THE STORY OF RAISETHEROOF.......

Raisetheroof began with a few Cardiff University students with a little too much time on their hands. Instead of going to lectures, which they found really boring, Roxy and Bea started planning house parties. Weeks and weeks of preparation went into these house parties and many assignments were ignored. At a party on valentines day a pink boudoir chillout area was constructed. At another party the house was turned into a jungle complete with a canopy made out of real foliage stuck to the roof and massive paintings of forests stuck to all the walls, with each room playing a different style of dance music. Needless to say the deposits on their student house were NOT returned.

Somebody said "that last party nearly blew the roof off" and so raisetheroof was born. These house parties became so popular in Cardiff that Raisetheroof was forced into the clubs due to health and safety reasons, and subsequently Raisetheroof hosted Cardiff events at the Fun Factory, Journeys, The Cardiff University Union and had a legendary collaboration with the CherryBomb collective at The Toucan, the first mini-festival where they realised they also had a taste for live bands as well as dance music. Roxy then decided that the only thing she was any good at was planning ridiculous parties, so moved straight to Leeds to study for an Msc at the UK Centre for Events Management, Leeds Metropolitan.

Now based in Leeds, and drawing on the support and resources of a thriving DIY music scene, Raisetheroof has honed its identity and a core set of beliefs: Raisetheroof is about providing something unusual at an affordable price, and it is a call for the audience to get involved in every possible way. Raisetheroof is not just about the music but about the random extras as well. Great pleasure is taken in thinking these random extras up, and they make every event a unique experience. There are no 'headline' acts, just lots of great, locally sourced new music. You won't have heard of some of the acts, and that's the best part - discovering them! Raisetheroof is a showcase for up and coming acts - expect to hear anything from dubstep to brass-backed punk. The look of a night is as important as the sound of it. There are no be clear distinctions between the audience and the people that are making the whole thing happen. Raisetheroof events don't happen very often, because several months of planning and hand making decor is dedicated to each and every one!

Raisetheroof is a 'conscious' event, with links with environmental groups and the Stop the War campaign, with representatives hosting stalls and disseminating information. Roxy is now studying a for a PhD at the University of Leeds School of music to further knowledge in social activism, utopian philosophy and festival culture.

With advice from Oblong Community Centre and the Scarman Trust Raisetheroof received start up funding from Burley Can Do, The Scarman Trust, the European Social Fund and the National Lottery. Raisetheroof is now independently funded with the profits of the event helping to cover the running costs of No-TiTLE, a free unsigned music magazine. So far Raisetheroof profits have funded over 15,000 free zines and a distribution vehicle.

A FEW COMMENTS ABOUT RAISETHEROOF FESTIVALS FROM THE NORTHERN MUSIC PRESS AND BEYOND...

"Guaranteed to be unmissable" - Thomas Richardson, NME

"Raisetheroof doesn't just organise a few bands and declare it a 'festival' - they go all out. Decorations, stalls and a great atmosphere" - THE YORKSHIRE POST, Friday 10th October 2008

“The night was a roaring success with the West Indian Centre packed to capacity and all music being greatly appreciated by the crowd.” - Emma Weeder - Traffic Magazine - Issue 8 March 2008

"Raisetheroof (is) a collective big on diversity, audience involvement and affordability ... In short, its going to provide an impressively inclusive cross-section of just how much Leeds has to offer." - Greg Elliot - Sandman Magazine - February 2008 issue

"a Leeds-based collective priding itself on diversity and interactivity, reflected by the range of entertainments that span well beyond the musical" - Editorial, The Met

“Raise the Roof places a real emphasis ..ring the boundaries between audience and artists and this was accomplished tonight” - Emma Weeder - Traffic Magazine - Issue 8 March 2008

"The audience aren’t here for any one act, they’re here because they know Raisetheroof put on nights with a great atmosphere and pristine sound... this is how to get people out to watch new music in Leeds" - Duncan Evans - Sandman Magazine - March 2008 issue

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RAISETHEROOF 5th Birthday News
Tags: Raise the roof, leeds, festival