hoopla expanded to a two-day festival in 2022, taking place on a Friday and Saturday while Cross the Tracks followed on Sunday. The 2023 edition of the queer pop festival took place last weekend (2–3 June) with acts including Years & Years, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Natasha Beddingfield, Kelis, Artful Dodger and Beverly Knight.
Cross the Tracks, launched in 2019, is dubbed “a family-friendly festival, celebrating the world of soul, funk and jazz with a mix of international artists and local homegrown talent”.
The Brockwell Park festival has welcomed acts including Chaka Khan, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Khruangabin, Gilles Peterson, Joy Crookes, Anderson. Paak, Macy Gray, The Cinematic Orchestra and Sister Sledge. This year’s sold-out edition of Cross the Tracks moved to the bank holiday Sunday in May.
Superstruct Entertainment has now amassed nearly 90 festivals in Europe and Australia, which makes it the second-largest festival promoter in the world after Live Nation.
The company was founded in 2017 by Creamfields founder and former Live Nation president of electronic music James Barton and Roderik Schlosser whilst at Providence Equity Partners.
Cross the Tracks is dubbed “a family-friendly festival, celebrating the world of soul, funk and jazz”
The company has a presence in at least eight markets including the UK, Denmark, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Australia.
In the UK, it has interests in Y Not, Truck, Nass, Blue Dot, Victorious, South West Four, Kendal Calling, Tramlines, Boardmasters and Lost Ventures – many of which were acquired when Global’s portfolio was divvied up in April 2019.
Elsewhere in Europe, the company’s network includes leading operators and festivals such as Elrow (ES), Sziget (HU), Wacken Open Air (DE), Mysteryland (NL), Hideout (HR), Sonar (ES), Flow (FI), Defqon1 (NL), Parookaville (DE), Zwarte Cross (NL), Arenal Sound (ES), Øya (NO), O Son do Camiño (ES) and Tinderbox (DK).
IQ also understands that Superstruct has an interest in 10–12 festivals in Australia, some of which operate under the same brand.
Alongside festivals, the live entertainment behemoth also owns festival travel and accommodation companies such as Festival Travel and Liffin, both of which are based in the Netherlands.
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Printworks London set to reopen in 2026
Broadwick Live has revealed it is planning to launch “Printworks 2.0” in 2026 after the acclaimed London venue hosted its final party for at least three years.
The acclaimed 6,000-cap nightclub and events venue shut down on 1 May following an epic closing weekend, which featured sets from acts such as Black Coffee, Maya Jane Coles, Danny Howard, Chloe Caillet and Jaden Thompson.
Leased from developer British Land, Printworks London opened in January 2017 but looked set to close for good after Southwark Council gave the go-ahead for it to be converted into offices.
However, an agreement was reached for the venue to continue to operate in some form in British Land’s Canada Water scheme.
“We are delighted to announce that Printworks hopes to return in three years and that we will continue to work with our partners at British Land to create the future cultural venue that retains the essence of the iconic Press Halls,” says Broadwick’s director of strategy Simeon Aldred.
“Printworks has brought lasting impact to our scene, to our city, to artists and our local community”
“Printworks has brought lasting impact to our scene, to our city, to artists and our local community. The future Printworks venue aims to build on this, bringing together all the best in all electronic music and visual arts, both as well as hosting some of the world’s best orchestras, ballet companies and other art forms.”
The Printworks complex comprises multiple performance spaces in a 16-acre former newspaper printworks in London’s Docklands, and has hosted acts such as Skepta, Gorillaz and Seth Troxler, as well as events including the BBC Proms, but its use as a cultural space was previously intended to be temporary.
London night czar Amy Lamé also welcomes the news.
“London’s world-famous nightlife is the heartbeat of our capital and Printworks has played a dynamic role bringing together culture, music and entertainment and attracting artists and visitors from all over the world,” she says. “I am delighted there is an exciting future ahead for Printworks and I will continue working with all involved to ensure they thrive.”
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Major fests put finishing touches to 2023 bills
One of Europe’s largest festivals Roskilde this week added Lizzo, Busta Rhymes, Loyle Carner, Biig Piig, Dry Cleaning and more than 100 other acts to its 2023 lineup.
They join previously announced acts Kendrick Lamar, Caroline Polachek, Lil Nas X, Rosalía, Burna Boy, Christine and the Queens, Blur, and Queens of the Stone Age.
The 51st edition of Roskilde will take place between 24 June–1 July in the Danish town of the same name. Tickets start from DKK 2400.
Elsewhere in Denmark, promoter Down the Drain has revealed full lineups for its festivals NorthSide and Tinderbox.
