Matt Ramsbottom, Director of Credible Media, is behind the plans to bring something different to Oldham’s music scene.
A building with a history
Walk up Henshaw Street from the Tommyfield Pub in Oldham and look to your left, you will see a grey, industrial-looking building with quite a bit of local history.
Once a small orphanage, Sarah Moor Studios later became a pub and restaurant before finding a new identity as Revolution Radio. Now, it’s preparing for another transformation.
Matt Ramsbottom has applied for the relevant licences as part of plans to establish Studio Four, an intimate music and performance space offering something a little different to Oldham’s nightlife.
The inspiration comes partly from the upstairs bar at TGI Fridays in the 1990s, where people could enjoy a drink, look towards a small stage and discover whoever was performing that evening.
The first event takes place on 21 November, with Mom’s Spaghetti Radio bringing its distinctive blend of hip hop, house and 90’s Dance.
Great music, great DJs and the right atmosphere
Matt said:
“I was under pressure to sell the building because it needed to be repurposed. Like a lot of small businesses following , you have to rethink how you’re going to make the best use of your buildings. This is a risk, but hopefully one that will pay off.
“Myself and the team share a deep passion for music and, more importantly, how it makes people feel.
“We believe Oldham needs a venue where DJs have a genuine passion and understanding of the music they play. Get the right music, the right DJ and the right crowd together and you can create nights people remember.
“We have one simple rule: respect the people, respect the venue and respect the vibe.”
Matt also stressed that being a good neighbour is an important part of the plans.
“The people who live in our neighbourhood are important to us, and we want Studio Four to be a positive addition to the area.”
Intimate venue, with ambitions
With its built in radio studios, professional DJ equipment and dedicated performance space, Sarah Moor Studios already has much of the infrastructure to support that ambition.
Studio Four represents another chapter in the story of a building that has continually reinvented itself, and the opportunity to bring something different to Oldham: an intimate venue with big ambitions, built around music, emerging talent and people.
