Swansea Musician's Forum #1 - Report
Cinema & Co - Friday 2nd February 2018
For a .pdf copy of the musician's report please contact swanseamusichub@gmail.com
1. Introduction
The Swansea Musician’s Forum #1 was held on the 2nd February 2018 at Cinema & Co. and was organised by the Swansea Music Hub.
The Swansea Music Hub is a community venture with the overall aim of supporting and improving the Swansea music scene. It is a place where ideas, creativity, events and opportunities can be shared all in one place for musicians and those interested in music.
Currently a two-man operation, The Swansea Music Hub is coordinated by Simon Parton & Joe Bayliss. The two are working voluntarily as they feel passionate about original and live music in Swansea and the potential that Swansea has as a music scene. The Swansea Music Hub presently has no capital funding, sponsors or grants, but Simon and Joe looking to grow the project to have a sustainable future providing support, events, education and facilities to musicians and those interested in original music in Swansea.
The first Swansea Musician’s Forum was organised in order to begin the conversation between musicians, venues, promoters and supporters of original music with the overall aim to share ideas, address issues and moving forward together as a music scene.
In the lead up to the event, the Swansea Music Hub put out an open invite for guest speakers to share their thoughts on the Swansea music scene and this report covers the points raised at the event. Alongside this, we invited the audience to share their thoughts on the Swansea Music Scene by putting ideas on a mood board - this document will also share and discuss these ideas and opinions. This initial Musician's Forum is the first in an ongoing series and this report has been created for those that may have missed out on the event but also so that there is a record of what was said, what has been done since and a place where thoughts/considerations for the next event can be shared.
Please feel free to email us at swanseamusichub@gmail.com to share your thoughts, ideas and opinions on the event or the Swansea Music Scene as a whole.
2. Audience demographics
Attendees completed a short questionnaire as they arrived at Cinema & Co. in order to collect the following information:
- 65% were male / 35% were female
- 28.5% were aged 16-25 / 38.2% were aged 26-35 / 23.8% were aged 36-45 / 9.5% were aged 46-55 / 0% were aged 56+
- 45% described themselves as musicians / 17.6% described themselves as promotors / 29.4% described themselves as gig-goers / 5.8% described themselves as venue owners / 2.2% described themselves as other.
- When asked what they felt Swansea could do with more of:
- 28.9% said independent music/record Store.
- 8.8% said music masterclasses
- 24.4% said rehearsal rooms
- 31.1% said grassroots venues
- 6.6% said other (including “bigger venues”, “more gigs” and “cross venue support”.
- Approximately 90% of the audience were residents within the city and county of Swansea.
3. Speakers at the musician's forum
The guest speakers at the first musician’s forum were:
- Daniel Kilbride – Director of TRAC (National Development Agency for Traditional Music in Wales)
- Kaz Chambers – Venue Owner (Creature Sound)
- Ben Luc – Musician
- Jimbob Isaac –Musician (Taint/Hark)
- Simon Parton – Musician & Project coordinator (Swansea Music Hub/Swansea Fringe Festival)
- Ed Richmond – BBC Wales Project Manager (Biggest Weekend)
Audio of the forum was recorded by the Swansea Music Hub, and the following information and key points are taken from that.
3.1 Introduction – Joe Bayliss & Simon Parton from the Swansea Music Hub
Simon and Joe gave an overview of the Swansea Music Hub (see the introduction above for more info) and explained why they had begun organising the Swansea Musician’s Forums. They stated that this was the beginning of a wider conversation between all interested in supporting the original music scene in Swansea and that each forum will be held in a different venue across Swansea with live music and guest speakers from all sectors of the industry at each.
Before inviting the first speaker up to the stage, Joe and Simon explained that their personal aims are not in any way to provide a definitive answer to how the Swansea music scene should be run and expressed that it will work differently for different people. The forum was designed for musicians, venues, promoters and gig-goers to support each other and open a dialogue.
3.2 Speaker #1 – Daniel Kilbride
Daniel started by giving an overview of Trac (National Development Agency for Traditional Music in Wales) and why he started it. Trac is Wales’ folk development organisation and has now been running for 21 years. They are a charity, are funded by the arts council and last year reached 12,500 people working within traditional music.
