Dont Drop The Dumbells
Sept 2010 - May 2011.

Rip.

Stay Skatty.

DDTDB was part of an ongoing self funded project by POSTMUSIC to open unused spaces in cities for use as creative spaces.

full info and documentation @ www.DontDropTheDumbells.co.uk

As of Sunday 15th May 2011 the disused gym and kung fu / dance studio turned creative space on Hardman Street Liverpool that for the last 8 months has been referred to as Dont Drop The Dumbells,

will close.

DDTD was an amazing creative space for music, art, film and discussion achieving so much in such a short space of time ...

Opening Night Sept 25th 2010 Photo by: Genevieve Rosa

The tv episodes will continue, the original vague info here at www.DontDropTheDumbells.co.uk will be replaced by a massively tediously in-depth documentation of what happened here since Sept 2010.

While we were an active space we had to be somewhat careful and not attract to much attention now that we no longer need to hide we will begin to make a fitting epitaph :) and shine some light on what happened here. We were quite over the top about documenting these last 8 months, but also not making to much of a big deal of all the awesome events and strange/awesome/gross uses the space hosted.

It was an immense experience for POSTMUSIC and DDTD Crew. Thank You to all that supported the space from Sept 2010 - May 2011 and made it the stuff of idle chat in the future im sure :)

Over May 14th/15th DDTD crew dismantled the lovingly built and maintained spaced within hours and shipped off all the good bits to a space on the docks.

Taken from www.Sevenstreets.com

They Ain’t Heavy: Don’t Drop The Dumbells

Rising from the spot at the top of Hardman Street where the Picket once stood, Don't Drop The Dumbells shows that nights out in this still can still have the power to surprise...

The Don’t Drop The Dumbells crew (pic r) don’t go in for manifestos. But if they did, something approximating ‘making music, not money since 2010’ would be as good an intro to the chaps’ philosophy – and the reason why this warren of rooms off Hardman Street has been responsible for some of the city’s most exciting, and eclectic musical evenings over the past two seasons.

Rising from the quadrangle of crumbling buildings that once housed the Picket, the Dumbells HQ actually occupies the former site of a deaf school, and gym (hence the name) that’s turned inwards, away from the city’s gaze, and overlooked by all but those who’ve determinately sought it out. It’s a location that fits their DNA like a hand in a double helix glove.

Outside, at street level, there’s talk of a Cafe Nero, and a(nother)Tesco to trap the city-bound as they trudge down from the University to Bold Street. But the Dumbells remain undaunted. Their art and music space, practice rooms and bunker

isn’t about to be bulldozed by big business anytime yet.

sadly is about to be bulldozed by big business (see DDTD response below).

Jake, Steve and Joel met up concocting something wonderful, and fleeting, at the equally crumbly Park Palace – a boarded up music hall hidden in the badlands of the Dingle. A couple of encounters later, and they’d met the landlord of their current HQ, and sold him on the idea of exchanging a peppercorn rent in return for breathing life, and purpose, into this venerable corner of city’s musical heritage.

“It’s an experiment,” says Jake. “We wanted to create an environment that’s not hostile to creativity, one that doesn’t make money a consideration for getting involved.”

“There’s not enough people who don’t care about money,” he adds. “It just doesn’t happen in the UK, but in Europe, places like Dumbells thrive in the city’s abandoned spaces, and the authorities either turn a blind eye, or have a hands off position that allows them to grow and thrive.”

Things, so far, are thriving nicely here, too. Half hidden behind the cast iron gates, the DDTD DIY aesthetic is proof that you don’t need bouncers, nor PR, nor early bird wristbands to create a genuinely exciting musical movement in the city. All you need is an old gymnasium (tick), a seriously skilled sound engineer (tick) and some of Europe’s most innovative and incendiary live acts (double tick), and you got yourself a scene. Sort of. Just don’t tell everyone.

