NEW rehearsal rooms for aspiring bands are helping to improve the next generation of Blackburn’s musicians.

Cathedral Studios and Rehearsal Rooms in Thwaites House, Railway Road already has around 20 bands and musicians regularly using the facilities.

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Owner Pete Lorenz, 38, a musician himself having played drums with several bands since getting his first kit aged 14, has invested around £18,000 to get the fully equipped creative space up and running.

Pete, from Beardwood, passionately believes there is enough talent around to reinvigorate the town’s live music scene.

He said: “There’s so much talent out there and there was very few places to rehearse and use as a creative space.

“Bands coming here don’t have to wait 20 minutes for their hands to warm up and can play and create music in a comfortable environment.

“Blackburn used to have a vibrant music scene with smaller venues like The Malt and Hops The Jubilee, The Sir Charles Napier and a little further afield with pubs like The Golden Croft.

“With places like the Napier and Cellar Bar reopening, things are looking up after a long period of decline.

“There’s also venues like the Bureau putting on events.

“In the medium term I’d like to see a Blackburn ‘scene’ with maybe 20 to 30 bands all out there gigging and possibly putting on special nights with three or four of the bands from the Cathedral rooms playing.”

The rooms at Thwaites House are professionally equipped and Pete has received support for his venture from many groups in the town.

Pete, added: “I am in regular contact with Blackburn College, who have been really supportive, as have McNally Music Tuition and Reidy’s music.

“It’s all an effort to cultivate a live music scene in Blackburn again.”