Youth Music Takeover: The Golden Lion

This article appears in A Beginner’s Guide To Grassroots Music in Calderdale. Keep an eye out for a copy in venues, pubs and community spaces throughout the borough. You can also read it online and download to your device. The publication is part of CultureDale’s Youth Music Takeover initiative.

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Over the last 10 years, The Golden Lion in Todmorden has developed something of a cult status, particularly within the dance music industry. David Holmes, Utah Saints, Andy Votel, The Orb, Groove Armada, Joy Orbison, Darren Emerson and Goldie are among the innumerable DJ greats to have graced the place.

In that time, The Lion has also become well known for its open-house, collaborative ethos, helping young, talented individuals grow their knowledge and develop their skills, whether that’s on stage or behind the scenes.

Eclectic sounds in a cult venue

Spiritual home to the late, great DJ-producer, Andrew Weatherall, the venue hosts a dazzling array of eclectic electronic nights – house, dub, techno, reggae. They have have no end of stars wanting to play at the venue with the main room pretty much booked up well into next year.

In the upstairs gig room there’s a barrage of cutting-edge live music – indie, folk, funk, you name it – primarily run by Lou Karwowski of Dark Matter Promotions, who has built a reputation for booking established national acts alongside local emerging talent.

The Lion also has an open mic every Thursday, UFO meets, trade stalls and more.

Venue owners Gig and Waka run the dance nights, along with Waka’s son Matthew, who also handles their record label, Golden Lion Sounds.

Once a Golden Lion punter, 26-year-old Matthew has been gradually taking on more responsibility at The Lion over the last few years, ever since studying for a politics degree.

Matthew: “First and foremost, it’s about making sure the pub itself is operational, ordering the beer and stock, arranging the cellar, getting ready for opening, painting and decorating, changing light bulbs – nearly every day – cleaning and so on.

Then it’s all about booking nights, setting up for DJ gigs at the weekend, creating event pages, ticket links. Plus, lots of social media stuff on Facebook and Instagram, replying to emails, updating the website. I’ve learnt something from everyone I’ve crossed paths with. I’ve probably learnt more than I would have doing three different uni courses!”

Gig, Waka, Matthew and Lou all have a liberal and innovative approach to events. They are big on community and inclusivity. And they are all keen to give youngsters – the next generation – the chance to get involved.

Opportunities at The Golden Lion

Gig: “On event days, people can come and do anything and everything, really – they can do the door, they can help do the sound, they can help with the lighting set-up. They can do everything. We’d love them too. That’d be great. Someone can help me with online, creating an event page. Instagram. We’d look after them, get them free food and drink – and money if they’re doing good.

If someone wants to come in and write about the night, review the night, that’s great too. We already have a photographer and a video guy. So someone can come and follow them. We are making a Golden Lion movie, a music documentary. So someone interested in that field could get involved.”

Life at The Lion

A veteran of the free-party scene and now a prominent figure across the UK club and DJ network, Waka (aka Richard Walker) has put on countless legendary nights in his time. He believes much of his success has come down to hard graft and mindset – and counts those as essential ingredients for anyone looking to make their mark in the live music business.

“It can be hard work. If I’ve got a gig at 8pm, we can start at 11am, because we’ve got to set the stage, do the monitors, all that. Then behind the scenes, it’s about promoting. If the band finishes at 11pm, by the time everything’s packed up, it can be one o’clock in the morning.

It’s about passion, love and dedication. You’ve got to commit 100%. You’ve got to be prepared to fail and don’t let failing stop you. It’s about keeping afloat. Sometimes, occasionally, I wake up and say ‘I’ve had enough. I’m not booking any more bands.’ Then an hour later I get an email from an agent and get excited again.

But promoters have kind of got a free reign here. As long as it’s within the boundaries. as long as they respect us, respect the venue, respect the equipment. When I was young, promoting, getting involved, going to pubs and clubs, nobody wanted you to come in in case you stole their job. But we’re not like that. You can look on our poster boards – we’re advertising other venues.”

Unity in diversity

The Lion has grown its status and maintained its buzz while overcoming major challenges – lockdowns, austerity, rising supply prices, dry Januarys and all. When asked about the prime reason behind its continued appeal, Waka points to one thing – diversity.

“One night you can have drum ’n’ bass down here and then a rock band. It’s totally eclectic and for young people it’s a great place to meet. A lot of musicians, DJs and producers who live around here, they all come in. There’ll be Andrew Liles from Nurse With Wound, Tom Caruana [Tea Sea Records], he’s a well-known hip-hop producer. And it’s not like one age range. It’s very mixed.”