A new Friends group formed to support a much-loved entertainment venue in Morecambe has announced details of its first fundraising event.
Friends of The Platform Morecambe will host an evening of reminiscence with Barry Lucas, author of ‘When Rock Went to College’, and supported by local grown musical talent IndifferentMonKeY, Life in Neon and Obyessia.
The event aims to raise funds to restore the original ‘The Platform’ sign and place it back on the front canopy of the building.
The event, at The Platform, Morecambe starts at 7pm on Thursday, October 17, and will aim to bring back memories of the days between 1969 and 1985 when the Great Hall at Lancaster University was the venue to play for bands, artists and musician from around the world, and supported by three of our up and coming local groups and artists who will showcase their own sounds, talent and music.
For more than fifteen years Barry Lucas booked the artists who played The Great Hall at Lancaster University during which time he worked with virtually every well know name in the industry including Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Who, Queen, Tina Turner, Blondie, Paul McCartney and Wings, and Chuck Berry.
Andrew Barker, Director of Library at Lancaster University will be in conversation with Barry as he gives his fascinating memories and insights of working with these legends.
Supporting the event will be indifferentMonKeY, who blend elements of rock, electronic, and trip-hop, creating a unique and eclectic sound.
This fabulous evening of local grass roots music is further enhanced by Life in Neon, an energetic, indie-rock band, bringing together inspiration from a range of musical backgrounds and influences to create an exciting blend of strong melodies, virtuosic performance and a rich harmonic core together with O b y s s i a, a Lancashire based singer-songwriter who plays keyboard and sings her own music influenced by Radiohead, Muse, PJ Harvey, Regina Spector, and Vashti Bunyan to name just a few.
This first fundraising event by the Friends of The Platform Morecambe (FOTPM) is to support an application to The Arts Council for a grant of around £15,000 under their ‘Marketing’ heading to return the original ‘The Platform’ sign that once hung at the front of the entrance canopy – brought down in heavy winds some years ago - together with general signage, venue advertising and branding around the frontage and side of the building.
It’s understood The Arts Council have indicated they would fund 90% of the cost with the proviso that the group match funds the remaining 10%.
The new Friends of the Platform was formally set up in April.
The group aims to promote and help the Platform by creating a volunteer force which can raise funds, help with day to day operations, promote events and generally guarantee its future operating success, by working closely with Lancaster City Council and its team who run the venue.
The group was set up after fears in 2023 that the council might pull out of running the Platform and the venue could be closed. The council did a U-turn on the plans after a campaign by residents and supporters of the Platform.
It is anticipated that fundraising events such as this will be a regular quarterly feature as well as other exciting initiative soon to be announced, including a Loyalty and Rewards Scheme where members of FOTPM will receive significant discounts, advantages and promotion offers from The Platform specifically, and other local businesses generally.
Tickets for the fundraising evening are on sale now at £10 per person from the Platform, Morecambe Box Office or via their web page at link https://bit.ly/4eiAdNi
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