On Thursday 13th August, thanks to Heritage Lottery and The General Charity of the City of Coventry, the next phase of the Coventry Music Museum begins. The doors will open in their new entrance and all will be revealed as they say.
Well what can we expect? Julie Chambers Director and Front Of House said: "Well for a start, we now have our own entrance, complete with juke box, there's the studio room where children of all ages can play the instruments and generally engage with music. Perfect for school trips of course and Summer Holiday days out".
Upstairs in The Andy Gailey Gallery, sponsored by Kev Monks, Janet, Kevin & Michael Holloway and Stephen, Brooke & Joshua Pilling and Elite Graphix. "For Love and Pride" launches a world first, a temporary exhibition about King, from The Reluctant Stereotype days right through to King Phoenix. "It's going to be our best one yet", said Director Pete Chambers. "We have a brand new Gallery, and everyone involved with King has been so co-operative. Even Paul King came along and took part in an interview, and loaned us his green suit as seen on the "Love and Pride" video. A video has been made, and it's pretty much the definitive story of the band before and after, and of course the amazing King Phoenix. Top pro photographer Tony Mottram is also exhibiting some never before seen King photos in the gallery. We just want to thank everyone that has helped us get to this point, Coventry has a great music history, and I believe it also has a great future, so it's important to showcase it".
Other exhibition areas include the entire output from the 2-Tone Record label, every single made on the label, thanks to Australian collector Andrew Downie, rare and overseas releases will also be on show. There's Brody Swain's Future music area, where presenter and new music guru Brody Swain gets to highlight some of his favourite new music coming out of the area. The Godiva Festival and its impressive history also gets showcased.
The brand new Coventry University exhibit, "Out To Lanch" fights an energetic battle to prove just why The Lanch is a shrine to Coventry music. Thanks to Coventry University's Phil Pilkington and Chris Smith the exhibition's centre piece is an original desk as used in the Specials song "Rat Race", recorded in the Main Hall by the band, who were all dressed as teachers and as students performed a mock exam. Visitors will be invited to sit at the desk and be part of the Rat Race photographic stylee. The area is dressed to look like part of the Main Hall, be it a mini version. Entrance to the museum is £3.00 for adults, £2.00 concession for Students & Senior Citizens and £1.00 for children (5-15). The website is www.covmm.co.uk.
The Coventry Music Museum, located on the Walsgrave Road, on Ball Hill (CV2 4ED), the museum traces Coventry and Warwickshire's' music traditions back to the Roman Occupation and ends with new Artists of The Month, and includes everything in between. It has recently won a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Advisor for being Coventry's number one attraction for eighteen months. Everyone who works there is a volunteer, there are no paid staff.