Live music club at Nijo Station, Kyoto: 'A musical hub aimed at cultivating young talent'

2022-10-23 2024-04-10 Rie

Rie

'Nijo, isn't this area kind of nice? It's like..."

GROWLY is an 11-year-old live music club in a residential area behind a large supermarket, just behind Nijo Station on the JR. Formerly a band member, manager Anzai-san says he has been to most of Kyoto's live music venues and is famous for being a "nice guy", even in the music community where he has an image of being difficult to approach. He has been involved in the project since its beginnings.

I thought, 'This place looks good,' and I moved on with a lot of energy, but later I realised how difficult it is to get to know your neighbours. Well, maybe the boss is the same, but I think we have some kind of mission to play a role in the Kyoto music scene, especially with the younger generation."

From rehearsals to live performances and even food! Live house complex in Kyoto

The live house is built like a live house on the ground floor and studios on the second floor.

It's like a music culture complex, where students can practise their instruments and also perform at the live house, connecting through their favourite pastimes. Isn't it a good idea to have a studio in town? There are so many of them in Saiin and Omiya."

You can practise, play live music and eat food. In addition to running a live music club, this place also has several restaurants. With the Corona disaster, I don't think it was easy to run the space.

'Before this interview, we rented out the space for PV shoots, and outside of music, we also organise events that are the guesswork of our staff. We are a bit different from the general public in that we don't come to meet people we like or take part in things that have been prepared for us, but rather we are the ones who organise them, so I think we value the 'band member's point of view'. We are the ones who transmit interesting things from our side, and deepen the density of the people who come to our events, from an artist's point of view. I guess it's more like that."

People get together like a music venture

Even within the same Kyoto live music clubs, there are differences in management style. In a good way and in a bad way, it's a departure from the way other live music clubs are run, which is more commercial-minded.

We don't focus on getting famous bands to use us like a showcase and getting lots of customers, but aim for young people to "start here and make a name for themselves". I think there are an overwhelming number of live music houses like ours in the country, but even amongst them, I think we attract kids who are kind of like musical ventures."

Glory is active in nurturing young people. Young artists at rehearsal

Fusion of old and new around the axis of music

It's an extension of the common street of Nijo, but it's also a place where 'live music clubs' and 'town development' could be expected.

'It's a place that could be opened up even more. If I were to make a suggestion, I would say that young people have always been short of money, so I think it would be a good idea to bring in people from the Showa generation who are involved in the music scene. I think it would be a good idea to bring in people in their 60s and 70s from the town and high school students to form a band together. I think it would be good if we could use that kind of music axis to get everyone involved.

Your ideas are innovative and interesting. The current state of live music venues is that there are usually people in their 30s and 40s on the scene.

I'm 43 now, but I feel like I'm acting as a cushion or a bridge. The younger generation is a bunch of shifty kids.The older generation is stubborn. The live music clubs have to be the hub."

Future of the hashtag #Kyoto Live House

What are the challenges for live music venues in the future in light of the digital music market?

Do you know what subscribing is? Recently, tools have been increasing in the music industry, and we are now in an age where artists and people who do interesting things can be 'found'. If we can spread the word to high school and university students through TikTok and the like that this is how you can play at live music venues, I think it will grow from there, and people in their 30s and 40s will be able to casually come to live music venues."

Surprisingly, no good information has emerged from tagging "#Kyoto live music clubs" on SNS, but if live music clubs start using TikTok and short videos as part of a full-fledged SNS strategy, they may be able to appeal to young people more.

I've been out of touch with music and live music venues my whole life. We live in an age where we can easily download the music we want to listen to at home, or maybe we should just watch it on Youtube for free.

What are the challenges for live music venues in the future in light of the digital music market?

But you might be able to feel the immense young energy of live music every day if you go to a place like that. Kyoto's music hubs starts here in Nijo.

＜GROWLY＞ Live music club in Kyoto. Capacity of around 200 people. 5-minute walk from JR Nijo Station / 2-minute walk from Subway Nijo Station / Bicycle parking available / Super cheap coin-operated parking in front of the venue.

Name GROWLY

Address 214, Nishinokyo Hoshiike-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto

Type of business Kyoto live music club/studio (all genres)

Opening hours 14:00 - 24:00

Telephone number 075-366-6369

Email kps@growly.net

SNS Live music club https://twitter.com/Kyoto_GROWLY

Studio https://twitter.com/Antonio_Kyoto

Website Official http://growly.net/

Author Profile

Rie: A U-turn girl who was supposed to emigrate to Canada. She continues to search for the excitement of her hometown. Does her laundry at the laundromat every day. My weakness is that I am not good at reading the atmosphere and dislike housework.
I am a coffee shop owner who started a band at the age of 40:)