Stourbridge Town Hall is a very special building from the outside but whats happening on the inside is also worthy of note. Its one of the Black Country's best venues hosting music , theatre comedy, record fairs etc etc. We catch up with the Hall Manager: Kelly Martin and Neds Atomic Dustbin frontman: Jonn Penney, who as well as fronting the band also works across the Borough Hall in promoting the good work they do.
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00:00 So we're here at Stourbridge Town Hall and Kelly this is your baby isn't it?
00:04 It is certainly yes.
00:06 And what's your official title then?
00:07 So I am the manager of Stourbridge Town Hall.
00:10 And for people who've not been here before to an event just tell us a bit about it.
00:15 I mean it's a glorious historic building for one isn't it?
00:18 Yeah I mean the building was built in 1887 so it's definitely got those old roots down in Stourbridge.
00:25 You know we have had fantastic people play here back in the day the likes of the Who have played here.
00:31 Yeah.
00:31 You know so the venue it's got a great historic legacy.
00:35 Yeah and it's still kicking and pumping you've got tons of stuff going on haven't you?
00:40 What are some of the events you have going on? It's not just concerts is it?
00:44 No so we host a lot of amateur dramatic societies who are keen users of the building
00:50 every single year coming back year on year.
00:53 We have comedy here we've got we had some crazy bingo events that are going on as well
00:58 as well as live music as well so we're building up our portfolio of live music again
01:03 trying to get it back to the way it was back in the day as well.
01:06 Yeah.
01:06 We've got yeah a great portfolio and more to come.
01:10 And a good couple of bars to serve the punter so it's not too hard to get a pint which I can vouch for.
01:15 Absolutely yeah.
01:16 Is it a listed building?
01:18 It is a listed building the Market Street entrances are listed on that side.
01:23 It's just that side of the building which is listed but you know the features on there are
01:28 absolutely beautiful.
01:29 We've got our original box office in there which used to hold two people believe it or not.
01:36 And I always say that was before fast food came in.
01:38 But yeah it's a key feature to the building we hope one day that you know we may be able
01:43 to renovate that and open it up for the public to see.
01:46 And what's the capacity of the the big main hall there?
01:48 So we're 800 standing and we are 425 seated.
01:53 Yeah we've just had the old beautiful new coverings on the old historic seats so it's
01:58 all looking very plush in there.
02:00 Yes we were fortunate enough to secure some money to to renovate the seats upstairs in
02:05 the balcony and get the tiered seating redone as well so it's yeah it's all looking very good.
02:10 So give me two good events that are on your
02:14 personal radar that are coming up here at the town hall.
02:16 So obviously we've got Shaun Ryder coming up from the Happy Monday so we're really looking
02:22 forward to that one.
02:23 And a big one for me I guess is my One Heart One Way event which is across the whole town
02:29 and featuring Ned's Atomic Dospin and Jesus Jones.
02:33 And we've got an exciting act to announce this week for that as well.
02:36 She mentions Neds and Ned shall appear in the form of Leeds Seagate Job Pedder.
02:43 Hello John how you doing chap?
02:44 I'm all right thank you.
02:45 What are you doing here at town hall then?
02:47 Well I'm promotions officer for all of the borough halls so for established town hall,
02:53 Dudley town hall and Hales-Owen town hall.
02:55 Yeah.
02:56 And so I'm kind of in charge of making sure people know about the shows we're putting
03:00 on the events we have.
03:01 And you know we've got some big venues in the Midlands and but there's some awesome
03:05 stuff going on in Black Country you know Dudley town hall there's a lot of stuff there a lot
03:09 of comedy events there don't they haven't that kind of stuff?
03:12 They do I mean the program's burgeoning really across the three venues and I think there's
03:17 definitely an appetite amongst the public these days to go to things a bit more local
03:22 you know get walk to a gig you know pop in for a swift half on your way or just to not
03:30 worry about parking not worry about the big city and I think provincial audiences are
03:35 a joy to play to for people as well.
03:38 Well we've kind of covered with Kelly she said about we've got tons of stuff going on
03:41 here at Stourbridge but as a performer you know you'll be gracing this stage again you've
03:46 graced it before it must be a pleasure for yourself to play you know there must be some
03:50 toilet should we say you've played but to come and play in a beautiful place like this
03:55 it must you know be quite charming really.
03:57 Well you'd be surprised to know it's quite close to my heart you know I've got a great
04:01 granddad who's the mayor of Stourbridge in coronation year and Queen Elizabeth coronation
04:07 year there's a big big old tree planted in the park in his honour and I grew up around
04:13 Stourbridge I feel passionate about the place and it's wonderful it's just wonderful to
04:18 see events that the people of Stourbridge are invested in going on in the Town Hall
04:24 it's just great and you know I'm really really so chuffed to be able to play a part in getting
04:30 things up off the ground again.
04:31 Great stuff so we've learned two things one there's a ton of great events here at Stourbridge
04:36 Town Hall and number two vote for John Penny for Mayor.