somewhereto_ Northern Ireland are busy preparing for an exciting few days in May with their event The Open Source.

The Open Source is a performance space, music venue and workshop hub bringing life back into an empty space on Belfast’s Donegall Street during the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival.

For eleven days, The Open Source brings life to a vacant property and provides space for free workshops, performances and exchange of ideas between 12 noon and 7pm daily. Check out their programme here.

 Run by volunteers and made possible by the donation of the space, furniture, equipment and the artists’ time, The Open Source relies on the spirit of collectivism and collaboration to provide a dynamic, creative hub in the city. 

This year’s Open Source is 25 Donegall Street, Belfast. Check back on their page here for more photos as the space begins to take shape in the run-up to opening day on 2nd May.  

Do you need space to do what you love? Get in touch with somewhereto_ so we can find you the ultimate space to do what you love to do..

Our newly unlocked space at Vibe Place is getting a splash of somewhereto_ yellow on the 5th and 6th of May.

Enroute is 13 young artists and six unique music performers who will take you on an immersive journey! What’s more, it’s free! Make sure you donate though as these guys have been working hard! 

Everyone is welcome to come by at 6:30 to get a drink and get ready for the amazing performance at 8pm

Do you want space to put on an event of your own? Get in touch with somewhereto_ here

Georgio Savvides is the founder of The Hip-Hop orchestra. Here, filmed in One KX (a space provided by somewhereto_ for free), we get a teaser of his mission to make classical music more popular with young people by fusing it with hip-hop in a cover of Kanye West’s Amazing. Stay tuned as we’ll be showcasing more of the orchestra’s remixes.

If, like Georgio, you have a great idea but need the space to do it then you only need to get in touch with us! Check out some of our spaces here. Get in contact here!

The Glastonbury line up is out! Who’s got their tickets? 

You know we love all things space so here’s our low down on some of the spaces to be at Glastonbury…

PYRAMID STAGE

This pinnacle of Glastonbury was first created in 1971 out of bits of scaffolding and metal.. now it’s enormous and hosting Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones, Mumford & Sons, Dizzee Rascal, and, Rita Ora…

OTHER STAGE

Famed for it’s more dancey atmosphere. You can find this one round the back of the Pyramid. Portishead, Chase & Status, Two Door Cinema Club, and, Azealia Banks are all rocking on this one this year.

WEST HOLTS STAGE
This one has come and gone in the past. It’s well and truly here this year and will provide the platform for Chic ft. Nile Rodgers
Public Enemy plus others!

THE PARK STAGE
Late night bars and tee pee tents.. plus this massive ribbony tower! If that doesn’t thrill you then some great acts including Cat Power and The Horrors

JOHN PEEL TENT
Named in honour of the late and great John Peel. This place contains some serious excitement. Get jumpin to Crystal Castles and Jessie Ware to name a few.

SILVER HAYES
The ultimate dance village will contain Nas and Wiley and more!

ACOUSTIC TENT
Exactly what it says on the tin! Steve Winwood and Sinéad O’Connor have joining many others to unplug and unwind!

AVALON STAGE
The ultimate village fete. When you’re not winning coconuts or wanging a welly you could listen to Ben Caplan or Beverley Knight to name a few!

THEATRE & CIRCUS
An array on entertainment can be found in this beautiful Somerset field! Including The Infinite Monkey Cage.

BLOCK9
Pretty sinister place from the outside in. The epitomy of underground and the home of Gene Hunt for the duration!

ARCADIA

What the hell is this place?! All they say is not to believe any rumours - to be seen to be believed!

THE COMMON

Hola - the Central American infused field! 

GREEN FIELDS

At the highest point of the festival’s site - this is a place to watch, learn, and wander around the many small fields..

KIDZFIELD

Britain’s largest free children’s festival! Need we say more?

LEFTFIELD

Get on your soapbox and start debating right here - with a lil’ music thrown in!

THE PILTON PALAIS

Mooooooovies! This year they’re bringing 3D to the table!

SHANGRI-LA

A myriad of walkways you could get lost down and find yourself at a secret gig…or a kidney hire stall! 

STRUMMERVILLE

You might want to bring your marshmallows to this campfire!

THE UNFAIRGROUND

A fairground…but not as you’d know it!

There’s so many places we’ve left for you to explore. We love amazing spaces and these are so cool! Tweet us if you have tickets (you lucky people, you) and if you need space - SURELY you know by now that we’re the ones to call! 

www.somewhereto.com

Looking for something to do on the Bank Holiday? Get yourselves down to somewhereto_ space Rich Mix for a night of art, music and Juliyaa’s launch of her EP Stars and Dragons Live. 

Pre-booked tickets are a deal at £5 and on the door it’s £7. Book quick to avoid disappointment - this one will sell out fast!

Check out our interview with Juliyaa here.

Do you need space to gig, make music or maybe something completely different? Click here to see the spaces you could use or click here to get in touch with your Regional Delivery Partner to find out more.

On the 1st of April at our loyal somewhereto_ space, Richmix there’s one young person planning something very exciting. Juliyaa will be launching her debut EP 

How long has music been a part of your life?

I was born into a family that loved music and dancing, and I got caught up in that from a young age.  I’ve got a funny video of me as a three year old doing the bogel in the front room to some of my dads reggae playing on our vinyl player! Also I have fond memories of waking up on a Sunday to hear gospel and hi life music being blasted from my mums tapedeck.  For me music is always associated with fun times with the ones you love.

What made you take it further?

