Backdoor Project
The Back Door Music Project developed from successful 'Battle of the Bands' nights held at Oulder Hill School. This gave the opportunity for young, inexperienced bands, to perform live in front of an audience, often for the first time. In August 2000 the idea of creating a community based musical learning centre was born.
The use of the school�s Dance Lounge was secured and made suitable for a performing venue. Work took over six months and grants and donations provided funding with the labour being provided free by volunteers. The Back Door performances grew in popularity and began to attract bands from all over the country performing alongside local talent. Monthly 'Mosh Pit' nights were introduced where up to 150 young people came together for an alcohol-free night of supervised 'moshing'.
Partnerships were forged with Rochdale Council which in turn led to projects with Greater Manchester Music Action Zone, Band on the Wall and Youth Music. These projects have brought together volunteers whose interests and skills lie in educating young people who would not otherwise come into contact with live music.
Back Door have recently been moved out of Oulder Hill and are in temporary residence at Falinge High School. Discussions continue to find them a new home.
Since August 2000, the progress of the Back Door Project has been impressive, both in supporting young live music and in assisting in recording and education. Just check out some of the names in �The Next Big Thing� section of this exhibition for proof! This is particularly impressive considering that enthusiastic volunteers carry out much of their work.
So if you are in a aspiring young band looking for somewhere to perform or record, or maybe an ageing rocker who hasn�t �died before they got old� and wants to help out, put your contact details in the Back Door post box.
Back Door Music Project in the Rochdale Observer
Youths work together to make music
Rockers in Training
Live Group Onstage
Local youths express themselves
Crowd gathering at the bar
More youths work together
Teamwork
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