FULL MOON TO RISE AGAIN?
FORMER staff of The Full Moon plan to reopen the venue and are launching a crowdfunding campaign to help them resurrect the much-loved live music bar in Cardiff’s Womanby Street.
The venue shut last week dealing yet another huge blow to Cardiff’s “music street”, which has already seen the closure of Dempseys pub and the Full Moon’s sister venue The Moon Club, as well as potential threats from a Wetherspoon Hotel, a noise complaint filed against Fuel Rock Bar, and a proposed seven-storey residential and commercial development next to Clwb Ifor Bach.
To help them in their aims the staff behind the reopening of The Full Moon – Liz Hunt, Grant Jones, Thomas Ingram and Carly Curtis – have formed a non-profit, community-led organisation called Creative Republic of Cardiff that, in addition to resurrecting the venue hope, to rejuvenate Cardiff’s live music and creative culture.
“We plan to take on the building’s lease within the next month and reopen as a community-led, non-profit venue and arts space,” said Grant.
“Every penny that comes in as profit will go straight back into communityled projects that benefit all creatives in Cardiff.
“The Full Moon has been integral to the progression of local music over the last five years, giving many local artists their first taste of a stage, hosting some of the most memorable gigs the city has seen, given audiences free live music every single weekend, and – most importantly – allowed an evergrowing creative identity and culture to have a home and flourish.
“Cardiff’s cultural identity is under threat and The Full Moon’s closure was the last straw for us.
“Unless a cooperative, concentrated effort is put into action now we stand to lose a huge chunk of what makes our city one of the most progressive and characterful in the UK.”
He added: “The reopening of The Full Moon will just be the beginning for us. Creative Republic of Cardiff will use the venue to establish an environment of collaboration, networking and knowledge sharing.
“It will nurture, develop, organise and showcase talent from Cardiff and beyond.
“Our first step, however, can not be taken without the support of everybody in the community.
“The Full Moon has always been the people’s venue so we are asking the public to help us reopen on Friday, April 28.”
To contribute to the crowdfunding campaign, visit www.indiegogo.com/ projects/reboot-the-moon-music
Find out more about Creative Republic Cardiff at www.facebook. com/creativerepublicofcardiff and www.twitter.com/CreativeRepCDF