Tess Corr (Tender Claws)

ARTIST / SOUNDCHECK ALUMNI

Tess Corr is an artist known as Tender Claws who has performed at Future Yard on a number of occasions. As well as knowing the venue from an artist’s perspective, Tess has worked here in a number of ways, with experience selling merchandise and tickets. As well as this, she has taken on events based roles, working as an artist liaison for gigs at Future Yard. She’s also a member of the Sound Check programme alumni. Having seen the venue from all angles, we sat down with Tess to capture her experiences of Future Yard. Her story provides the ultimate reasons it’s crucial that we Build Our Future together.

Come and see Tender Claws play at our 48HR PARTY PEOPLE event THIS Saturday at 9.30pm!

You’ve done a wide range of jobs at Future Yard, what has kept you wanting to be a part of it here?

“My first introduction to Future Yard was via the Propeller artist development programme. This really appealed to me as a completely free resource for learning about how the music industry operates in an informal, inclusive environment. It provided a foundation and some tangible starting points for how I could make my way as an independent musician.”

“I always enjoyed visiting Future Yard for Propeller sessions and gigs. I appreciated their ethos of supporting the grassroots music community, providing opportunities; as well as their consideration of sustainability as a music venue which aligns with my own personal values.”

“As I got to know the team better I knew I wanted to be involved in more areas, such as working on the bar and partaking in the Sound Check programme.”

“It’s lovely working alongside other musicians, creatives and generally likeminded people, who I have gone on to collaborate with in various capacities.”

As an artist, what’s it like to perform at Future Yard?

“The events and sound team are both welcoming and professional. I’ve played at Future Yard a couple of times now and each time they’ve been as accommodating as I could hope for[…]. It’s great to have the opportunity to play on the same stage as some of my favourite artists who I’ve seen perform at Future Yard.”

“Future Yard gives performing opportunities to emerging artists in a bigger space than some of the other venues in the area, where emerging artists tend to hone their craft and find their feet as performers, in preparation for hopefully playing larger venues in future!”

What excites you about the new build?

“I love working in a buzzing, busy gig environment so more opportunities to do is exciting! I’m looking forward to seeing which bigger acts come to play in Birkenhead, and I think it’s great that more people will become aware of the inspiring, important work that Future Yard does for the local community and local artists, in an environmentally-conscious way. Hopefully this will inspire similar projects across the country over time. And as an artist, I’m excited about the potential future performing opportunities, the chance to progress within a bigger team, and the wider access to such important infrastructure for artists with the new rehearsal studios being built.”

As a member of the Soundcheck Programme alumni could you explain what the programme is and what it has taught you?

“Soundcheck is a free training programme for adults and older teens to learn about various roles within the live music industry such as event management, sound engineering and lighting desk operation. It introduces trainees to the basics but also caters to more experienced trainees and provides hands-on experience in these fields, as well as work experience opportunities.”

“Taking part in Soundcheck helped me understand how live events work ‘behind the scenes’, offering another perspective for me as performer. It also gave me an idea of what career I might want to move into in future.”

Having worked with much of the team here, what is the dynamic like in the space?

“Everyone who I work with day to day wants the best for each other and genuinely cares about each others’ well-being. I look forward to going to work and have made some amazing friends from working here.”

“It’s inspiring to be working around other creatives in various fields, and I’ve met people who I now collaborate with for my artist project (Tender Claws). It’s also fun be able to work nearly everyday alongside others who are as obsessed with music as I am, and I like being exposed to new music which I would never have found on my own. By working on the bar I also have the chance to meet the whole team and everyone who walks through the door.”

“There are lots of interesting, talented, kind people in our community!”

Finally, what does music mean to you?

“As much as it’s a cliché, music is my life! I’ve formed and strengthened some of my most meaningful relationships through music.”

“From starting to learn flute and guitar as a child because I saw family members doing so, finding my first favourite bands from listening to my parent’s CDs, watching old music videos after school and reading about all the bands on Wikipedia, to going to gigs as much as possible and starting to perform myself. I took a break from music during uni but I realised on graduating that I couldn’t ignore my ultimate desire to be immersed in music, so became an artist myself (as Tender Claws), and began working in music venues (free gigs wooh!).”

“As an artist there’s no better feeling than getting in the songwriting flow, completely focused and undistracted, and getting so excited about something you’ve created; it’s fulfilling and thrilling. And of course performing alongside a band consisting of mates when you’re all feeling good is so fun!”