The members of Ash and Snow Patrol have given their support to plans to create a music centre in Belfast. A whiskey warehouse in the heart of the city's cathedral quarter is set to be renovated to create the centre, which will consist of rehearsal space, a recording studio, a café, and office units set to house new music businesses. The project, dubbed 'Oh Yeah', has been put together by a team made up of BBC broadcaster and former NME chap Stuart Bailie, multimedia type Martin Neill and businessman David Matchett.
Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody says: "What Patrol would have given for the advice of professionals; the space to rehearse or cut demos; a place to hang out and listen to music and meet people that might one day change your life."
He continued: "What is needed is a nexus to focus musical energy into and to unite the Belfast music scene in a way that has been elusive until now. It is staggering how simple music is when you boil it down: people, together."
Ash's Tim Wheeler added: "I think this is a fantastic, long-overdue idea for Belfast. The music scene in Belfast needs a hub like this. It has a wealth of musical talent, but talent needs the right conditions to grow and develop. The music center would be a great place for this to start."