FROME’s much-loved independent music venue, the Cheese and Grain, is celebrating its 25th birthday this year with a community party in September and a number of live music and comedy performances from artists including Pete Doherty, Cara Dillon, Ed Byrne, Ruby Wax. Craig Charles, Martin Kemp and Jo Whiley.
The Cheese and Grain opened in 1998 and is an 850-capacity venue in the heart of the town. Director Steve Macarthur said it has transformed from a ‘crumbling warehouse into Somerset’s best venue,’ hosting some of the biggest names in the music industry including Sir Paul McCartney and Foo Fighters.
He said, “It’s incredible that the venue has not just survived, but has been able to thrive. Much of the success of the Cheese and Grain is owed to the incredible support the venue has received from within the local community over the past two and half decades.”
Birthday party
To mark the milestone of 25 years, the venue is hosting a birthday community party on Sunday 17th September, with live music from The Raggedy Men; Back of the Bus; Big Dog; Bit Bigger; Frome Town Band; Frome Street Bandits; The Frukes; Jackdaws Songbirds Choir; Frome Youth Choir; children’s entertainment and more.
Along with the party, there are also 70 live music events planned between the anniversary celebrations in September and the end of the year, Steve said, “Music events coming to Frome include the return of favourites such as Pete Doherty, The Dualers, and Cara Dillon, alongside new shows to the venue such as Massive Wagons, Nik Kershaw and Glenn Hughes. Plus, DJ sets from the likes of: Craig Charles, Martin Kemp, Jo Whiley, The Orb and more.”
It isn’t just music the venue is famous for, as its varied programme includes comedy performances from Ed Byrne and Ruby Wax, the poet Brian Bilston, as well as a talk from professor Turi on the impact of DNA on family histories.
There is also the regular markets, record fairs for vinyl enthusiasts and a whole array of activities including wrestling, bingo, chess, various coffee mornings run by the NHS, exercise classes, Rock Choir, roller skating and a chocolate fair.
A photographic history project is also under way, made up of photos of people’s experiences at the Cheese and Grain which will be displayed at the venue and at Frome Town Hall, and then as a permanent archive at Frome Museum.