“We only put posters up in here,” laughs Jake, “then our crowd is self selecting. We never get any trouble. If scallies ever do wander in, they don’t last long…”

Not that the Dumbells are fostering any ideas of a cool-kids only space for the in-the-knows and the circle-jerking scenesters. If you get it, you can be part of it.

“There’s been a real lack of imagination in the city, especially in the new venues and music spaces opening up,” Steve says. “We just thought ‘if you’re a new band, with no money, no address, how do you get to perform? If you don’t give a platform to the city’s genuinely creative souls, you’ll lose them. And then we’ll all be poorer.”

To that end, DDTD has seen memorable nights from local and international heroes such as Ergo Phizmiz, Zombina and the Skeletones, Ex-Easter Island Head, a.P.A.t.T and Carlton Melton: bands big, small, young and old, drawn to the climbing frames and parquet flooring up Hardman Street with no promise of a rider, no merch stand, no 7 out of 10 reviews in The Echo. Just a crowd, an atmosphere, and a feeling that everyone’s in it together.

“Why aren’t other people doing this?” ponders Jake, beneath a hanging mobile of molars and incisors (remnants of a toothy art installation) “Liverpool’s got us and the Kaza, but there needs to be more spaces where you can genuinely have a meeting of minds, and where amazing things can happen. Where there’s an opportunity to come up with something new…”

As we talk, somewhere in the building’s labyrinthine passages, other members of the crew are digitally splicing together the latest video diary: since its inception DDTD has produced discrete documents of its art shows, discussions, film shows, parties and pandemonium – for no other reason than to say – hey, this happened. Hosted by Paul Tarpy, the videos add weight to the belief that what’s happening here isn’t a random collection of gigs, of 20 and 30 somethings getting wasted on cider and pogoing to art rock (although, to be fair, that’s pretty much as good a reason to call as any), but a counter-culture documentary, filmed in real time, with real people.

“People remember the early eighties’ political scene,” Jake says, “we’re just trying to keep that spirit alive. There’s so many distractions, these days, but we believe that when everyone pools what they’ve got together, something great can happen. The beauty is in finding it.”

And this is one experiment the DDTD crew are determined isn’t going to be as easily snuffed out by the wrecking ball, the tyranny of town planning or – yes, even – the advance of Tesco.

“We’re making a DIY film about the use of empty spaces and how music and art grow in these otherwise unused buildings,” Jake says. “The act of watching these is an official invite to get involved in our future events. It’ll also act as a permanent reminder of what actually took place.”

Good to know that this revolution, at least, will be televised. Still, if you’re lucky enough to catch any of the few remaining parties, you’ll know that there’s no substitute for being there.

www.dontdropthedumbells.co.uk

! . DONT DROP THE DUMBELLS TV ! ¡

The Episodes of DDTD TV will continue until all our documentation is released. We have been documenting quite obsessively since the moment we walked in. Mostly pretty ropey last minute camera work and harsh built in mic sound, the idea is to cut it up and release it in episodes once a week starting in January 2011, each show presented as an episode and hosted by local wordy fella Paul Tarpy and a host of Liverpool peeps.

Originally Episodes 01 - 04 went out weekly documenting the first 2 months Sept - Nov 2010 - As this whole project is fully unfunded and we are quite an active space, demands on time were immense and we have decided from Episode 05 to put them out just as regulary as we can but we making them longer.. and maybe mix them up abit ... some new ideas :) Episode 5.5 is a special on UpitUp Records 'Knobheads' night of wonky electro.

Latest Episode uploaded Thursday 01st June 2011*

Episode 07: December 2010 (continued)

Hosted by:
Paul Tarpy.

Featuring:
AM ERI CANS
RUNNERS
GIGANTES ( formerly BEAST)

Art Exhibition: GOLDEN INK HARVEST / GT / GOLDEN De La Bankrolls

Produced by POSTMUSIC Liverpool

Edited by:
Jacobia Stig

Filmed @ DDTD by:
Ste Cole.
Jose McCarthy.
Jacobia Stig.

copyright PMtv 2011.

