Online music sessions have been helping to keep arts alive in Cornwall during pandemic
The entertainment industry has been struggling through the Covid crisis
Rob Simpson had been due to go out on a sold out arena tour with up and coming chart star Sam Fender in March when lockdown suddenly kicked in.
In the space of around four days the director of Cornwall-based Nub Sound says that his diary of work for 2020 was effectively wiped out as the live music industry ground to a halt.
Nub Sound would have been set to provide sound equipment and production services for a whole host of gigs and events including a full slate of summer festivals.
But after lockdown there was a swift rush of postponements and cancellations as venues and organisers realised there was no way of hosting any events.
Rather than dwelling on the losses and what could have been, Rob returned to an idea that he had previously had – a live online showcase to help promote new music and artistic talent in Cornwall.
He said: “I was working in Miami about a year ago with another colleague in Cornwall and on the flight home we were discussing the cultural situation here. Prior to this shenanigans we wanted to do something to unify the different parts of culture in Cornwall.
“There is so much talent down here with production services and actors, musicians and everything else we wanted to do something to try and bring all that together.”
What has emerged from this seed of an idea is The Nub Sessions, a series of live broadcasts from the Airfield Studios in North Cornwall which started three weeks ago.
Local musicians and bands have been able to perform live on the online broadcast which has also provided a platform to tell some of the fascinating stories from the studios and the people who live and work there.
The shows so far have delighted music fans who have been able to see performances from the likes of Jamie Lawson, Winter Mountain, Rue and Our Atlantic Roots.
There have also been videos telling the stories of some of those based at Airfield Studios and interviews with the featured artists.
Rob says that the project is “a labour of love” and is not about making money, which it doesn’t, and instead about shining a spotlight on local talent.
In order to do this Nub Sounds was successful in getting funding from the Arts Council’s cultural recovery fund which has then been matched by Cultivator, a programme which is part of Creative Kernow.
That has enabled Rob to invest in equipment so that he could get the Nub Sessions off the ground and air four pilot episodes – the fourth is due to be broadcast live on Friday evening.
There will then be a short break before another six sessions are planned next year. And Rob says he is already looking towards a second series with another 10 sessions.
He said: “It is not a money making exercise but it has been an amazing feeling getting people back out and creating something.
“It is not our usual output but it has been good to give people the chance to play again and come together.”
But he said that it was also a way of ensuring that there would be something left of the music industry once events can be held again safely.
Rob said that many production companies and venues had already collapsed as a result of losing all their income and events.
And he said he feared that there could be more casualties along the way.
“We are quite lucky really as Nub Sounds also does installations of equipment so we have been able to do some of that work. We have also been grateful for the furlough scheme which has meant we have been able to protect people and their jobs.”
Cultivator Cornwall said: “As the creative business advisor for performing arts and music, we have been working with NubSound to support the development of the Nub Sessions. Alongside Cornwall Music Network, we are supporting grassroots musicians to make the most of digital performance opportunities as well as showcasing the brilliant talent we have in the region.
“There is a range of support available on the Cultivator programme for creative businesses and freelancers which has adapted quickly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The Nub Sessions continues this Friday (December 11th) starting at 7pm. This week’s show will feature a live performance from The Natives. It can be found on YouTube.
All three previous episodes can also be found now on YouTube. The shows are free to watch and are family friendly.