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11.
October
2017.
Saving live music in the city

 

The campaign to secure the future of live music on Cardiff's Womanby Street has received a major boost today.

 

Council leader Huw Thomas has revealed the Council is in the process of acquiring a derelict site in Womanby Street that was previously being proposed for residential development.

 

Cllr Thomas said: "Since the election in May, we have been working closely with Clwb Ifor Bach and the Save Womanby Street campaign to find a solution that will secure the future of live music in Womanby Street.

 

"Subject to due legal process, I am pleased to reveal that we are in the final stages of purchasing the land previously being proposed for residential development.

 

"We have also begun to discuss commercial terms for Clwb Ifor Bach to make use of the site to enable their venue to be expanded."

 

Cllr Thomas has been working with the Save Womanby Street campaign group which was set up earlier this year when fears arose that residential and hotel developments in the area could lead to live music venues being forced to close due to noise complaints.

 

Cllr Thomas continued: "By intervening in this way, we are protecting what is the beating, pulsing heart of music in our city centre. Womanby St is host to several live venues which create an atmosphere and district unlike any other in the capital.

 

"Some of the world's greatest bands and musicians, on their way to the top of the music business, will have performed in these venues at some point over the past 30 years and thousands of music fans will have unforgettable memories of their times in these clubs."

 

Councillor Peter Bradbury, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure has set out that the Council has agreed to facilitate a new Music Strategy for the city. Discussions are underway with world-leading advisors Sound Diplomacy to work with local artists, businesses and venues to devise a new plan for growing the live music scene in Cardiff.

 

Councillor Bradbury said: "Sound Diplomacy have done some excellent work across the globe. They seem excited about working in Cardiff, and I am looking forward to confirming their involvement in the next few weeks."