Episode 06: December 2010

Hosted by:
Paul Tarpy.

Featuring:
Action Beat.
Barberos.
Chris Brokaw.
Zombina And The Skeletones.

Art Exhibition: Burn Everything -

Photo Stills: Genevieve Rosa

Edited:
Jacobia Stig

Filmed @ DDTDB by:
Ste Cole.
Jose McCarthy.
Jacobia Stig.

copyright PMtv 2011.

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Episode 5.5: Knobheads Special

Hosted by:

Paul Tarpy

Featuring: Paddy Steer - VHS Head - Ergo Pizmiz - Jacques - White MAsk - Odd Bwar -

Art Exhibition: me presents -

Photo Stills: Genevieve Rosa

Edited:
Jacobia Stig

Filmed @ DDTDB by:
Jacobia Stig

Ste Cole
Jose McCarthy

Steer jr

copyright PMtv 2011.

_____________________________________

Episode 05: November 2010

Hosted by:
Rikky & O'shea  

Featuring:

Ergo Pizmiz -

Jacques -

The Dick Limerick Academy -

Circuit Ben -

Odd Bwar -

Maximillian I -

Apes Fight Back -

Paul Tarpy

Art Exhibition:

Wwrrss Ddrrwwss -

Edited: 

Jacobia Stig  

Filmed:

Jacobia Stig
Ste Cole

Jose McCarthy

'Metal Badman' promo by Flash Heart Films.

_____________________________________

Episode 04: November 2010

Hosted by:
Paul Tarpy

Featuring:
The International
Bendal Interlude
Aeroplane Flys High

Edited: Jacobia Stig

Filmed by:
Ste Cole
Jose McCarthy
Jacobia Stig

Copyright POSTMUSIC tv 2011

_____________________________________

Episode 03 Oct/Nov 2010

Hosted by: Paul Tarpy 

Featuring:
Ex-Easter Island Head 
Mugstar 
Trouble With Books
Black Octagon.

Exhibition by: - me presents 

Edited by: - Jacobia Stig

Filmed by: - Jose MCcarthy - Ste Cole - Jacobia Stig

Copyright POSTMUSIC tv 2011.

_____________________________________

Episode 02: October 2010.

Hosted by: Paul Tarpy

Featuring:

Rhubarb -

Api Uiz -

Arnaud Rivier. 

Edited by: Jacobia Stig

Filmed by: Jose McCarthy

Ste Cole

Jacobia Stig.

Episode 01: September 2010.

Hosted by: Paul Tarpy

Featuring:
AM ERI CANS -
Trouble With Books -
Bob Corn.

Exhibition by: No Lookin - me presents.

Filmed/Edited by: Jacobia Stig.

Thanks to all who participate in the making of these episodes.

Our Original Manifesto and announcment in September 2010:

'DONT DROP THE DUMBELLS'

... is a yellowed hand stenciled sign taped to the wall of a disused gym where future D.I.Y. happenings will be hosted, by invite. This is the invite.

WE ARE NOT OCCUPYING THE OLD PICKET VENUE OR PINBALL STUDIO

ILLEGALLY, COMMERCIALLY OR OTHERWISE.

AND WE ARE NOT A VENUE.

WE DO NOT RUN A BAR.

We are making a diy film about the use of empty spaces and how music and art grow in these otherwise unused buildings. The act of watching these and future episodes is an official invite to get in contact and witness and get involved in our future moves.

DDTDB is limited to around 80 extras at any one private private film shoot.

You will be filmed, and entertained.

BYOB and a donation for production costs.

Peace + Motivation. <3
Dont Drop The Dumbells.

Past Moves:

We will list everything that ever happened here. please email if we forgotten something.
___________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Photos by: Genevieve Rosa, Jacobia stig, Ste Cole, Ricky W, Jew Martin, Kitty Ford and many mnay many DDTD crew and visitors. please email postmusicinfo@gmail.com with any queries regarding photos or documentation.

