'It's a labour of passion': Inside Morley's new grassroots venue - where everyone is accepted

In the heart of Morley, inside the thick stone walls of what was once a high-street bank, a different kind of currency is being traded.

There are no safe-deposit boxes here anymore - unless you count the basement vault Rob Rideout jokingly suggests turning into a second venue.

Instead, Morley Live CIC is dealing in "dopamine hits”, “karate kicks” and the transformative power of the first chord.

For director Rob and admin powerhouse Annie Forber, this isn't just a business; it’s a "labour of passion" designed to prove that the distance between a spectator and a performer is much shorter than we think.

Operated as a Community Interest Company (CIC), Morley Live exists for the town, not the directors’ pockets.

As Rob puts it: "Functionally, the main difference is that there is a cap on how much a director is allowed to earn. I’m allowed to earn what I teach, but I’m not allowed to go pay myself after that.

“Any profit the company makes has to go back into either Morley Live or the wider community."

The heartbeat of the building is its music school, but don't expect "oboe grade one". Rob, currently working on a PhD regarding how people pick up music, believes in the power of "inculturation" - that is, the idea that if you’ve been around music, you already know more than you think.

"Music feels like a magic trick, and it takes a really small amount of investment to get from zero to one - and one is amazing. There’s no bigger gap between a number than the gap between zero and one. Once you start something, that’s absolutely wild."

To bridge that gap, Morley Live offers "Rock Lab" sessions, where students don't just learn in a vacuum. They get the lights, the photos, the crowd, and the stage.

"If you’re not in a band already, it can feel like when you finish learning a song, there’s not like a big fireworks moment... Having the gigs on... feels more like a tangible achievement."

The All-ages anthem: championing underage artists

In a city where the "18+" sticker on a venue door often acts as a dead end for young talent, Morley Live is intentionally building a home for the next generation.

Rob’s "Zero to One" philosophy is most evident here, where the goal is to give young creatives a platform long before they reach the legal drinking age.

"I started teaching at a School of Rock, and just came over here and kind of picked that same idea up," Rob explains.

He recounts a standout moment with a five-year-old beginner that perfectly illustrates the ambitious spirit they nurture: "I asked, 'What do you imagine being good at guitar looks like, and this kid said, 'The solo in Tornado of Souls by Megadeth'".

For Annie, it’s about providing that first "big cheer" that many young musicians miss out on in mainstream education.

"We had kids as young as four getting up on that stage and playing," she says, noting that their piano showcases and "Rock Lab" sessions are designed to be high-spec environments that rival any adult gig.

By prioritising these "underage" slots, Morley Live CIC is filling a significant gap in the Leeds music scene, ensuring that grassroots talent doesn't have to wait until they are 18 to feel the "fireworks" of a live performance.

While the music is the draw, the mission is inclusivity. For the team, accessibility isn’t just about the physical building - though fixing the elevator is a high priority - it’s about creating a space that understands "invisible" challenges.

“We are very mindful in all of our events,” Annie explains, with this mindfulness translating into practical support: free earplugs on the bar for those with sensory sensitivities and specialised "Home-Ed" music groups that offer a low-pressure environment for hands-on experience.

The venue has even become a home base for a neurodiverse home-education group and together, they are hosting a "neurodiverse prom" - a dedicated event for children who might find a mainstream school prom overwhelming or unfriendly.

"We try to make it as accommodating as possible for everyone to be here," Annie says.

"The lift will just let us up, and the doors are that big and wide for everyone".

Champion the next generation at Morley Live CIC: catch their May 24 fundraiser or the July 19showcase. They’re crowdfunding to fix their elevator and keep the "karate kicks" coming for all-ages talent. Support Leeds’ grassroots heart-head on their Crowdfunder pages - every quid counts.