Little Simz is the newest addition to the NorthSide bill, which already includes Muse, The 1975, The Chemical Brothers and more.
NxWorries (feat. Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge), Lukas Graham, First Aid Kit, Sam Fender, LP, Yemi Alade and Pusha T are also slated to play the Aarhus festival between 1–3 June.
Little Simz is the newest addition to the NorthSide bill, which already includes Muse, The 1975, The Chemical Brothers
Simz is among the acts set to play the second-largest stage Echo, which this year will be covered by a 20,000-capacity tent.
“This time of the year in Denmark is very bright, in the evenings as well, and a lot of the bigger acts ask for a slot in darkness to get the full effect of their production. We’ve talked about doing this for years, but the pandemic got in the way. Now, we’re finally launching this change and creating an amazing setting for more intimate live experiences – and we can’t wait to see it in action!” says festival CEO Brian Nielsen.
Tinderbox (cap. 45,000), meanwhile, has confirmed Red Hot Chili Peppers, Maroon 5, Black Eyed Peas and Armin van Buuren for this year’s edition, taking place in Denmark’s third-largest city, Odense.
George Ezra, Dean Lewis, Lukas Graham, Mimi Webb, Cat Burns, Gogol Bordello, bbno$, Dylan and Oliver Malcolm will also appear at the festival between 22–24 June.
“Last year, we broke records at Tinderbox, and we’ve tried our very best to give back to our loyal guests by chasing some of the world’s biggest acts,” says Nielsen.
Elsewhere in Scandinavia, Finland’s Flow Festival has unveiled a third wave of acts led by Lorde and Christine and the Queens.
Finland’s Flow Festival has unveiled a third wave of acts led by Lorde and Christine and the Queens
They join a blockbuster bill comprising Pusha T, High Vis, Caroline Polachek, Blur, Wizkid, Tove Lo and more.
The Superstruct-backed festival will return to the capital city of Helsinki between 11 and 13 August. Tickets start from €119 for a one-day ticket, €189 for two days and €225 for three days.
In the UK, Truck festival has added Mae Muller, The Reytons, Gengahr, English Teacher, Feet and Chappaqua Wrestling to this year’s edition.
The Oxfordshire festival previously announced headliners Royal Blood, Alt-J, Two Door Cinema Club and The Wombats.
Self Esteem, The Vaccines, Circa Waves, Pale Waves, Everything Everything, Kate Nash and Squid are also due to play the Superstruct-backed festival, taking place at Hill Farm between 21 and 23 July. Final Tier tickets are on sale now from £160.
Elsewhere, the UK’s Standon Calling has announced two stage headliners, with Shygirl joining the all-female lineup on the Laundry Meadows stage and Sainté and D Double E heading up a new rap and hip hop night called FutureFlow on The Cowshed stage.
Las Vegas-based event Life Is Beautiful is set to host The Killers, Kendrick Lamar, Odesza, Khalid and The 1975
Previously announced headliners for the 2023 event include Years & Years, Self Esteem, Bloc Party and The Human League.
Anastacia, Confidence Man, Dylan, Squid, Katy B, KT Tunstall and Melanie C will also perform at the 17th edition of the boutique music and arts festival.
Festival founder and director Alex Trenchard says “We’re so proud of this year’s progress in booking a gender-balanced headline bill.”
The Broadwick Live-owned festival will return to the Hertfordshire countryside between 20 and 23 July 2023.
Across the Atlantic, Las Vegas-based event Life Is Beautiful is set to host The Killers, Kendrick Lamar, Odesza, Khalid and The 1975 for the September edition.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Omar Apollo, Kim Petras, FLUME, Nelly and Bebe Rexha are also lined up to play the 10th-anniversary edition of the music and arts festival.
Las Vegas mainstays such as Cirque du Soleil, Blue Man Group, Jabbawockeez, Magic Mike Live, Piff the Magic Dragon and Tape Face will also be on hand for performances and appearances.
The Rolling Stone-owned festival will return to downtown Vegas between 22 and 24 September.
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Printworks London set for reprieve from closure
Printworks London is set be given a reprieve from closure after developer British Land said it would work “to explore retaining a cultural venue” as part of its Canada Water scheme.
Operated by event production firm Vibration Group and programmed by Broadwick Live, the acclaimed nightclub and events venue opened in January 2017, leased from British Land.
The 6,000-cap venue looked set to close after Southwark Council gave the go-ahead for it to be converted into offices earlier this year, despite close to 700 objections and a petition signed by more than 11,000 people protesting Printworks’ closure.
However, an agreement is now being finalised for the venue continue to operate in the SE16 scheme, even after the redevelopment is completed.
