New Backroom Music Venue Opens to Revive Wakefield Gigging Scene

As young musicians hunt for purpose-built spaces to hone their craft, a new live music venue called the Backroom has opened inside the Hop and Cobble pub in Wakefield. The venue aims to revive the city’s grassroots gigging scene, offering emerging talent a stage reminiscent of larger venues.

Reviving Wakefield’s Live Music Heritage

In the past, Wakefield thrummed with energetic performances as packed taverns welcomed future stars like The Kooks and The Cribs on their upward trajectory. Although much of the grassroots scene has since faded, the Backroom hopes to bring back those glory days. The venue opened this week with a performance by The Azurals on Thursday night. For musician Adam Schofield, who fronted a band when Wakefield’s live music culture was at its peak, the project was sparked by an obvious scarcity of platforms for novice groups to gain stage time. Schofield recalled that local bands once regularly played venues like Players, Escobar, and the Snooty Fox. Before achieving global fame, indie acts such as The Cribs played at Escobar, alongside other notable performers including The Kooks and Arctic Monkeys. “It was this tiny little place which wasn’t really set up as somewhere for bands to play – it had this pillar down the middle stage,” Schofield remembered. “But it had a really good reputation for live music – so much so that emerging bands would put it on their UK tours.”

Inside the Design of the Backroom

While those older venues built reputations through character and circumstance, Schofield noted that the Backroom offers features they lacked. “The Backroom has got all the things you’d associate with playing a big venue like the O2 but in a smaller space,” he said. The space includes a green room for artists to relax before taking the stage, along with a professional sound system and lighting designed to create a distinct atmosphere. Jamie Lawson, owner of the Hop and Cobble and Ossett Brewery, originally put live music at the heart of The Hop when it opened in 2009. While that musical focus faded over time, Lawson wanted to invest in the local area and provide a platform for new acts. “Bands all need to start somewhere and I think without a grassroots venue then it’s very difficult to do that,” Lawson said.

The Hop Fostered Local Acts and Plans Weekly Nights

The original pub helped form several successful local acts. Ryan Johnston, lead singer of Skinny Living, recalled that The Hop was where he first met bandmate Danny. Meanwhile, Embrace drummer Mike Heaton remembered playing memorable shows there to road-test new songs. To foster a similar environment for the next generation, a weekly grassroots night will take place at the Backroom every Thursday, allowing bands to register their interest regardless of their current crowd-pulling power. The venue also plans to collaborate with local colleges and music organisations, offering students hands-on experience in production and engineering. Schofield wants to see Wakefield return to a routine where live gigs are a standard midweek option. “Ultimately, I’d love to see Wakefield go back to ‘Oh it’s a Wednesday night, shall we go and watch a band?'” Schofield said.