Collaborative to put on co-operative gig in Rochdale conservation area

Toad Lane Conservation Area

Local organisations are set to collaborate to put on a 'co-operative gig' in a Rochdale conservation area  in July.

The Co-operative Gig 2018 is a not-for-profit collaboration on Rochdale’s conservation area of Toad Lane to put on a live music event to support local musical talent and offer an alternative venue model for arts and cultural entertainment in the centre of Rochdale.

Local resident Jordan Diggle thought that by working together, the organisations resident on Toad Lane might be able to offer local bands a larger venue, and the opportunity to earn a fair fee as well as to raise their profile during a difficult period for young artists.

Jordan, himself as a keen music fan, expressed an ambition to develop more live music venues in Rochdale to avoid having to go into Manchester to see ‘up and coming’ acts perform.

The Co-op Heritage Trust's natural partners were The Baum pub along with St Marys’ in the Baum Church in the C of E Parish of Rochdale. The Reverend Mark Coleman wanted to find ways to use his beautiful historic building to benefit the whole community, while The Baum and the museum could only accommodate limited numbers for events.

The idea of working together to make a gig happen seemed obvious: if the church could provide the venue, volunteers and advice, the pub the refreshments and licence, and the Heritage Trust the logistics and management, everyone would be able to benefit.

Rochdale is the birthplace of the Co-operative movement, the place where in 1844, 28 working class people joined together to fight for a fairer society and use co-operation to improve the food their community ate, the places where they lived, and later, the chances they could have in life.

The movement today is a global one, and there are co-operatives all over the world covering everything from vegan groceries to environmentally friendly taxi services. What they have in common is ordinary people working together to help themselves.

Co-operation can be a great tool for getting things done in the world of work, home and leisure.

The Co-op Heritage Trust hopes that lots of local people will come along and support it to help develop this model in the future.