Singing to save the Co-op

A THREE day fundraising music festival has been arranged to support Lancaster's Musicians' Co-op which could be under threat from future redevelopment proposals.

Angelica, Lancaster's all-girl band, has brought together the cream of the city's bands in a bid to raise the profile of the Co-op on Lodge Street and stop it being swallowed up by any 'big box' retail redevelopment of the city council owned land.

"We felt that we had to act quickly before the council even officially announced its plans," said band member Brigit Colton.  

"The Co-op means so much to us. It serves a large number of people. It is ideally placed for easy access, cheap, clean, safe and more importantly is the back-bone of Lancaster's music scene."

Facilities

Lancaster Music Co-op was formed in 1985 as a non-profit making company dedicated to providing musical facilities at affordable rates.

It offers a recording studio, four rehearsal rooms, storage facilities and equipment hire.

Angelica, who have have enjoyed national recognition including Radio One airplay and appearances at major festivals, including supporting the Beautiful South, recorded their first single there.

The facility's long-term future became uncertain after developer C R Chelverton said it wanted to transform council-owned land around Mitchell's Brewery site into big box retail units as part of a major redeveloprnent of the area.

This is despite the fact that the area is now designated as a 'cultural quarter' in local development plans.

A spokesman for the city council said that the authority could not guarantee that the Co-op would never be sold as part of a future redevelopment.

 The festival will be held at the Yorkshire House in Parliament Street on September 13, 14 and 15. Doors open at 7.30 pm on Friday and Saturday and 8pm on Sunday. Tickets for the event will be on sale at The Yorkshire House, The Musicians Co-op, Play It Again Sam Records in Lancaster Market and Andy's Records in St Nicholas Arcade. Bands so far confirmed, along with Angelica, include Seraphim, 3D Tanx, Bluey, Puma Sutras, Beef Sharky and the Shady Jazz Trio.