ECOWorld London offered us this great building and made it safe for the community, our volunteers turned it from an office into a vibrant community space & live music venue in three weeks!
Have a look at the process & our great opening event!
With gigs and events well under way come and find out more about our unique, welcoming, space in the heart of Woking Town Centre!
Planning permission has been granted for Phoenix Cultural Centre CIC’s new temporary home at 32 Goldsworth Road in Woking. Set to open its doors in Autumn 2023, 32 Goldsworth Road will be the centre’s home, with the Cultural Centre recently signing the lease for up to 3 years ahead of EcoWorld redeveloping the site.
The 2,000 sqm space, let on a peppercorn rent, is being refurbished by EcoWorld to make the space accessible and fit for purpose. The space will be an exciting new venue for the Woking community, housing the Fiery Bird Live Music venue which will host live entertainment for up to 250 people. Phoenix Cultural Centre CIC will also hire workspaces for social enterprise startups, and event spaces for community, cultural and health workshops and events and activities for all ages.
Phoenix Cultural Centre CIC is a non-profit, community-led organisation dedicated to supporting and promoting community cohesion & wellbeing, opportunities in the arts and the creative economy in Woking Borough and beyond. The centre has been providing a platform for emerging artists and cultural practitioners to showcase their work and connect with audiences since 2010, from original music showcases, paid busking, festivals, family days, cultural events, gigs, health and wellbeing events, workshops, and poetry nights.
Phoenix Cultural Centre CIC has plans for an exciting programme in the new venue with UK touring acts, local music and comedy nights of diverse genres and their own workshops and events. They will also offer training and employment opportunities, reinstate partnerships working with SEN adults, colleges and widen their outreach programme with the intention to be a space where other organisations and groups can widen their impact, help people develop ideas and run activities for visitors all ages.
The organisation is also in talks with several partners interested in using the space, including The Jam exhibition, which, following its successful run at Somerset House in London, the Cunard Building in Liverpool and Brighton will be taking space at 32 Goldsworth Road to house the biggest exhibition to date encompassing not only The Jam, but also The Style Council and Paul Weller’s solo career.
Phoenix Cultural Centre CIC exists to enable the community to be part of a vibrant and inclusive cultural hub that fosters creativity, innovation, and social engagement and celebrates diversity, promotes dialogue, and inspires positive change. Drawing on their experience as residents and in community development, learning and the arts as well as working with other local and UK wide community ventures, Phoenix Cultural Centre CIC hopes to demonstrate the benefits a dedicated space like this can bring to people’s wellbeing, health, and economy.
Elaine McGinty, CEO of Phoenix Cultural Centre CIC, said: “We are excited to start the work to get the venue ready to open and offering performance opportunities from beginners to the touring artists, for all ages and members of the community, both groups and individuals to enjoy and make happen here in Woking. This is a community venue, its success depends on the support of the community who can be involved and shape how they want their community venue to be”
Lisa Gledhill, Managing Director of Development at EcoWorld, said: “We are delighted with this significant milestone for Phoenix Cultural Centre. The green light for their new temporary home at 32 Goldsworth Road will allow Phoenix Cultural Centre to continue their vital work for the community and become a fantastic cultural hub for Woking. We’re looking forward to the next stage of this journey with Phoenix Cultural Centre and other local organisations to help safeguard Woking’s cultural future .”
Our monthly Sunday afternoon Fiery Bird Showcase continues at The Junction Coffee Shop, Woking
on Sunday 4th September 1pm – 4pm,
with live music from JK Jerome, Jess Tuthill and Marc Woosnam.
Woking’s JK Jerome Singer/songwriter with a love of lyrics and acoustic melodies. Once in a band called Sloes.
Jess Tuthill bringing her Ukulele travels to Woking. Mostly original songs and ditties but really whatever takes her fancy!
Marc Woosnam’s musical roots stem from the Seattle grunge scene and branch out to blues, rock, and folk to give him a unique sound in modern music.