“We’re pleased to confirm that I partnership with British Land we’re in detailed talks about our return to our much-loved venue”
A statement from the Printworks team reads: “We’re pleased to confirm that in partnership with British Land we’re in detailed talks about our return to our much-loved venue.
“While there is still a detailed planning process that needs to take place before we can 100% confirm the future of Printworks, we’re positive about our future.”
It continues: “At this point, we can confirm that the venue will close in the new year for a number of years during a period of modernisation as planned.
“As a team, we’re committed to preserving the essence of the iconic Press Halls and retaining the spirit that we’ve all come to love, so we are working hard in partnership with British Land on designs that only seek to elevate the space.”
“I’m delighted that Broadwick Live and British Land are working together to develop the next chapter for Printworks”
“I’m delighted that Broadwick Live and British Land are working together to develop the next chapter for Printworks,” says London’s Night Czar, Amy Lamé. “This fantastic temporary venue has become a major destination that attracts some of the biggest names in electronic music and visitors from all over the world. I will keep working with them and offer all the support we can to secure an exciting future for the venue.”
Printworks London comprises multiple performance spaces in a 16-acre former newspaper printworks in London’s Docklands, and has hosted acts such as Skepta, Gorillaz and Seth Troxler, as well as events including the BBC Proms, but its use as a cultural space was previously intended to be temporary.
“It is noted that a significant number of objections have been received in respect of the loss of the club/music venue currently operating on the site,” said a council report in July. “It is acknowledged that this use has been very successful. However, the events use was initiated as a short term interim use in 2016 pending development of the building within the masterplan. It was never intended to be a permanent use of the site.”
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Broadwick Live and LWE unveil latest London venue
Broadwick Live and LWE have reunited to launch the inaugural music programme at London’s newest venue, The Beams.
Housed in a warehouse, the 5,000-cap venue is set across 55,000 sq feet of indoor and outdoor spaces and will feature three rooms.
The companies, who previously worked together on electronic music events at Printworks London and Tobacco Dock, are set to co-promote 12 shows over 12 consecutive Saturdays from October 1 to 17 December. The programme will be announced on 5 July.
“We’re excited to finally announce our inaugural music programme at The Beams, in collaboration with LWE,” says Ajay Jayaram, Broadwick Live Group’s director of music. “The partnership of two of London’s foremost promoters and musical curators, feels truly significant as it is a reunion of the ambitious team who launched Printworks London.
“Musically, we will lean into the partnership, programming an eclectic series of day to night events over 12 consecutive Saturdays – October to December. We’ll be featuring top tier names and emerging talent, across various sounds, styles and genres within the broad sphere of house, techno, disco and everything that lies in between. We look forward to introducing our audiences to this exceptional new industrial setting, full of character, situated in an untouched part of London.”
“It feels natural to partner at this brand new venue that will be unlike anything else the capital has to offer”
Billed as a “raw and industrial destination that will be drenched in natural light during the day and filled with plenty of production elements once the sun goes down”, The Beams is located in East London, in the Royal Docks, and on the River Thames.
“It’s exciting to be teaming up with the team at Broadwick Live once again for the launch of The Beams’ music programme, and expand on our journey at Printworks London,” add LWE co-founders Paul Jack and Will Harold. “We both have a strong history in dance events so it feels natural to partner at this brand new venue that will be unlike anything else the capital has to offer.
“LWE originated from one-off warehouse events so we are well aware of how to use the raw warehouse aesthetic and build a programme of events that complement their surroundings. We are creating something distinct and can’t wait to show you what we have in store.”
As with other venues in the Broadwick Live portfolio, The Beams will operate under a hybrid multi-use model, providing space for set builds, film and art production, photo shoots, brand events, exhibitions and fashion shows during the week, with weekends set aside for music and cultural events.
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Rockstar Games invests in Broadwick
Rockstar Games has invested in UK-based promoter and venue operator Broadwick Live.
The American gaming giant is behind video game franchises such as Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead, Midnight Club, Max Payne and Manhunt.
According to Music Week, the investment “will enable Broadwick to further expand its portfolio of entertainment brands and venues”.
“We’re extremely happy to have Rockstar Games support us in our belief in the power of live and our objective to continually inspire, connect and create massive impact through music, culture and space,” says Broadwick Group CEO Simon Tracey. “We have big plans for the future and are excited about what this investment will help us to achieve going forward.”
“We believe the greatest impact comes from challenging the boundaries of traditional collaboration”
Broadwick Group MD Bradley Thompson adds: “We believe the greatest impact comes from challenging the boundaries of traditional collaboration; we do this through radical partnership across our business. The investment from Rockstar is yet another example of this and we could not be more pleased to have the backing of one of the most well-respected global entertainment brands as we move into our next stage of growth.”
