The idea
The event will be free to attend, offering up to 6 hours of music in an open mic format. There will be workshops, music and dance, local choirs, ukeleles, food, drink and a festival atmosphere.
This will take place in and around Flaxivity, a youth centre based in a disused glazing factory in front of the Flaxmill Maltings buildings. The centre, which was set up by the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings, offers skateboarding ramps and other activities and it will greatly benefit from the Our Big Gig event.
We will bring together a wide range of ages from the community to celebrate the Heritage site and the youth centre.
What we'll deliver
- Deliver an Our Big Gig event at Flaxivity
- Programme 6 hours of free live musical performance
- Have musical activities to engage children
- Involve local schools
- Offer music and dance based workshops
- Provide food and drink stalls
- Provide information on the Heritage site and it's future regeneration
- Support local businesses and the local economy
Why it's a great idea
Since 2013, over 380,000 people have attended 520 Our Big Gig events which have seen a wide variety of musical activities take place in a range of unusual spaces.
Last year we hosted one of those events in Flaxivity. It was very successful, and in 2015 we want to build on that success, and once again put on a music based event that people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy.
Steps to get it done
- We will draw on and add to our experience of hosting a similar event in 2014
- We will use social media and the local press & radio to recruit more acts and to publicise the event.
- We have a large pool of volunteers to draw on
- We have a long list of local musicians who have contributed to past events at the Flaxmill Maltings
- We have an organising committee
