Norwich's Epic Studios has appointed a new live music manager who has ambitious plans for the venue's role in the city's music scene.
Rick Lennox joined Epic Studios this month after previously developing the live music programme at Open over the last five years where he was proud to have brought acts including Gaz Coombes from Supergrass, The Darkness, Public Service Broadcasting and Machine Head. Now 50-year-old Mr Lennox, who also has a wealth of experience in the music scene in London including signing the band Skunk Anansie, is looking forward to expanding the music line-up at Epic Studios.
'It was really satisfying starting from scratch [at Open] and seeing the venue develop and appearing on national adverts along with other famous venues like Rock City in Nottingham and Sheffield's The Leadmill,' said Mr Lennox, who is originally from Wymondham.
'What I want to do at Epic Studios is carry on from where I left off at Open, to get another music venue established so hopefully in the future we will have even more bands coming to Norwich. I think Norwich has got some really good venues, the UEA, the Waterfront and Norwich Arts Centre...There's definitely room for Epic. We have got a flexible space here with the main room catering for 1,000 people, so it's the middle venue between the Waterfront and the UEA.'
Public Service Broadcasting, Bad Manners and From The Jam are among the acts that have previously appeared at Epic Studios.
When asked what sort of music he was hoping to programme, Mr Lennox said: 'All sorts, everybody likes a little bit of everything. We will find out what our strongest genres are, but we are open to everything as long as its popular.'
One of the first acts he has programmed for the venue is actually one of the very first bands he saw as a teenager at the UEA - The Vapors who will be coming to Epic Studios on June 17. Another act is singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop on April 2. With the Access to Music college next door to Epic Studios, Mr Lennox also said he wanted to develop Epic Studios as a hub for new musicians.
'I'm really excited because it is a fresh new challenge for me and hopefully I can deliver the goods and deliver some great music to Norwich over the next few years,' he said.
Mr Lennox previously worked as a band manager and A&R manager in London, including working with the record labels One Little Indian and Polydor, managing the band Daisy Chainsaw, discovering and signing Skunk Anansie, and helping to put Sneaker Pimps together. He has also worked as a music presenter.
For more about events at Epic Studios, visit www.epic-tv.com/events/
Do you have a Norwich arts story? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk
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