The Soundroom

A History Rooted in Creativity.

One of the few remaining grass-roots community music projects left from the 1980's !

The Soundroom has played an essential part in the history of the North East’s thriving grass-roots community music scene, originally established in the 1980’s and the days of Gatehead’s Deckham Music Collective (DMC) and Route 26 Community Music Projects.

Housed in a few different venues, including Deckham Village Hall and the Elgin Centre before settling at the Old Redheugh Library building in the year 2000.

The Deckham Music Collective was inspired by other community projects of the time , The Gateshead Music Collective which folded in 1984, about which much has been written and documented, also Them Wifies Music Collective and Art Care Arts project.

The Soundroom was founded as an affordable recording resource part of the Deckham Music Collective (DMC) with donated recording equipment from ArtCare Arts Project and the disbanded Gateshead Music Collective.  A volunteer sound engineer called Garry Clennell and fellow DMC member’s set up the studio in an old office room in Deckham village hall, marking its inception.

The project later moved to the Elgin Centre, supporting another community project called Route 26, where The Soundroom evolved into a key community music recording studio for the region.

Despite its growth, The Soundroom has always maintained its collective ethos as a volunteer led grass-roots music organisation.

Supported by the council in the early years providing community education and youth training opportunities for both young people and adults.

By the late 1990s, The Soundroom had grown successful enough to break out on its own and, with the help of Gateshead Council, moved into its current home of the former Redheugh Library, opening in December 2000 and proudly naming its new home The Soundroom.

This transition allowed for the installation of comprehensive facilities, including:

A full recording studio, live room and venue space  and several rehearsal rooms to cater to musicians and performers.

In 2014, The Soundroom reached a pivotal moment in its history by becoming an independent charity. This change enabled creative control, to run and finance its charitable music-making projects which through private hires, music recording services, and other creative ventures.

In 2019 the Charity took on the responsibility of the building including full maintenance costs, signing a 35 year lease through Gateshead Council. The Soundroom continued providing education in music for youth and adults, rehearsals, affordable recording facilities and other music-related community projects, including the long-running twice weekly original Soundroom Music Café’s and Gateshead Youth Music Nights.