INTERVIEW: New Friends of the Platform group get ready for first fundraising gig

Thursday, 17 October 2024 13:31

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Barry Lucas, Joe Lowe from Indifferent Monkey, Sue Saunders and David Morgan visit the Beyond Radio studio

Members and supporters of the new Friends of the Platform group have spoken to Beyond Radio ahead of their first fundraising gig for the popular music venue.

The grass roots music gig will take place tonight (October 17) at the Platform and committee members hope it will kickstart the fundraising to secure the future of the venue.

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.

Petitions were created, including one by resident Sue Saunders, and such was the strength of feeling and emotion locally, it quickly gathered more than 8,000 signatures demanding for the Platform to be reprieved.

Sue spoke passionately to a full council meeting in November 2023 about how important the venue is to the tourism, community and future of Morecambe – especially with the imminent plans to start work on the town's new Eden Project Morecambe attraction – and was given a standing ovation.

The council had planned to withdraw from operating the former railway station-turned arts centre from March 31 2024.

They had been in talks with three un-named third-party operators but in November, announced their intention to keep the Platform in-house, and look for ways to reduce a £150,000 a year loss to a break-even point.

It was felt that a new Friends group would greatly help with this.

David Morgan and Sue Saunders, chair and honorary secretary of the Friends of the Platform, visited the Beyond Radio studio on Tuesday to appear on The Resident show. They were joined by supporters - local music legend Barry Lucas and Joe Lowe from local band Indifferent Monkey, both of whom will appear at tonight's fundraiser.

LISTEN here.

Sue said it was a "much-loved and needed venue in Morecambe" and it was a "relief" when the council decided to keep running it.

"It's unique, it's iconic," she said of the former railway station-turned concert venue.

"No matter who's on, what's playing there, you feel safe and valued, you have great fun and it's fabulous entertainment."

Mr Morgan said the Platform will be key once the long-awaited Eden Project attraction is built in Morecambe, which has a current target opening date of 2028.

"Every day we could have 2,000 people who are going to walk past the Platform, scratching their heads, saying what are we going to do when we come out of Eden?" he said.

"We've got this fantastic opportunity, this wonderful building that's over 100 years old, to develop that. I'm excited."

The Friends group, formed earlier this year, now has nearly 150 members.

These numbers are growing on a weekly basis, said Mrs Saunders.

"Everybody we speak to is so supportive of the Platform," she said.

Mr Morgan said: "We're working really well with both the city council and the staff at the Platform. Everybody has joined together.

"We're trying to raise funds, that the city can't raise, and tap other sources. There are grants available that we can apply for, and using those funds we can develop the teriffic venue that it is. We've got some great plans.

"We've already received grants from various people of around £1,500, close to £2,000.

"From the first fundraiser this Thursday, we hope to raise another £1,500-£2000 from that. We don't want to stop there.

"In December we're launching our Loyalty and Reward programme for our members, who wil pay a small amount each month and in return they will get rewards."

Mr Morgan said the Friends will also apply for a grant from the Arts Council.

"The old sign in front of the Platform blew down a few years ago and we need to replace that," he said.

"We want that sign back there and we want branding around the building and identity as to what shows are going on."

Thursday's gig, compered by Morecambe FC matchday announcer Mark Swindlehurst, will feature a Q&A with former Lancaster University entertainment manager Barry Lucas, talking about his years of bringing huge rock 'n' roll names to the university's Great Hall.

Copies of his relaunched book 'When Rock Went to College' will be available.

There will also be live music from Obyssia, Life in Neon and Indifferent Monkey.