As part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations, New Century Hall has announced a brand new scholarship opportunity for one student to attend the dBs Institute of Sound & Digital Technologies, located right within the building and their fledgling Manchester campus.
Located in the basement of New Century over in NOMA, which has quickly become one of Manchester’s best entertainment venues and food halls, the dBs Institute’s brand new state-of-the-art Manc campus offers a range of courses including Music Production, Sound Engineering, Sound Design, Game Development and more.
In this instance, the upcoming scholarship will see one person enrolled on their BSc (Hons) Live Sound degree: a full-time, three-year course designed to provide in-depth knowledge and practical application of all the skills required to design, build and operate professional sound systems at a range of live events.
Both organisations are particularly interested in hearing from prospective students who might not have felt able to apply for this or similar courses previously due to personal or financial reasons.
Credit: New Century x dBs Institute of Sound & Digital Technologies
Promising a jam-packed course full of exciting opportunities and access to various industry connections, as well as giving graduates all the skills needed to progress onto a successful career in sound, students will learn everything from current mixing technologies, acoustics and modern speaker systems, to sound system optimisation techniques, as well as analogue and digital live sound production.
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Alongside practical skills crucial to working in live sound, the course also includes guidance on what it takes to succeed in the industry, including how to set up your own business, work within a team, hone communication skills and more to give you the best chance of earning employment in the industry.
They aren’t just dumping a load of technical skills on your plate, the dBs Institute and New Century are aiming to provide the full package. Perhaps the best part about this collaboration is the fact that the course is studied in-house at the popular gig and events space.
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With the dBs’ £3 million Manchester base opening up in 2022, boasting four studios, four production suites and many more specialist facilities, not only will you be learning right in the city centre but you’ll also be gaining practical industry experience throughout the degree by simply heading upstairs.
The dBs x New Century scholarship goes far beyond teaching the Live Sound curriculum.
The venue isn’t just housing the course, New Century will also support the chosen student with mentoring sessions by working professionals, shadowing key industry events, industry connections, work experience and further career support.
Built in 1963 as a state-of-the-art dance hall before being reopened as the multi-purpose space we know and love today, New Century wants to continue to be at the forefront of the music and events industry — which includes helping burgeoning talents develop and establish their careers.
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Managing Director Abby Moore said of the scholarship: “We’re really excited to be able to partner with dBs Institute to offer this place – the student community located in our basement is a key part of our ecosystem at New Century… This scholarship feels like the perfect way to celebrate the city’s incredible live music history, and look ahead to its exciting future.”
As dBs Manchester, Head of Centre Dom Kane added: “We’re proud to be collaborating with New Century to offer this exciting opportunity for one student to join us on the Live Sound degree this coming September.
“dBs is all about challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries in terms of sound, music and digital technology and we’re always excited to hear from passionate individuals. Working in this industry is for everyone. If you have the drive and enthusiasm to work in live events, we want to hear from you.”
To apply for the scholarship, eligible students will need to submit an application statement which demonstrates their passion for live sound and their future career aspirations in the industry. As per the brief, the statement should be “original, engaging and provide a clear and concise insight into their motivation for pursuing a career in live sound.”
A selection committee will then review all application statements and create a shortlist of the most compelling and deserving applicants, at which point the remaining candidates may be invited for an interview or asked to provide additional information as part of the final selection process.
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The deadline to apply is 30 April 2024 and applicants can submit their application HERE. You check out all available courses on dBs Institute’s website.
In a statement shared today, the Co-op Live said it has been ‘undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans’.
It said that the shows are being rescheduled to ensure they can ‘run safely’.
The 23,500-capacity arena said this will give them ‘the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly’.
The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May, and Peter Kay on 23 and 24 May.
As for the Bolton-born comedian, he sounds somewhat in disbelief himself:
My apologies once again but unfortunately the Co-op Live still isn’t ready and so, as yet, remains untested for a large-scale audience. Consequently, they are having to reschedule my two shows yet again (I know I can’t believe it either).
Co-op Live’s statement reads: “Since making the difficult decision to postpone the live shows at Co-op Live due to take place this week, we have been undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans.
“To ensure that we can run all shows safely, regretfully we have now had to take the decision to reschedule the planned The Black Keys and Peter Kay shows.
“Both The Black Keys and Peter Kay have graciously agreed to reschedule their shows. The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May 2024, and Peter Kay will now perform on 23 and 24 May 2024.
“All tickets remain valid and ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase. Refunds will be available for those who can no longer attend.
“We deeply appreciate the impact this will have on excited fans, and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause.
“Rescheduling Peter Kay and The Black Keys will give us the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly.
“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size to ensure that our fans, artists and staff have the safest experience possible.”
Co-op Live boss resigns just days before venue’s official opening
Daisy Jackson
The boss of Co-op Live, Manchester’s enormous, ground-breaking new arena, has resigned from his position just days before the venue is set to open.
The enormous music-first arena has been taking shape beside the Etihad Stadium for several years, and was due to welcome its first official audiences this week, but has been hit with last-minute challenges.
And now Co-op Live‘s boss Gary Roden has quit the mammoth project, with the news of his resignation announced late Thursday evening.
Oak View Group, which Co-op Live is part of, said in a statement that they would like to ‘thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans’.
Stepping into his shoes as interim general manager will be Rebecca Kane Burton, who previously ran the U.K.’s highest-grossing venue, London’s The O2 arena.
Gary has previously come under fire for saying that some grassroots music venues ‘poorly run’ – a statement that OVG has now distanced itself from.
A separate statement said that ‘neither Co-op Live nor Oak View Group share the sentiment expressed by former Co-op Live General Manager Gary Roden regarding the grassroots industry’.
It continued: “As OVG Chairman and CEO Tim Leiweke has repeatedly stated, Co-op Live remains committed to grassroots music in Manchester and beyond, including teaming up with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on the Artist of the Month campaign, and as a founding partner of Beyond The Music.
“Co-op Live also donates over £1m a year to the Co-op Foundation to support communities and empower young people to take social action through its new Young Gamechangers fund.
“Oak View Group and Co-op Live remain happy to meet with grassroots organisations once the venue is fully operational.”
Co-op Live boss Gary Roden speaking at the launch of Co-op Live just days before he resigned. Credit: The Manc GroupInside Co-op Live in Manchester
The news of the venue’s boss stepping down comes at a time when all eyes are on Co-op Live, the opening of which has been delayed.
The venue did host a test event with Rick Astley last weekend, but even that faced difficulties, with thousands of tickets cancelled to reduce capacity just hours before showtime.
It’s now set to officially open this Saturday 27 April with a performance by rock group The Black Keys.
The full statement from OVG about Gary’s resignation said: “Gary Roden has decided to resign. We’d like to thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans and wish him the best for the future.
“Rebecca Kane Burton has been named Interim GM, effective today. Rebecca is a seasoned veteran of venue management and live entertainment in the UK having served as VP/GM of The O2 from 2012-2016 and CEO of LW Theatres from 2016-2021.
Danny Jones -
23rd October 2023 
