Liam Fray Launches Abbey Road-Designed Manchester Studio Boosting Grassroots Musicians

Explore how Liam Fray and Abbey Road bring a milestone Manchester studio empowering grassroots musicians with top-tier recording facilities.

A New Chapter for Manchester Musicians

Liam Fray, frontman of the Courteeners, has recently championed the launch of a remarkable new recording studio in Manchester, designed by the legendary Abbey Road Studios. This fresh facility, perched inside the city’s Co-op Live arena, is set to be a game-changer for up-and-coming grassroots musicians seeking top-notch recording opportunities.

In a scene straight out of a dream, Fray was the first artist to record and perform live in this unique space, signaling a new era for local talent. The studio is the fruit of a powerful collaboration between Adidas Originals, Co-op Live, and Abbey Road Studios, combining their expertise to craft a one-of-a-kind creative hub for young artists.

Liam Fray's Live Lounge Debut

The launch night was electrified by Liam Fray's intimate live lounge session where he poured his heart out with songs like “Home Come,” “Acrylic,” “No You Didn’t, No You Don’t,” “Hanging Off Your Cloud,” and “Pink Cactus Café.” Of course, he wrapped up the performance with the fan-favorite Courteeners anthem “Not Nineteen Forever.”

Reflecting on the studio's impact, Fray expressed:

“I came when it was a bit of a building site, so it’s nice to see how beautiful it is now. It feels very warm and welcoming to join, and this place is beautiful, very special.”

– Liam Fray

He reminisced about the humble beginnings of the Courteeners, recalling how they had to record in friends’ garages before their rise to arenas and stadiums. “It’s aspirational,” he said. “If I was 18, I’d want to come in, I’d be like, ‘That’s where I want to go.’ The link with Abbey Road makes this double special. Anyone who gets to come here is really lucky.”

Breaking Barriers for Aspiring Musicians

Highlighting the importance of making music accessible, Fray added:

“Opening up a space like this to get people through the door – I’m all for it. There are obstacles to get into the industry, finance is one of those barriers, but geography is also one. To have something of this level up here that is a focal point in Manchester opens up the industry and takes it to a wider audience. There will be geniuses out there that we don’t yet know about.”

– Liam Fray

Adidas Originals’ VP of Brand, Chris Walsh, emphasized the studio's role in supporting working-class musicians:

“Music is becoming an increasingly difficult space to make a living at, especially for young artists. Access to facilities and opportunities are huge barriers.”

– Chris Walsh

He pointed out that Manchester’s rich musical legacy, with icons like Bernard Sumner, Shaun Ryder, and the Gallagher brothers, was nurtured thanks to access and opportunity — something this new studio aims to provide for today’s talent.

“This isn’t just a token gesture. This is a real, cutting edge, high-end studio where you could record a Number One album. We wanted to bring that to the Manchester community, a special place where artists can develop and thrive.”

– Chris Walsh

A Historic Milestone Outside London

Sally Davies, Managing Director of Abbey Road Studios, hailed the project as an “absolute milestone”:

“In our 94 years, we’ve never engineered a studio outside London. This is part of a bigger vision to support creativity beyond the capital. It’s really important for music to flourish in places like Manchester.”

– Sally Davies

Abbey Road already runs community programs like Equalize — encouraging women to enter audio engineering — and Amplify, which supports emerging talent. These programs, along with Factory International’s FactorySounds initiative, will be brought to Manchester, offering mentorship, workshops, and performance opportunities particularly for underrepresented groups.

Community Access and Future Opportunities

Starting August, the Adidas Originals Recording Studio will open its doors to the local community. Supported by Abbey Road’s programs, the studio aims to inspire the next generation of artists, producers, and creatives with a strong focus on diversity and inclusion.

This development arrives amidst challenging times for the UK’s grassroots music scene, which faces a “complete collapse” of touring, frequent venue closures, and skyrocketing costs for artists to record and perform live. The number of touring artists has plummeted by up to 74% compared to pre-pandemic times.

The Urgent Need for Support

A proposed levy on large gigs aims to funnel money back into grassroots music but debate continues over its implementation speed and effectiveness. Meanwhile, post-Brexit challenges and rising costs threaten the diversity and accessibility of the music industry.

Wolf Alice’s Joff Oddie recently warned that without change, “music becomes a middle and upper class sport.” He stressed how crucial it is to nurture talent from the start:

“Once you get past a point, there is money to be made in the industry. Music is big business, but if we don’t fund that from the beginning, then we aren’t going to get big artists.”

– Joff Oddie

You can catch the Courteeners at several UK and European festivals this summer, promoting their celebrated 2024 album, Pink Cactus Café.

Conclusion

Manchester’s new Abbey Road-designed studio represents a vital investment in grassroots music, breaking down barriers for emerging artists and keeping the city’s rich musical heritage alive. How do you think such initiatives could transform the future of local music scenes around the world?

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes the new Manchester studio unique?
  It’s the first Abbey Road-designed studio outside London, equipped with world-class technology aimed at supporting grassroots musicians.
• Who is the studio designed to help?
  Young, emerging musicians and creatives from Manchester and the surrounding communities, especially those facing financial and geographical barriers.
• What programs support artists at this studio?
  Abbey Road’s Equalize and Amplify programs promote diversity and offer mentorship, while Factory International’s FactorySounds provides additional financial and developmental support.
• When will the studio be available to the public?
  The Adidas Originals Recording Studio will open to the local community starting August.
• How does Liam Fray view the studio’s importance?
  He sees it as a beautiful, aspirational space that will open doors and inspire the next generation of talent.

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