Anything hanging from the cieling that looks like papermache was created for your pleasure by me presents.

Dont Drop The Dumbells:

DDTDB would firstly like to tip it's hat to people who inhabited this building from it's completion and opening as a blind school, through its crucial years of T.U.C. unemployment peoples center, work with C.N.D., independent advice hub, and more recently as a community minded venue and recording studio until the decision to sell the building in October 2003 led to years of it sitting empty until Sept 2010 when we began bringing some life back back to this small portion of what is an amazing and enormee beautiful building.

Under its current condition most of the amazing stone building visible from Hardman St is undergoing long long long overdue attention. Without many clues to it's future.

All! everything! welcome!

These are photos from around 22/9/10 and our first look at the gym area.

Photos by: jacobia stig

Were learning, but id say we don't really know enough about the building, please get in touch with anything at all regarding its uses in the past and any information on things that probably shouldn't be forgotten.

Over a few (ad)ventures into the rest of the building during the first few months we found some interesting artifacts related to its past. documentation will be posted up soon.

mega cleaning process, within 3 days of having the keys to basically a damp, rank unused building we put on our first audience with a friend of ours BOB CORN. Sept 25th 2010.

On 30th Sept we invited our friend from San Martino Spino in Northern Italy to visit and opened the doors via invites.

BOB CORN

TROUBLE WITH BOOKS

AM ERI CANS

DJ TREE's Disco

Exhibition by me presents & No Looking:

Thurs 30th Sept 2010.

doors from around 8pm.

Donation Entry

Poster by the ever boss: Sean Wars

BOB CORN - His own words:

' ciao, hello… it’s tiziano sgarbi… tizio… bob corn.

i live in a little village in northern italy’s countryside , where i’ve born on november the fifth ninteensixtyeight and where i passed all my life till now… it’s since nine years than i am involved in the rock music scene, doing different things:

organizing shows and festivals, booking tours, driving bands around, running a little label. trying to do these things in a real d.i.y way… music and people in the first row… '

TROUBLE WITH BOOKS -

... will follow up their magical set at A Hawk & A Hacksaw in Aug. originally a Trip-Folk duo ( ! prolly!) , recent introductions of a third member on (double) Bass has brought even more wonderful and strange ambient lines of hooks,riffs and fiddling.

AM ERI CANS -

mini drums / casio combo making double kick / 8bit squelchy improve riffs and adventure soundtracks. Did play with Drumeyes last month / half played with that am eri can 'jay retard' that died after playing in liverpool last nov. is good.

Exhibition by me presents & No Looking

NO LOOKING

me presents

BOB CORN

AM ERI CANS

On 25th Oct some noisey friends from Paris came to stay and record. a full set from Api Uiz & Arnaud was documented and performed plus a rare laptop only outing from Riuven.

A friend of ours works in a huggggggeeeee theatre in Liverpool that after every bloated mediocore show simply throw everything from the set into a huge skip. this time we stole it all and built the stage, umpteeeeen dividing walls and more.

the stage, dj/soundbooth and kitchen bar are all huge letters that once spelt 'OUR DAY OUT' now upturned or laid flat, and the inner vinyl screens on right handside wall and behind the stage are the backs of huge printed adverts for similar theatre productions that once hung the height of a building in central Liverpool.

all the windows sadly had to be covered over in the back studio, dance hall & Dojo. For warmth and security, the original iron windows and air vents facing into courtyards were blocked first with thick plastic Forsale signs, then a layer of crushed up card, wood, a generous layer of reclaimed insulation. then the inner windows were replaced and boarded over. finally some temp fencing was reclaimed and angle grinded to size and fixed. a shame totally for letting in light, but its help keep the place warm in the last freezing month ( dec) and noone is getting in. might be a abit sweaty come summer....