|
What is the Bristol Rock Orchestra and how did it come about?
The Bristol Rock Orchestra was started because I wanted to do
something a bit different. I have done the acoustic/open mic
thing and been in a few cover bands, I even belonged to an
originals band many years ago. The truth is that all musical
projects start off being interesting, but then having learnt the
set and played the circuit it all gets to be dull after the
first year or so. The Rock Orchestra is my attempt to start an
evolving and constantly changing entity where the musicians
involved select a theme such as our current Pink Floyd ‘The
Wall’ project and stay for at least the length of the project.
That is through rehearsals and a number of gigs. At the end of
such a project then we pick another theme and those musicians
that are interested stick around, those that don’t are replaced.
In this way we have a complete set list change and no one feels
obliged to carry on if they want to go off and do other
things.
Where will the Bristol Rock Orchestra play?
Our first concert is at the Portcullis in Fishponds. This venue
was selected because the landlord was happy with the way that I
want to organise gigs. Because I want to have control over the
quality of the ‘product’ which in our case is the live concert,
I will arrange everything including publicity, ticket sales
lighting and PA. The venue benefits from the sale of drinks to a
capacity crowd. As you will see from the website (http://bro.bristolrock.co.uk/)
this strategy enables us to give added value to the audience
with things like our armband tickets. We also have a few more
surprises for those attending the concerts!
After the first gig, we will organise some concerts at bigger
venues but these will not necessarily be in Bristol. We are
currently looking at a larger venue in Cardiff.
Has there been a lot of interest in the project?
Our first gig sold out in two days and we have been getting lots
of enquires & requests for a second concert.
I like the idea of armbands as tickets and your branding is
very strong with the twin guitar suspension bridge logo, how did
you come up with this?
We are lucky to have Darren Green drumming for the BRO at the
moment and he runs his own company (http://asabell.co.uk/)
that specialises in advertising design, the logo was Darren’s
design. The armband tickets were my idea and I had to back that
up by taking the risk of buying them. Fortunately we have sold
all of the tickets so I should get some expenses back
eventually.
How did you select musicians for the current line up?
The current line up consists of the best musicians that I have
had the pleasure to know in my lifetime in music, I was so
pleased when everyone that I asked said yes. Pete the keyboard
player is the only exception in that I did not know him before I
started the BRO. He is Yans (BRO guitarist) lecturer at Cardiff
University. Pete was a really lucky find and has been a great
help with musical arrangement.
|