👇 For more information and to have a listen click below 👇
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JK Jerome – Jess Tuthill – Marc Woosnam
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In association with Arts Council England and Graham Steel Music Company
We won’t be opening for Open Mic night this Monday 18th July but we will be back on the 25th. Sorry for any disappointment but with the extreme heat warning ☀️ we thought it would be safer and more comfortable for everyone. We will look forward to welcoming you back on Monday 25th July
Our Fiery Bird Showcases continue at The Junction Coffee Shop, Woking on Sunday 7th August from 1pm – 4pm, live music from The Velveteen Orkestra, Mili & Bertie and The Hedge Inspectors.
No stranger to our venues we welcome back The Velveteen Orkestra purveyors of quality alternative folk noir rock and roll. Always a treat.
Alternative pop duo Mili & Bertie are influenced by the likes of Crowded House and Starsailor, the pair bring an authentic and contemporary sound that is somewhat reminiscent of an older era of mainstream pop.
The Hedge Inspectors describe themselves as Acoustic noise makers, with original songs inspired by ‘true’ events.
👇 For more information and to have listen click below 👇
The Velveteen Orkestra – Mili & Bertie – The Hedge Inspectors
In association with Graham Steel Music Company and Arts Council England
Our monthly Sunday afternoon Fiery Bird Showcase continues at The Junction Coffee Shop, Woking on Sunday 3rd July 1pm – 4pm, with live music from Tu-Kay & Ryan, Moonlight Foxes and Will Samson.
Acoustic duo Tu-Kay & Ryan are passionate about making music with a positive message.
They are all about rich harmonies and creating a genuine connection with those who come to see them through the universal truths within their songs.
Will Samson is an alternative acoustic upbeat folk singer songwriter who is well known for his protest songs.
Will’s influences include Billy Bragg, Bob Dylan, Frank Turner, Gerry Cinnamon and Woody Guthrie to name a few.
Moonlight Foxes are an award-winning duo based on the Berkshire/Hampshire borders.
Fay Freemantle and Alan Lovegrove have been performing separately for more than 20 years in various musical incarnations and genres.
👇 For more information and to have listen click below 👇
We’ve been getting lots of questions about the opening date of the permanent Phoenix Cultural Centre/Fiery Bird Live Music Venue.
Our current situation is that though we have all of the music equipment ready to put in from our last venue that we had to hand back last year, the new building is a shell.
We were offered a permanent building by Woking Borough Council in 2019 to be handed over with the work to make it accessible and with heat, light, water reconnected and toilets installed, we could then install all of the music equipment from the Fiery Bird we were already running and the transition from one to the other was planned to be immediate.
Subsequently as with many, Covid interrupted these plans and we were also advised that due to Covid the money to complete the works before we took over the lease was no longer available. So in November 2020 with support from WBC officers, we applied to Your Fund Surrey for one of the capital grants for communities to refurbish buildings in their area.
Our application is to ensure that the building is accessible so everyone can participate. We already have everything we need to run music events.
The application process was advertised at taking 3-6 months.
This organisation is a community led not for profit that aims to build on the work we started in our previous two venues over the last 11 years to offer work & training opportunities, partner with colleges, schools and charities and be accessible to all.
With great events and gigs from the best on tour around the UK available in the centre of Woking.
An affordable safe place for people of Woking and beyond to enjoy and celebrate the amazing talent we have and can bring here.
For our current, and future residents & visiting audiences, for a long time.
We still await an answer on our application from Your Fund Surrey and so, the venue won’t be ready.
WBC are allowing us to use their brand new Buzz Theatre for the Thomas Gabriel gig on 28 September and that will go ahead, but sadly the other fantastic gigs that we have booked in will have to be cancelled as this is only 90 capacity and not suitable for full bands, it’s also for the use of Italia Conti so may not be available if they’ve moved in.
We have already moved the gigs from last year when we were due to be open and the artists/agents/tour managers have been incredibly patient and supportive. Refunds will, of course be issued.
Our partnership work planned for this September will also be pushed back until we can open the venue. We also have to return the Arts Council funding we secured to see us through the pandemic, employ staff, engage artists, run workshops & training as we have passed the date that it needed to be spent by. We had brought in £.25m of funding over two years to set up the project to succeed.
