Albion Street on track to replace Abbey Road

11 July, 2000

The 1 in 12 Club is now well on the way to opening its own Recording Studio and band Practice Room.

Phase 1 - the Practice Room - is now open for business and members can rehearse under perfect acoustic conditions without annoying the neighbours for only £3 an hour.

Club member Stick said:

"Bands used to practice in the gig room which is far from ideal acoustically. We also used to get a lot of complaints from adjoining businesses through the day."

The project began a year ago when one member decided that there was space in the Club cellar that could be better utilised.

"We always wanted a recording studio and then we realised - hey, this is the 1 in 12 Club, we can do it ourselves."

So, in the true DIY ethos of the Club, the "Practice room collective" was born.

A series of benefits raised enough money to buy building materials to start the process and collective members taught themselves the technical requirements from books. The skills of a range of Club members proved invaluable - joiners, brickies, electricians. "The only thing we're short of is a decent plasterer" said Stick.

Many of the building materials were "recycled"; timbers from a demolition site, carpet rejects from a warehouse, a set of acoustic tiles from a skip. "We're better known as the 'Wombling collective' because of our scavenging skills" said Stick.

Phase 2 involves building the adjoining recording studio, which will be fashioned from the old spirit store:

"We'll be able then to record tracks directly for future Club compilation albums. We intend to have the recording studio finished in time for the Club's big 20th anniversary celebrations next May Day."

High quality digital recording and mixing equipment is likely to prove expensive, but some money is already in the bank thanks to donations, including one from pop stars and club members Chumbawamba. Hire charges from the practice room should help swell the coffers. Stick said:

"We've also been given some bits and pieces of equipment, but all donations are very welcome. There's obviously still a lot of work to be done, but seeing the practice room being used now has given everybody a real boost."

Check out the Practice Room progress
See also: The 1 in 12 Club site

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