Yorkshire's music revolution gets help from a 'Madchester' rival
Yorkshire’s rise to the music capital of the north is getting a boost from an unlikely source.
Martyn Walsh, of Manchester band Inspiral Carpets, a director of a record label and a music consultant, is helping to spearhead a drive to help Yorkshire’s aspiring musicians turn their dreams into a reality.
As Sheffield’s Arctic Monkeys and Leeds’s Kaiser Chiefs put the Manchester and Liverpool music scenes in the shade, Martyn has decided to ‘follow the buzz’ and work in Yorkshire for the first time.
He has become a mentor for Yorkshire-based CIDA (Creative Industries Development Agency) in order to guide up and coming musicians and others in the music industry in Yorkshire.
“You can be the most fantastic guitarist in the world but if you are sat in a bedroom and don’t get out there and work hard then you won’t make it,” said Martyn, bass player with the Inspiral Carpets who were part of the ‘Madchester’ scene of the late 80s and early 90s.
“I know how glamorous rock and roll looks but going into music is not an easy option. The skill is to make it look like that while making sure you are taking care of the business side properly.
“The music industry has its own set of rules and the help I got from people like Anthony Wilson and 808 State to set up our own record label – Cow Records – was invaluable.
“Members of Depeche Mode and New Order also gave me important advice. Now I am able to pass on my expertise and experience and there is no doubt that the buzz is in Yorkshire and that’s where I want to work.
“There’s so many people in Yorkshire with creative talent and so much help and guidance for them from organisations such as CIDA, that it’s a really exciting time to be involved.”
CIDA works with new and established creative talent in the area and in the last six years it has helped over 2,500 creative individuals, 1,300 creative businesses and created 600 jobs in the creative sector.
Aspiring musicians across Yorkshire can benefit from free interviews with CIDA so they can find out what help they need and where they can get it, and there are special group surgeries for a small fee.
In addition, musicians living in Kirklees are eligible for one-to-one mentoring, business training workshops and e-commerce development, which is funded by the EU, under CIDA’s Creative Exchange 3 Programme.
People already working in the music industry in Kirklees, especially those looking to grow their business and employ other people, can apply to go on CIDA’s Creative Entrepreneurs programme called the Cirrus Project.
Anamaria Wills, Chief Executive Officer of CIDA, said: “We want to help this region grow and become the best in the UK for new musical talent and Martyn shares that ambition.
“He has vast industry knowledge and contacts, which is vital for new and up and coming musicians, bands and those wanting to set up their own labels.
“Critically Martyn understands the business of music as well as the creativity of music and he’ll be a key player in achieving our aim of helping creative people successfully earn their living.”