Initial Start on FMP

Today I started with some sketches for my FMP. I know I want the focus to be on the underground Hull music scene, but I'm not sure which direction I want to take this in yet. My end goal is to showcase the Hull scene in a way that's engaging to the public, and informative about the underground culture here. With Hull being city of culture, I think quite a few of the grassroots places and people here are already being given space to shine, which means that my own work would have to stand out from the pre-existing city of culture work.

I started with what I know, which is that a lot of the home grown music talent here is born through venues such as The Adelphi and The Warren Youth Project. I did a little more research into the backgrounds of both places, but really I just wanted to start making some practical work. I'm really trying to get across the bravery and resilience of such places. I've chosen to work in an A3 sketchbook for this brief, in the hopes that it pushes and encourages me to work bolder and with less fears of making things 'neat and perfect'. I believe the work should reflect the Hull passion and bravery, so bold honest illustrations are what I'm looking for here.

RESEARCH SUMMED UP

Adelphi

- The New Adelphi Club has open for 33 years now

- Hosted bands such as Pulp, Oasis, Radiohead, Green Day. The Beautiful South

- Holds local gigs every week

- Massive supporter of local music scene

- Feels like home

The Warren

- Local charity for Hull youth

- Proves free counselling and other services to young people 

- Provides free music recording, producing, workshops etc as well as rehearsal space

- Warren Records also releases music for young people via their label

- Been around around 30 years also

For the past 30 years, The Warren Youth Project – an independent charity - has been providing vital support services to marginalised and vulnerable young people in Hull. Operating from a former fire- station in Hull city-centre, the Warren’s staff team offers free support, guidance, training, music, education and counselling services to young people aged 14-25 who are experiencing unemployment, homelessness, isolation, sexual abuse, physical abuse, drug-abuse, bullying, neglect, domestic violence, family-relationship breakdown, learning difficulties, racism and homophobia. We also work very closely with young people who are experiencing physical and mental health problems such as self-harming, eating disorders, depression, psychosis, STDs and loneliness to name but a few.

We also provide a music service – Warren Records (link here) – which supports young people to develop their musical potential in any field or genre by providing free rehearsal and recording studio space and support. As well as being a vital element of our strategy to support and empower vulnerable young people, Warren Records also plays a prominent role in the city’s arts community by facilitating access for those who might not otherwise engage and is also working with City of Culture 2017 to promote local music and local musicians. It is now a primary partner in all the city’s major arts festivals and has successfully facilitated countless live performances along with the digital release of hundreds of music recordings which may otherwise have never been heard due to the unaffordability of recording facilities to young people.

Moving forward I was thinking about contacting Stewart Baxter from Warren Records as he's someone I've built a good professional friendship with over the past year or so. I think he'd be happy to help with my project, and getting his take on the music scene would be really beneficial. As well as working at Warren Records for a few years now, Stew has also been in the Hull punk scene for quite some time. I'm hoping that having some primary research will give my work a sense of authenticity.