“Music is as important to a city as infrastructure”
Daniel stated that they started the organisation as they were frustrated that no one was supporting traditional music in Wales and that by being passionate about it meant that they quickly built up a body of knowledge that made it successful. He drew links from this to the Musician’s Forum and quoted Shain Shapiro from Sound Diplomacy in stating: “Music is as important to a city as infrastructure. It’s as important as fixing the pot holes and as important as providing the schools.”
He stated that “a music hub has lots of parts to it. A whole system is built to make sure making a living from music is possible” and that in order to achieve this, everyone has to work well together.
3.3 Speaker #2 – Kaz Chambers
Kaz Chambers is from the new Swansea venue and music hall, Creature Sound, which is located at the old Ken Bu Kan martial arts centre. Kaz started by sharing the story of how they came to start Creature Sound and how it acts as a space for people to perform their art, while also providing a studio, rehearsal room and 300 capacity venue.
“We want to support original acts and give them a chance to build their audience”
Kaz shared the overall plans for the venue, including not to put on nights that clash with other venues, offer bands an opportunity to put on gigs and perform their art (with no charge for hall hire and all door money to be split between acts), and to support original acts in giving them a chance to build their audience. She also stated that she would like to see more venues working together in order to make the Swansea music scene beneficial to all.
3.4 Speaker #3 – Ben Luc
Ben Luc is a musician from Swansea who also runs open mic nights at The Last Resort and Creature Sound. He wanted to share his thoughts on how the Swansea music scene should work together in order to fulfil its full potential.
“There’s lots going on and there’s lots of good bands and venues. But none are working together.”
Ben summed up his points by saying: “There’s lots going on and there’s lots of good bands and venues. But none are working together. The Swansea Music Hub is a great way to get people working together. Get bands together to work together, share audiences and build up the scene together.”
3.5 Speaker #4 – Jimbob Isaac
Jimbob Isaac is a Swansea musician and former member of the bands Hark and Taint. He shared his extensive experience as a gigging, touring and recording musician but also shared how it all started out with a very hands on, DIY, grassroots approach.
He shared his experience of gigging in European cities like Barcelona and Berlin and stated that there’s so much communication and fly posting that you know exactly what’s going on at all times within the live music scene in the city. He expressed an opinion that the inability to fly post to support gigs in the city centre is having a devastating effect on the music scene and that Swansea City Council need to do more to support musicians and grassroots events.
“Everyone needs to exhibit a level of hunger for the scene to thrive”.
Jimbob went on to say that in the past there has been a lack of group effort and a lack of a hive mind. He said it is positive to see the Swansea Music Hub and venues like Creature Sound adopting this approach in order to make positive change. He finished by stating “everyone needs to exhibit a level of hunger for the scene to thrive.”
3.6 Speaker #5 – Simon Parton
Simon from the Swansea Music Hub wanted to talk briefly about the importance of social media and how it plays a crucial role in connecting with other musicians, getting people to your gigs and shouting loud about what you are doing creatively in the city.
He shared the success stories of bands shouting about their sets at the Swansea Fringe Festival and the rewards that may come a bands/artists/venues way if they shout about other events and bands in the city. If bands and venues share audiences and support each other, it will come full circle and you’ll find that more people will come to your shows and listen to your music.
“Share things with the Swansea Music Hub. use the hashtag #SwanseaMusic and we’ll share it.”
He also encouraged bands, venues and gig goers to use the hashtag #SwanseaMusic when using social media to shout about original music and that it’ll be easier for the Swansea Music Hub, and others, to share and support from this.
3.7 Speaker #6 – Ed Richmond
Ed Richmond has worked for BBC Wales since 1999, working with DJs like Bethan Elfyn, Huw Stephens and Jen Long and is currently a project manager for the BBC’s Biggest Weekend that is coming to Swansea in May 2018.
He wanted to speak at the musician’s forum to let those within music scene in Swansea know that there is an opportunity to get involved with the festival. He stated that there will be a focus on Swansea and that there will be a Fringe event during the week leading up to the festival that takes place in Singleton Park.
“There’s a DIY aesthetic about Swansea that makes it unique.”
Ed encouraged musicians and venues to help build the music scene towards what is very exciting time for Swansea. Ed wants to know about what you want to do during the week leading up to the BBC's Fringe and stated that there will be a big focus on what’s happening in Swansea. He finished by stating that there’s a DIY aesthetic about Swansea and it’s music scene that makes it seem unique in the UK.
