We're reimagining our rehearsal and recording studio — modernising the rooms, opening a dedicated recording control room, and giving emerging local acts a stage. Here's what we're aiming for, and how the spaces will change.
WMD Studios has run two rehearsal rooms since 2013, serving bands, solo artists, producers and other grassroots practitioners across every genre. We keep it simple and low-friction: everything runs self-service, from booking to getting in the door, so artists can turn up and play with minimal overhead.
Book a slot online, walk in with your smart-lock code, and get straight to playing — no staff required.
Rooms are booked and paid for entirely online, day or night.
Smart locks give booked artists secure access without a key handover.
Rooms heat and cool automatically around bookings, so they're ready when you arrive.
WMD Studios has supported grassroots artists, bands and practitioners since 2013. Demand for high-quality, affordable space keeps growing, while parts of the building and technical setup need renewal. This project responds directly with one joined-up plan across three strands — with accessibility and inclusion built into every part.
Upgraded fixtures, flooring, finishes and shared equipment — plus commissioned work from local visual artists — so the space feels reliable, inspiring and rooted in the local scene.
Rehearsal & shared spacesConvert the store room between the two rehearsal rooms into a dedicated control room with internal windows and acoustic treatment — a primarily self-service path from rehearsal into recording.
New control roomLaunch live in-studio showcase sessions and artist interviews to platform new and developing acts, build progression opportunities, and grow audiences through coordinated marketing.
Live showcase strandUpgraded fixtures, flooring, finishes and shared equipment across both rehearsal rooms and the hallway — plus commissioned work from local visual artists — so the space feels reliable, inspiring and rooted in the local scene. Drag each slider to compare now with proposed.
From a tired, hard-lit practice room to a warm, acoustically considered space — with a new window looking through into the recording control room.
Refreshed finishes, improved acoustics and better lighting — and, like Room 1, a direct line of sight into the new control room for tracking.
The first thing every artist sees. A plain corridor becomes a welcoming, well-lit arrival space that reflects the studio's identity and the local scene.
An indicative kit list for the room refresh — final items will be confirmed through competitive supplier quotes.
Refreshed speakers and stage monitors for both rooms.
Drum kit, cymbals and amp servicing/replacement.
Reliable shared hardware that doesn't let a session down.
Wall panelling to improve sound quality and reduce spill.
Warmer, adjustable lighting in place of harsh strip lights.
New flooring and wall finishes across both rooms.
Proper cable management and gear storage to cut down setup time.
Commissioned visual work in the rooms and hallway.
The headline change. The cluttered store room between the two rehearsal rooms becomes a dedicated, fit-for-purpose control room — with internal windows and acoustic treatment linking straight into both rehearsal rooms.
From cluttered storage to the technical heart of the studio, sitting right between Room 1 and Room 2.
A primarily self-service pathway from rehearsal into recording, with room for assisted sessions too.
Book the control room like a rehearsal room and run your own session using a guided workflow.
Come with your own engineer, or we'll help link you up with a local freelance engineer for the session.
Option to record straight out of a rehearsal session for quick demos and reference tracks, no separate booking needed.
Live in-studio showcase sessions and artist interviews to platform new and developing local bands — filmed, produced and streamed online, with progression opportunities and coordinated marketing behind them.
A structured strand built around eight pilot sessions, designed to give local bands a real platform and a route to bigger audiences.
Emerging local acts recorded playing a live in-studio session, alongside a short artist interview.
Sessions are filmed and edited into polished video content by our video producer.
Published across WMD's digital channels so the wider public can watch and discover new acts.
Coordinated marketing spend behind selected sessions to build reach beyond our existing audience.
A ready-made video and content asset that acts can use to promote themselves beyond the session.
Potential for local businesses to sponsor sessions, further supporting the local scene.
Works are phased to keep the studio running and minimise disruption to bookings throughout.
Final procurement, contractor appointments and delivery scheduling, with confirmed supplier scope.
Fixtures, flooring, finishes and room upgrades, phased to reduce disruption to live bookings.
Acoustic works and technical room optimisation across key spaces, including testing.
Store-room conversion, fit-out and equipment installation, including safety checks.
Workflow setup, user guidance and pilot sessions to refine the recording process.
Live in-studio showcase sessions and a full marketing campaign across all strands, with evaluation capture.
Delivery brings together building, acoustic, technical, creative and marketing expertise — collaborating with local artists and freelance engineers to build a stronger grassroots ecosystem.
Project lead — governance, procurement, scheduling, budget and reporting.
Commercial refurbishment and fit-out — room revamp and conversion works.
Acoustic design and installation of treatment in key spaces.
Equipment install, signal routing, testing and workflow setup.
Campaign strategy, digital marketing and coordinated promotion for the showcase strand and project launch.
Filming, editing and publishing of showcase sessions and artist interviews across WMD's digital channels.
Artist-led decoration and identity in designated spaces around the studio.
Disability access audit and recommendations to ensure the studio meets the needs of disabled artists and visitors.
