Creative Times

Band On The Wall Appoints New Team

Published 13.02.09

Manchester’s legendary music venue Band On The Wall has set the stage for its reopening in September appointing both a new CEO and Music Programmer.

New CEO Gavin Sharp has a vast amount of experience in the music industry; he previously worked as marketing and programme manager at Band on the Wall from 1999-2001 and most recently worked at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall where he produced its Capital of Culture programme.

Gavin will work alongside current CEO, Ian Croal, who has been in charge of the venue since 1981 when he launched its multicultural music programme. Ian set up the charity Inner City Music to run the venue’s activities in 1985 and for many years was the main music programmer, administrator and fund-raiser. He was also the principal fundraiser for the current capital project and has led the venue’s redevelopment from inception to completion this Spring. He steps down from the role in September to concentrate on developing Band On The Wall’s rich music archive.

“I’m overjoyed to be back at Band on the Wall,” said Gavin. “It’s one of the most important music venues in the UK and when it relaunches it will not only be a great place to enjoy live music, but it will be a fantastic arts, education and social space too.”

Music programmer Mike Chadwick from Salford has worked as a radio broadcaster since 1991 at stations across the North West including KFM, Sunset Radio, Smooth FM and The Jazz. He continues to host his show on Jazz FM that goes out three times a week.

Charity Band On The Wall has hosted the likes of Joy Division, Mica Paris, John Martyn and Buzzcocks in the past and closed in 2005 for redevelopment. The transformed venue will include a new multi-use social space and an education suite from where a series of initiatives with local schools and colleges will be run.

Visit http://www.bandonthewall.org for further information and to join the venue's mailing list.