A dedicated Facebook page is being created to live stream music gigs from a leading Westside venue with support from the BID.
Paul Riding recently began videoing the weekly concerts at Velvet Music Rooms on Broad Street which have been available to view for free on his own personal Facebook page.
However, Westside BID has now stepped in to sponsor Paul which has resulted in the creation of a new service called ‘Live and Loud’.
Paul, who also works as a hand engraver, and recently presented an engraved Black Sabbath mirror to band member Tony Iommi, said he was keen to share the music of bands playing in and around Birmingham.
He said: “I began by live streaming the Henry’s Blueshouse gigs on Tuesday nights at Velvet last year, and recently started doing the Birmingham Rocks Sunday evenings at the same venue as well.
“I love live music and wanted an opportunity to share what these bands were doing. They are really good and, hopefully, it encourages more people to go and see them.
“Doing the live gigs has given me chance to meet some amazing musicians and the music fans I see at the venues. It’s an honour now to be able to call such genuine people my friends.”
He added: “The staff at Velvet Rooms are great and really make it easier for me any way they can.”
Paul says he uses his smartphone, which he mounts on a tripod, to live stream the gigs at Velvet Music Rooms to his Facebook page.
“The quality isn’t too bad, although you have to be careful of people talking in the audience.
“I start each live stream by taking a 20 second video of the bands’ sound check, but I don’t post that until about 10 minutes before they start playing. So, it tells the audience on Facebook what they can expect.”
Paul maintains an archive of all the gigs he has live streamed, which also includes recordings from various other venues. They include Chas Manns in Kings Norton, Billesley Rock Club at the Billesley pub, and The Crew Rock Pub in Nuneaton.
“I now have a dedicated Facebook page called ‘Live and Loud’ with the tag of ‘bands at venues in and around Birmingham’.
“I have transferred the data from my personal page, including all the previous recordings, so it’s just a question of getting it launched.
“It’s great that the Westside BID is now getting involved. When they mentioned sponsorship, I had a big smile on my face. When I do the concerts at Velvet, I put tags on like Henry’s and Birmingham Rocks, so I can tag the BID as well.”
Paul said there was a sizeable streaming audience, both live and people watching it in the days to come. He added: “One band can get a thousand views a week, it depends on the band. I enjoy doing it, so I’m glad others do too.”
BID general manager Mike Olley said: “I love that Paul is live streaming the popular gigs at Velvet and sharing them with a wider audience, so we are delighted to officially support what he’s doing.
“I am sure that a dedicated Facebook page, rather than Paul’s own page, will prove even more popular and hopefully encourage more people to attend Velvet in person. And we can then look at the possibility of doing live streams from other venues.”
VELVET’S LIVE MUSIC GIGS IN APRIL
Birmingham Rocks – Sunday evenings, from 6.30pm, free admission
- Sunday 16 April – Back On The Road
- Sunday 23 April – White Tyger
- Sunday 30 April – Blue 2 The Bone
Henry’s Blueshouse – Tuesday nights, from 7pm, free admission
- Tuesday 18 April – Will Killeen Band
- Tuesday 25 April – Melvin Hancox Band
Main picture: Paul Riding (left) with friend and fellow live music promoter Chris Barrow
ENDS