We also used it to support artists, freelance workers and others who fell through the gap of Covid support running online gigs, gave training to young people in music events, provided music in day care centres, offered poetry workshops to domestic abuse survivors, trained staff and volunteers in safeguarding, mental health first aid & suicide intervention ready for when we could open. This will still be of value however we as yet do not have an indication of a timescale for opening.
WBC have given us use of The Junction Cafe on Monday nights for our open mics and Sunday showcases on the first Sunday of each month for the next six months. All are welcome to these Arts Council supported events. Entry by donation.
Sorry the news isn’t better, as you can imagine we are all gutted to be sharing this but since we have no choice but to cancel gigs, a situation no venue wants to be in and we have to let people know as soon as possible.
Every Monday night from 7.30 to 10pm come down to the Junction Coffee Shop.
Acoustic set up – back line will be provided if required.
All abilities welcome in our traditional Phoenix/Fiery Bird atmosphere
Entry fee is by donation – whatever you can spare.
Whatever your style or level come join us to watch, listen or indeed to join in the fun.
Tea & coffee will be available.
Microphones will be sanitised after each performance.
To find the Junction Coffee Shop turn left out of the station (town side) and you’ll find it on the right! 18 High St, Woking GU21 6BW
Please take our short survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/R7KXQL2
We kick off on Sunday 1st May from 1 to 4pm with a Spoken Word Showcase bringing together a wonderful selection of beautiful humans.
Pete Cox an artist, poet and the creator and curator of Innerverse.
Tara Bernadette Egan an expressive poet, thought provoking and instantly relatable.
Then no strangers to the Fiery Bird we welcome Elaine McGinty and Joe Buckley who bring poetry to music.
Elaine is a poet/musician/community activist, Joe is a musician and composer. They started working together in 2010 in the IPO Mob which became Phoenix Chroi, whose songs were based on Elaine’s poetry and in 2019 they started performing as a duo where Joe’s bass lines accompany Elaine’s poetry.
We are very excited to hear that we have been awarded Government funding thanks to the DCMS (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee) Culture Recovery Fund this means we can continue to write campaigns and fund bids and get ready to make an amazing space for our Woking community to enjoy next year.
Culture creates jobs, supports livelihoods, and brings joy to everyone. The UK leads the world in the creative industries and we can all feel pride in that.
Now, in these challenging times, it’s everybody’s turn to show our support for culture. With an unprecedented investment through the Culture Recovery Fund, the government is #HereForCulture so it can continue to weather the storm of coronavirus and come back stronger.
And we are #HereForCulture too.
#HereForCulture is a movement that unites the public, government and cultural organisations in support of our fantastic cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, galleries and heritage.
By being #HereForCulture, we aren’t just supporting the people in the industry, we’re also supporting communities across the country.
Thank you to everyone for your continued support can’t wait to welcome you next year.
There is so much in the pipeline, BUT we still are waiting on the YourFund decision on our community venue refit from Surrey County Council , no work can begin on the venue until we know the outcome.
We have submitted all the information requested and look forward to hearing soon.
So we have been trying to reschedule and move our booked shows. Unfortunately for all concerned we have had to cancel 2 shows, move 3 to a different venue and reschedule one of the dates.
We are really sad that Cut Capers and Hannah Moule and the Moulettes have had to cancel because of the venue not being ready.
We have worked really hard to find alternative space for the gig but with no other venues available to accommodate them and their touring schedules not coinciding with reschedule dates we have no choice.
Both bands have been incredible about this and we thank them for their understanding. We hope next year we can rebook them when we are fully open!
You should have received an email about a refund from Seetickets. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Unfortunately we couldn’t find another venue locally for the Hang Massive gig so the gig will now be taking place at Ashcroft Arts Centre in Fareham. Tickets for this gig will still be valid but refunds will be issued if you can no longer make it.
We are delighted to have been able to move the Kristin Hersh gig to the fantastic brand new, Buzz Theatre in Woking, and we have been able to negotiate a discounted meal offer at the Italian Kitchen restaurant next door for anyone with tickets to this show. Buzz Theatre is in the Peacocks Shopping Centre, Commercial Way Woking GU21 6YA
We will update the location of Dani Larkin’s gig as soon as we have it finalised.
John Otway will be rescheduled to 9th December.
All other shows stay the same.
Hopefully we will have more news soon.
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