In my early teens I became involved with a youth organisation that helped young people called Bigga Fish. I became involved in a lot of singing and street dance. It opened up a lot of great opportunities, travelling around the UK and performing with artists from the likes of Estelle to The Heartless Crew.  This was a time when my musicianship grew, and I learned some important lessons about what it takes to be in music. Also I wanted to take it further because I realised that its something that I am completely passionate about & would regret if I didn’t try to do.

Was there a pivotal moment in your music career? Tell us about it?

A pivotal moment was receiving the Best New Music Act for the GUBA Awards at the end of 2011. It was really nice to be recognised by my cultural peers as making positive movement in my field. Probably the biggest thing is releasing my first EP Stars & Dragons at the end of 2012. The project felt like my statement to the world. It feels like I have that chapter/story told and I can now move forward with making more new music, and enter a new chapter as an artist.

What’s the best space you’ve performed in so far?

Definitely the Jazz Cafe. Growing up in North London, I always walked passed it and saw the names of artists I admired performing there. So to perform there myself was surreal, and it being in my hometown was extra special.

What can we expect on the 1^st of April?

Lots of soul, lashings of rhythm, great music and a great time! Plus with 1xtra’s DJ Ace spinning some tunes and artwork from YinnYang - your eyes and ears will be well fed! It is a chance for people to hear lots of my new songs and the full breadth of my musical inspirations.  It will be an experience, not just a music night, and remember your dancing shoes!

Can you give us any nuggets of wisdom for any young musicians starting out?

Writing and performing is a real risk sometimes, as people - often not musicians themselves - will be constantly critiquing your thoughts and feelings that are captured in your songs.  But make sure you carry on making music that you want to make. People have opinions but at the end of the day you have the lyrics and melody - all is for the taking. It’s just waiting to be captured with a simple pen and paper.

Tickets are available at £5 in advance from www.richmix.org and £7 on the door. Book early to avoid disappointment!

A serious amount of moolah is being spent on a seriously big project. It’s a zone for youth! It’s called a Youth Zone! Yeah, ok, before you start rolling your eyes these oldies are really trying to make things better in your area!

A multi million pound project has secured a space for music, music recording, dance and loads more exciting things. Hey, it’s better than the bus stop in the rain…

Do you need space in your areas and your oldies aren’t giving you a Youth Zone. Why don’t you get in touch with us? somewhereto_ find space for young people like you all the time! 

Scottish band CherryGrove found a space to shoot their fantastic Black Is The Colour music video at the CCA (Centre for Contemporary Arts) with somewhereto_

For more information on CherryGrove visit:http://cherrygrovemusic.com/

Do you want to start up your own enterprise? Have this great idea for a business but not sure where to start?

It can be daunting but why not read Bdaily’s article on Stewart. He not only started his own music label, event and artist management company, 

If you need space to do your thing then check out the spaces we’ve already unlocked! If all of those spaces aren’t right for you then just find your Regional Delivery Partner here

Over the last few months the House The House competition has being searing across the UK picking up talented DJs along the way. In exciting heats that have built up momentum to one exciting final that happened at Ministry of Sound one winner was announced in the form a of a somewhereto_ young person.

Congratulations Bryce Fury. We caught up with him and found out how it felt to know he’ll be playing alongside Fat Boy Slim at the House of Commons very soon….

How long have you been DJing for?

I had turntables at uni but only really started playing officially since February. I grew up around my best friend who DJ’s since we were 14.

What’s been your favourite style of music?

Why would you want to restrict yourself? I don’t think I could really pick one style.

How did you get involved in the competition?

I saw that Generator had tweeted so I tweeted them back. I did it for something to do really. Wanted to do something fun. These competitions are a good way to gauge where you are with it and what level you’re at. I’ve been to other competitions before but never really thought I’d win, I just thought I’d do it for fun!

What was the competition process like?

I just did what I liked. I have a musical background, played keys since I was 9 and worked as a sound engineer for a bit. Like I said, I don’t really have a favourite music style and I really enjoy mixing the old with the new. I do a lot of ElectroSwing so I just went in and did that in the heats. It got a good reception and was chosen for the next round. I spoke to some people afterwards and they all said I should do the same stuff for the final. I don’t really plan my sets. Only to an extent. There are tunes I know I’ll bring in but mostly I’ll go on my gut once I’m up there. I use turntables and was the only one using them. I got up the on the final and they didn’t work! When I began my set I had about four people around me helping me sort the technical issues out. I started my set, it wouldn’t work and I had to start again – it was hard not be throw off by that but in those instances you have to remain focused.

How do you feel about winning the competition?

It really hasn’t sunk in! I keep expecting someone to ring me up and tell me it was a mistake. Only the funny thing is I initially came 2nd and they had to recount and turned out I’d actually won.

Which part of the prize are you most excited by?

Its all pretty good! I think I’m mostly looking forward to the scholarship. Because regardless how my DJing and music production goes… even if I mess all that up – which I hope I won’t – I’ll be spending the next two years doing something I really love. Doing something that will show me how to be a better and stronger musician. I’m nervous about DJing with Fat Boy Slim. Whereas before I was just going up there by myself and doing my thing. It didn’t matter where I came because I had little expectation and I was doing it for me – now I feel I’m representing a lot of people and I feel the pressure to really smash it.

What advice would you give to others who want to DJ?

Really, if you want to do something just go and do it. Don’t let any doubts or worries stop you doing what you love. And practically? Get turntables rather than a CDJ or a controller. You learn a lot more with turntables and it gives you a better foundation than going straight to the other forms. There’s so many interesting things you can do on Vinyl that you can’t on CDJ. Oh, and never use the sync button! It’s cheating!

Do you need space to do what you love? Get in touch with somewhereto_

photo credits: 

Hattie Simms

Matt Dinnery