This week, we find out more about Ramsgate Music Hall.
We spoke to Julian Bigg, Managing Director, who tells us about booking great bands, his amazeballs staff, and snooker legend Steve Davis.
See full listings for Ramsgate Music Hall here.
Vital stats
- Ramsgate Music Hall, 13 Turner Street, Ramsgate, CT11 8NJ
- Established: 2013
- Capacity: 140
Tell us a little about the venue and your role there.
Ramsgate Music Hall, Ramsgate, Cap 140. My role is booking agent, designer, doorman (SIA approved I'll have you know), cashier, Managing Director and all-round venue stress monkey.
Has the venue gone through any major changes since it opened (location, renovation, style of music, etc)?
No change, other than the whole team all learning how to run a business like this (much more than when we started). We book similar types of music, just bigger acts, now that booking agents trust that we offer a good service to band and fan.
The Lemon Twigs (Photo: Dik Ng)
How many gigs or club nights a week do you host?
We do anything between 2 and 5. 3 is ideal. Being so remotely stuck on the far edge of darkest Kent, we will only have a finite number of fans, so too many shows means we steal (fans) from one show to another at times.
Which band that's played your venue has gone on to be the best known?
Well we had Alex Cameron here in February and he's gonna be huge! He's a mega talented cool b-----d! The Lemon Twigs were here on August 29th, who have a pretty sizeable chance of making it big. One of our favourites is the stupendously talented and utterly gorgeous Xenia Rubinos! A Cub-rican superstar who appears on the new Deerhoof LP, Mountain Moves. The latter played recently and should be much bigger than they are. We love 'em with an extraordinary passion and rank them as one of our finest ever shows. DH 4ever!
Do you host events besides gigs and club nights?
We do the the occasional film night, host the odd wedding reception, which are a hoot, and Record Store Day, sometimes.
Xenia Rubinos (Photo: Dik Ng)
If you could change one thing about the live music industry, what would it be?
Make PRS easy and fair for all.
Has your venue ever been threatened with closure? If so, what could have been done to prevent it/support you?
It's always under the threat of closure due to impending bankruptcy. It's kept afloat just by the team behind the venue and our amazeballs staff who are paid a pittance, whilst giving their heart and soul into the business! How to prevent it? Attract more people to come more regularly and see the amazing bands we have, when they haven't heard of them! Trust us, we only book good s--t, and we are very proud of that!
What's been your proudest moment working at your venue?
Every night a punter leaves and they look you deep in the eyes and thank you for an amazing evening of wonderful, life-affirming night of live music that we have helped bring to Ramsgate. It makes you feel like all the pain and stress is worth while seeing their unadulterated pleasure pour out
What's the best show you've put on recently?
Deerhoof, sorry to keep mentioning them, but it was unbelievable!
Are there any interesting facts/stories about the venue that people might not know, but should?!
Steve Davis (Snooker legend and DJ god) - he swears like a trooper after a few pints of Gadds, the ace local brewery whose beer we adore and stock lots of, because we love it and them!
Track Ramsgate Music Hall here to keep up to date with all forthcoming events. You can also catch them on their official website, Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.