Special event attracts Waterford’s top acts

Waterford’s most exciting music acts can be seen under one roof this Friday at The Forum, Waterford in a special fundraiser organised by Ruby Studios.

The Real, Butterfly Band, Cassidy, The Mothership Connection, Azra, Downfall, Three Piece Suite and other local acts are lined up for this special event.

“It’s a fundraiser to pay the bands back for the help they gave us in setting up the studio. Over the past year and a half we have done three fund-raising gigs raising €30,000,” said Alex Jones, who set up Ruby Studios with Jay Dunne and Lorne Carson.

“The proceeds of this gig will go towards equipment for the bands that have helped us.”

The studio offers recording rooms, a mastering suite, rehearsal rooms, lock-up facilities and more for local artists.

“Our main aim was to set up a local record label to help bands get off the ground and also to have somewhere in Waterford where bands can practice and record their music. There hasn’t been anything like it in Waterford before and I’m not sure there’s anything like it in the south of Ireland,” said Alex.

The first fundraiser took place in March 2002 and the studio opened the following September. Now that the studios are established the next aim is to get the associated record label established.

“We want to help local artists to get signed up with record deals or possibly get a distribution deal ourselves. We’ve signed our first band to the Ruby Records label. Downfall are a local band and we are in the pre-production stage of their first album. We hope to have it completed in the next six to nine months,” said Alex.

Ruby Studios is located at Tycer Business Centre, Waterford and is open for business seven days a week. For more info call 087-610 6439.