Some of Hull’s most popular and prestigious venues have joined forces to celebrate the area as a City of Music.
Key partners have come together to promote and acknowledge the city’s rich music culture, history and aspirations.
Hull City of Music aims to encourage the experience of live music within the community through attendance, participation and education. The group – made up of venues such as the Bonus Arena, Welly, Adelphi, Asylum, Humber Street Sesh, Polar Bear and Hull City Hall – hopes that by joining forces, the city’s live music scene will be put on the map in the same way as Manchester and Liverpool’s musical heritage.
City Hall is one of the venues coming together to support Hull City of Music.
Hundreds of events take place every month across the city and the group – which is working alongside Visit Hull and Hull City Council – will look aim to jointly promote these events, broaden opportunities for musicians and solidify the city’s reputation for being a place for great live music.
Councillor Dave Craker, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and tourism, said: “It is great for the council, through Visit Hull, to be part of a partnership of venues that will help to rightly establish Hull as one of the country’s best destinations for seeing and playing live music.”
As part of longer term aims, the group hopes to not just inspire the next wave of local musicians, but to encourage young people to become involved in the music industry as promoters, technicians or involved in the recording of live music.
The Polar Bear in Hull. Picture: @beersatthebear on Facebook
Dan Harris, general manager at the Bonus Arena, said: “Over the last few years Hull has welcomed some enormous bands and artists to the city with even more planned in 2020. Hull City of Music gives all venues – regardless of size – the chance to come together and celebrate the rich cultural offering, promote the city’s grassroots acts and clear a pathway to continue to put the city on the musical map.”
A website – which will include a one stop shop for gig listings – and social media accounts will be launched in the near future.
It is also hoped that, by working together, the city may be able to take a joined-up approach to hosting multi-venue events, similar to those such as Live at Leeds or Tramlines, in Sheffield.
