Support independent venues. Support real music.
Quite some time ago, Stoke-on-Trents music Riff Factory announced that it was to undergo renovations, with the intention being to create a new venue within the city, making what was already a musician’s hub into something much more communal. After months of hard work, it’s finally time for the space to open up to the community, and those eagle-eyed among you may notice a peculiar name amongst the lineup… A remarkably bold decision from the venue, relatively unknown act Push Rope are set to headline, with the likes of local mainstays in Black Coast, Return to Solace, and Invasion supporting. Whilst many may not recognise the headliners at first, one thing is certain: if you’ve been invited, you absolutely do not want to miss out on what they have in store.
It’s crucial to note the legacy that this space has for every act involved. For younger acts like Invasion, it’s quickly become a home away from home, a space to write, practice, and socialise. For more seasoned acts, like Push Rope and Black Coast, it’s much much more than that. Riff Factory is a space which has been used by them for years. It’s seen practice sets ahead of international tours and festival appearances, brainstorming, riffing, and recording sessions, and even some very intimate shows from early on in their careers. Riff Factory has been and remains to be a pillar in the Stoke-on-Trent music scene for musicians and creatives, and now, with their doors opening up to the more general public, it’s important to support and respect the space for all that it’s given and continues to give us.
As if that isn’t enough, the venue also announced a slew of shows to kick off their opening week, including a performance from Chin w/ Fractured Mind, Anti-Meta, and Cure for the Enemy, which will no doubt also be an incredible night.
If you’ve been lucky enough to receive an invite to this opening night, please, do all that you can to attend. This is something that you absolutely won’t want to miss. Support independent spaces. Support real music.