3.8 Speaker #7 – Joe Bayliss & Simon Parton
Joe Bayliss and Simon Parton closed the forum by expressing that there are lots of good opportunities for musicians coming up. They encouraged those in attendance to network, talk to each other and keep supporting each other in developing the Swansea music scene.
“This is an exciting time for the Swansea music scene and there are so many good opportunities coming up for musicians.”
The evening then finished with 6 short, largely acoustic, sets from Swansea musicians/bands:
- Bandicoot (Alternative/Indie)
- Emilie Merry (Acoustic/Pop)
- Craze The Jack (Hip Hop/Rap)
- Picsel (Noisey Pop Punk)
- King Goon (Rock/Dance/Ska)
- The Riff (Indie/Alternative)
4. Thoughts on the #SwanseaMusic Scene
In the bar area of Cinema & Co. we offered those in attendance to contribute their thoughts and opinions on the Swansea music scene via our “Thoughts on the #SwanseaMusic Scene” board. Below are the comments left of the board during the first musician’s forum – all are anonymous:
- “Sometimes it’s not easy to find out what is happening or who is doing what”.
- “Figure out how to make it as easy as possible for potential audiences to find out about what’s going on. Great to hear the ideas that are flying around!”
- “Song writing circles & workshops!”
- “Needs some unity!”
- “Dedicated new band nights – weekly!”
- “Establish infrastructure. Water seeds. Watch them grow.”
- “Let’s not concentrate too much on the process. Let’s just look at what we want first.”
- “So much potential.”
- “Have a music celebration day based on “Fete de la musique” in France.
- “Hub website with all the list of music venues + a what’s on section and booking system.”
- “Information / poster display boards / locations to publicise and advertise.”
- “Swansea’s music scene is thriving but needs cohesion. A hub (like this!) to bring it all together and optimise Swansea’s diverse talent.”
- “Encourage people to try & watch something different from the norm. Swap around and visit a different venue each week.”
5. Findings / Key points
There are a few key points and common findings from the first Swansea Musician’s Forum organised by the Swansea Music Hub:
Working Together: What was great to see at the forum was a hunger and desire from all present to work together and support each other’s creative ventures in music. Everyone was in agreement that, for the music scene to thrive and grow, working together and supporting each other is vital.
Fly Posting & Flyering: There was a general frustration amongst venues and musicians that they are unable to put up posters and freely flyer in the city centre. People are finding it hard to let people know about their gigs other than creating events online and this needs to change in order for the music scene to prosper.
Communication is key: Keep the conversation going. Talk to other bands and venues and let the Swansea Music Hub know about any live original gigs / releases that you have. Use social media to connect with each other, reach and share new audiences and use the hashtag #SwanseaMusic to show that there are things happening with original music in Swansea.
Do it yourself: The DIY approach to the music scene in Swansea seems to a key factor in continuing to develop the scene. Keep it up. Put gigs on. Invite all your mates. Share this online and share audiences with different bands and venues to allow the scene to grow.
Opportunities for musicians: There's lots for musicians in Swansea to get excited about this year. BBC’s Biggest Weekend in May will mean that there will be a huge focus on the city’s music scene during that week. This will mean opportunities for musicians and a huge buzz around original music in the city. The Swansea Fringe Festival will also return in October this year, offering more opportunities for musicians.
6. Moving Forward
Since the forum:
- The Swansea Music Hub has started the conversation with Swansea City Council regarding fly posting.
- We have seen a noticeable increase in the use of the hashtag #SwanseaMusic on social media and an increase in those shouting about their gigs and music in Swansea.
- An increase in numbers attending gigs during February (most notably, Spring King in Sin City, Bandicoot in The Pit and King Goon at Creature Sound).
- More gigs have been announced in multiple venues across Swansea.
The Swansea Music Hub have had a lot of feedback since the first Musician’s Forum the main point being that attendees wanted an opportunity to openly discuss key points and debate amongst each other. This is something that will be considered for the next forum, which is currently being organised by Joe and Simon and looking to be held at the end of April 2018.
If you would like to be involved in the next musician’s forum or have ideas / suggestions as to its format and what points should be raised, please get in touch.
To find out more about the Swansea Music Hub or to get in touch with Simon and Joe:
Visit: www.swanseamusichub.com
Contact: swanseamusichub@gmail.com
Connect: @SwanseaMusicHub / #SwanseaMusic (Twitter/Facebook/Instagram)