Broadwick Live’s portfolio includes London venues Printworks (cap. 6,000) and Magazine (3,000), as well as Manchester’s Depot at Mayfield.
Earlier this year, Broadwick Live announced plans to open a new open-air events space in London located within Silvertown Quays, on the bank of the River Thames
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Broadwick Live to open new open-air venue in London
UK promoter and venue operator Broadwick Live is to open a new open-air events space in London.
Located within Silvertown Quays, on the bank of the River Thames and opposite ExCel, the 4000,000-square foot Dockyards will open later this year.
According to Broadwick, the venue will be open year-round for music events, film production, cultural events, brand experiences and more.
Bradley Thompson, group managing director of Broadwick Live, says: “We’re really excited to open Dockyards, creating a new centre of cultural gravity for London in the heart of The Royal Docks.
“Dockyards will shape the area through cultural and commercial innovation”
“Dockyards will shape the area through cultural and commercial innovation by bringing a year-round programme of events and activities in partnership with the world’s best. As a Broadwick Live venue, visitors and artists are assured of a world-class experience, while we also deliver meaningful impact for the area and local communities.”
The first event to take place at Dockyards will be Defected London from 3-4 September, followed by Above & Beyond Group Therapy Weekender on 10 and 11 September.
Broadwick Live’s portfolio includes London venues, Printworks (cap. 6,000) and The Drumsheds (10,000), as well as Manchester’s Depot at Mayfield.
The Drumsheds opened its doors in 2019 for that year’s Field Day festival and closed permanently at the beginning of this year.
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Boost for Manchester nightlife as new venue opens
A brand-new, socially distanced outdoor events space is preparing to open in Manchester city centre this weekend, as news comes that two of the city’s music venues – Gorilla and Deaf Institute – have been saved from closure.
Escape to Freight Island, the brainchild of veteran Manchester DJs Luke Cowdrey and Justin Crawford (The Unabombers), together with Gareth Cooper of Festival No.6/Broadwick Live, Jon Drape of Engine No.4 and venue operator Dan Morris, is a large, socially distanced food and entertainment complex launching at Broadwick’s 10,000-capacity Depot Mayfield site this weekend.
The space can hold up to 600 people while complying with social distancing rules, with plans to bring the capacity up to 2,500 once measures relax. Platform 15 is the first part of the complex to open, with the full launch to follow.
DJ Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy will perform at Platform 15 on its opening night on Friday (24 July), with Mr Scruff, Mikey D.O.N. and Jamie Groovement playing the following evening. Norman Jay MBE and Mass will close out Escape to Freight Island’s inaugural weekend on Sunday.
Other acts scheduled to play at Platform 15 include Gilles Peterson, Erol Alkan and Greg Wilson, with events organised in conjunction with Manchester Pride, Festival No.6 and We Out Here Festival, and venue Band on the Wall, among others.
The space is all seated, with all food and drink ordered via an app and QR system. Fans must book in advance, with groups of up to 12 permitted. A staggered arrival system, managed queuing and toilet areas and extra hygiene precautions all form part of the complex’s social and safe manifesto.
“Platform 15 will give a flavour of what is to come when we launch the full Escape to Freight Island experience, so let’s all meet at Platform 15 to begin our escape to freedom,” comments Cowdrey.
“Let’s all meet at Platform 15 to begin our escape to freedom”
The opening of the new venue comes as many around the UK, and the world, struggle under the financial pressures of Covid-19.
Manchester venues Gorilla (600-cap.) and Deaf Institute (260-cap.) last week announced they were closing their doors permanently due to the pandemic. However, it emerged yesterday (22 June) that the venues have now been acquired by venue group Tokyo Industries (TI).
TI founder Aaron Mellor says the group has been working together with promoter SSD Concerts – which is launching the UK’s first socially distanced arena next month – and the Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess, to come up with ways “to help save both venues and their existing operating style in a post-Covid world.”
“So, looks like the story is out Deaf Institute and Gorilla have been saved and will be kept as live music venues as we know and love them,” writes Burgess in a Twitter post.
“I’ve been talking with the new owners over the weekend and we’ll be doing all we can to help with the next chapter.”
Manchester night-time economy advisor and Parklife founder Sacha Lord thanked mayor Andy Burnham for “helping to raise the profile” of the two venues’ plight.
“Great news…all done within four working days. Jobs saved and two of the city centres best live music venues kept alive,” tweeted Lord.
Bookings for Escape to Freight Island can be made here.
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