As Independent Music Venue Week 2020 draws to a close, we take a look at the home of the Portsmouth music scene... The Wedgewood Rooms.
The music & comedy venue launched in 1992 and has seen some of the worlds largest names come through its doors including Gorillaz, Oasis, Pulp, Editors, PJ Harvey, Muse, Scissor Sisters, Paloma Faith, Catfish and The Bottlemen, Barenaked Ladies, Buzzcocks, Damon Albarn and Biffy Clyro to name but a few.
The Wedgewood Rooms has always supported unsigned and local music and continues to do so. Throughout the year it hosts hundreds of local band shows through DIY shows or with the assistance of local promoters, mainly in The Edge of the Wedge, with larger fan base bands being upgraded to the main stage. The Unsigned Showcase competition which has been running for more than 10 years, still brings new and exciting acts to the venue who work their way to a grand final on the main stage with a host of fantastic prizes.
Photo - Tony Palmer Photography
Though The Wedgewood Rooms as we know it has been here for almost 30 years, it remains purely independent with no financial backing from the government or local councils. The management and staff fight hard on a daily basis to ensure the doors are open, fridges are stocked and the floors cleaned whilst maintaining 100% enthusiasm for the next event and beyond.
We've seen in recent years many venues, not just in Portsmouth but across the UK, close their doors for good. It's becoming increasingly worrying that more will close however we have the chance to prevent this, IVW is a fantastic campaign to give these venues like The Wedgewood Rooms a spot in the national media spot light however that's just one week in 52. We should be focused on our venues all year round.
Photo - Tony Palmer Photography
We are forever grateful that The Wedgewood Rooms is here, not only to host two of our stages for Icebreaker Festival but for the opportunities it's afforded us in our previous bands or DJ events, for being promoters and for the shows we've enjoyed watching over the years of which we've listed some highlights below...
Mike
Unsigned - Bellyeyesmile
Touring - The Cooper Temple Clause
Dudley
Unsigned - Kassassin Street
Touring - White Denim
Ben
Unsigned - Djuno
Touring - Gorillaz
Matt
Unsigned - Morass of Molasses
Touring - One Minute Silence
Billy
Unsigned - Kassassin Street
Touring - Damon Albarn
Listen below to Geoff, the general manager of the Wedgewood Rooms talk to Steph from BBC Radio Solent about The Wedgewood Rooms during Independent Venue Week - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p07ypw5n
For more info and to book tickets to a show, please visit their website - www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk
Photo - Tony Palmer Photography