Lancaster Music Co-op will reopen next year after receiving funding grant

Lancaster Music Co-Op is set to reopen next year after receiving a funding grant to complete renovations. 

The building on Lodge Street, Lancaster, was deemed as being unsafe after a safety inspection in 2021.

Initial repairs worth £1.2 million were funded by grants and a community fundraising campaign, but an extra £100,000 was needed to complete the maintenance works. This money has now been secured through the Arts Council England grant worth £90,000, which was dependent upon raising £10,000 in match-funding, which the co-op has collected “thanks to the generosity of the local community”.

The co-operative added that the new funding will see the completion of the final building phases, with “all works completed and include competition of rehearsal and recording rooms, the office, and all finishing works.”

Lancaster Music Co-op originally opened in 1985, with famous faces such as The Prodigy and Maximo Park drummer Tom English having performed there, alongside a variety of local acts. The co-op provided an accessible and affordable space for local musicians to rehearse and record their music.

Music co-op director Holly Blackwell said: “It’s been years of constant graft to get back open, but we will never give up on this place. It means too much to too many people.

“It is a massively important part of our city and our culture. It’s what makes Lancaster so unique and why the city has become known for music and art. It’s important to keep the city weird.”

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Holly also describes how important being in a band is for people in the local area, speaking as one half of psych-punk band The Lovely Eggs. She adds that it is a “means of escape from normal life” and it “keeps the alternative dream alive”.

Fellow co-op director and other half of The Lovely Eggs David Blackwell added that the pair want to keep the spirit of Lancaster Music Co-op, citing the importance of the local community and music scene.

Cat Smith, Lancaster and Wyre MP, said: “Lancaster Music Co-op is a vital part of our grassroots music scene, giving people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to make music, develop their talents and connect with others.

“Its reopening in 2027 will be a real boost for Lancaster, helping local musicians thrive and ensuring future generations have a place to learn, create and perform.”

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