Steph : You’ve been running the Maze for nearly 4 months now, when you took over did you know you wanted to put on more music?
Ben : Yeah, well I had a idea for a club last summer with music on, but more like Blues and Jazz as I have seen that all over the world and knew it could bring in good crowds and great music and earn us some money too, but when I took over I didn’t realise the history the Maze had and this tsunami of people just told me all the history so I decided to get Ed involved as I knew he had a very in depth knowledge of music of all genres.
So now we can work together to get a more collective view…..(looks over at Ed who is doing Ben’s ironing)…see, we work well together…your doing well with my ironing ain’t ya?
Ed : Yeah
Ben : Make sure there ain’t not creases!
Gaz : How do you think your changing the Maze and how do you want it to develop, keeping in mind it’s history?
Ben : It’s all about the 5 senses……so we want it to look better, we have changed the front that now has more ambience and we would like to change the club, make it sharper, squeeze a bit of lemon zest on it. We want it to sound better so a good range of quality music, working with you guys and lots of other promoters and bands to get a good mix. We have got artist speed dating to with electric funk nights, jazz, soul, blues, rock, punk, hip hop, drum n bass, rappers….
Ed : Dub, reggae, comedy, salsa…
Ben : Everything, we even have poetry nights coming soon! So it will sound great, look good, smell good, taste good….we do all home cooked food….and with the brand new decor it feels good too!
Steph : How have you found the Nottingham scene, has it been easy to work with, do you think it is any good??
Ben : I have found it spot on, everyone is friendly and easy to work with. It is weird so many people have come to us and that has made me proud to run The Maze, to know we have that reputation already with the history. I have made a lot of friends, instant friends. I have a good mate at the arts council though to wide boys, bad boys, hippies everything. A nice good range of people to work with.
Gaz : How have things been so far, are you pleased with how busy it has been?
Ben : I am well happy, some nights die of you know but you don’t know why…is it the bands fault? Is it the weather? People here don’t like weather, in Yorkshire we go out it wind, rain or snow but the culture here is different to elsewhere I have been but I have been more than happy. We opened up at a hard time in December but January and February have all been good and it can just get busier so I am happy…..all my 19 kids will get fed this month!
Gaz : Which bands and acts have you found impressive, that you have seen so far?
Ben : Really impressive stuff is Cosmic American, these guys know what they are doing. They have put on people like Elvis Costello, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan in the past and all the acts they bring are top draw, some of the best artists in the world! As for the local bands, i’ve been impressed with the diversity Sticky Morales, Grain – fantastic. Harry And The Last Pedestrians who are excellent and my type of music, Hellset Orchestra. It’s opened my mind to different types of music
Ed: Yeah definatly Hellset Orchestra
Gaz: What’s planned over the coming months for The Maze?
Ben: Right, we’ve got The Stories coming, now they’re a band that have been around a few years and they’re now supporting Elton John. If you look at who has supported him in the past, James Blunt and Scissor Sisters, then there is a good chance they could become massive!
We’ve got Murah who are Bruce Springsteen’s favourite band, thats gonna be an amazing night and then we have things like the Boogaloo Boys which is gonna be huge. Electric Chair from Manchester, who could bring loads of people but we only have a small capacity but thats good cause I want to keep the personal feel. I would expand in time but right now I think it is important to keep the close feel of the club and there is no point expanding till we’re ready. It is good that it is so intermate.
Steph : Any Shout outs, anyone or anything you want to mention or thank?
Ben : My Mum, my Dad, the sister I never had….my weird half sister which is Ed as he looks like a bird, everyone really, All the good people so many honest people. 90% of people we have met have been so good, it has been great so far working with so many people. Who else do I need to thank?? I know, ME! I’d like to thank myself, I would like to say a big up to myself, for sorting this place out and pat myself on the back for everything…..I am the man in the pants!!
((Everyone laughs a bit and Ed finishes the ironing and realises that the interview is over))
