The Ford Plant
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The Ford Plant is a not-for-profit music venue founded in 2002, which has expanded at various times into projects such as an art gallery (the One King Gallery, studio, music store and record label. Located in downtown Brantford, Ontario, Canada, its small spaces and unique atmosphere create one of Canada's most intriguing rock venues, as well as one of the more lively. The Ford Plant holds only about one hundred people, with the party-like environment often spilling out into the streets.[1]
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[edit] History
The Ford Plant was founded in 2002 by Tim Ford (member of the former indie/math rock band, The Vermicious Knid), Chris George, and Josh Bean at an original location across Colborne Street from the current location at 60 Colborne Street. In mid-2003 The Ford Plant moved to its current location at the corner of King and Colborne streets. The Ford Plant became known locally and nationally for its unique alcohol-free, all ages, not-for-profit model, even being featured in national newspaper The Globe and Mail. [2]
The Ford Plant has welcomed bands from all over North America and beyond, including Arcade Fire, The Stills, The Unicorns, Julie Doiron, Wintersleep, Blue Rodeo, Great Lake Swimmers, Cuff the Duke, Final Fantasy, Jim Guthrie, The Most Serene Republic, Tokyo Police Club, Ninja High School, Zoobombs, Cursive, Grizzly Bear, Chad VanGaalen, Holy Fuck, and many more.
Co-founder Chris George left the Ford Plant in 2004 due to personal differences in management of the Ford Plant, and Josh Bean left in 2007 in order to focus on launching the Brantford Arts Block organization. The Ford Plant venue is still run at its location at King and Colborne streets in downtown Brantford by a open-membership collective of volunteers, including remaining founder Tim Ford. The position of the Ford Plant was finally solidified in 2007 with the purchase of the building by the father of collective member Scott Willson, helping the long-term viability of the venue.
[edit] Murdered City Music Festival
Every August since its inception, The Ford Plant has hosted a week-long music festival called the Murdered City Music Festival (often simply called Murdered City). This festival showcases numerous independent Canadian acts and local artists, and is known to bring larger bands to a relatively small crowd. Some past notables of Murdered City include Wolf Parade, The Sadies, The Hidden Cameras, The Constantines, and The Meligrove Band.
Murdered City was cancelled in 2007, as several of the more popular bands backed out of the festival in favour of bigger shows. Instead, the Ford Plant held the Ghosts of Brantford Festival. Effectively the same music festival as Murdered City, the Ghosts of Brantford Festival aimed to book bands with a sincere focus on independent music. Some of the bands that played th 2007 festival include Cuff the Duke, Rock Plaza Central, The Ghost Is Dancing, and Uncut.
[edit] The Ford Plant Recording Co.
The Ford Plant Recording Co. is an independent record label, with a focus on promoting local musicians by distributing their music under The Ford Plant name. The Ford Plant has an in house recording studio for this purpose.
To date twelve albums have been released under this label:
- (TFP-001) Various artists − Brantford Compilation CD
- (TFP-002) The Sourkeys − The Sourkeys (2004)
- (TFP-003) Silent Film Soundtrack − Modern Time
- (TFP-004) No Orchestra − No Orchestra
- (TFP-005) Thomas and the Evil Computer − Math Teachers Count
- (TFP-006) Silent Film Soundtrack − Diplomats and Confidants
- (TFP-007) The Vermicious Knid − Smalltown Devotion/Hometown Compultion (2005)
- (TFP-008) Hold Up Your End − Countdown to Destruction
- (TFP-009) Nich Worby − Oh, How?
- (TFP-010) Ryan Stanley − This Mountain Is a Hill
- (TFP-011) Dead Love Triangles – The Wandering Sickness
- (TFP-012) Arrows – Knives are Falling from the Sky
[edit] Notes
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Ford Plant Official Website
- The Ford Plant archive, including video and photos of past shows, press releases, and song downloads.
- The Ford Plant Myspace
