Nestled in the picturesque Ouseburn valley, overlooking a farm, The Cluny is one of the most uniquely enduring live music bars in Newcastle-upon-Tyne if not the entire UK. Today the City’s cultural oasis, Ouseburn is situated at the confluence of the Rivers Tyne and Ouse. But The Cluny is considered the godfather of this bohemian, artesinal village. Having been built in 1848, when it was opened as a flax spinning mill, this magnificent Grade II-listed building has subsequently traded as a whisky bottling and paint factory.
In its most recent incarnation the owners at the time Camerons Brewery commissioned a new RCF sound system at the beginning of this year, prior to selling the venue to the independent consortium, Mi Viejo Fruta, led by former venue manager, Julian Ive. It is presently celebrating its 15th anniversary as a live venue, since first being operated by the company, Head of Steam, prior to selling to Camerons. Down in the 300-capacity, cavernous main warehouse, Nashville band The Magic Wands, playing a type of music described as ‘lovewave’, are sound-checking through a newly-installed RCF active HDL20-A line array system, the most successful in RCF’s D-Line composite series. Four elements a side, supported by four single 18in SUB 8004-AS, powered by a 1250W digital amplifier module, have replaced the old system, while the band listen to their reference stage sound through six new RCF TT25-CXA. It is the first night of their UK tour.
On the upper balcony coverage is provided by a pair of RCF NXL44-A column line source and a further SUB 8004, while another pair of NXL44-A’s reside downstairs in the 180-capacity Cluny 2 (which was originally a children’s theatre).