Three Shall Overcome

Blame the Saturday night schedules, but all of a sudden everyone is a development executive.

However, despite what the corporate cookie-cutters out there would have us believe, it takes a rare skill set to nurture a creative artist. True adepts tend to be a combination of horse-breaker, svengali, drill sergeant and cheerleader. You need only rhyme off a list of some of those most suited to the job – your Alan McGees, your Tony Wilsons, your Geoff Travises – to see that it’s a role where obsessive levels of enthusiasm and a sleeves-up attitude count for everything.
Davy Matchett is probably best-known as one of the founding members of Oh Yeah! and the guy behind Only Gone Records. But name a decent gig that’s taken place in Belfast over the last 20 years, and chances are Davy’s bought a pint at it. At least one.
When news came through, then, that (along with his old schoolmate Gary Lightbody) he had set up Third Bar Artist Development – a company dedicated to nurturing unsigned musicians through the early stages of their career – there was only one response: what took you so long?
“What we’re doing is pretty much grassroots,” he reveals. “We’re working with bands to get them to a stage where they will appeal to a label. Labels are increasingly looking for a finished product. The tunes need to be recorded properly, the band’s fanbase needs to be in place, their web presence needs to be developed, their live show needs to be proven to be profitable. And they need a team around them in terms of management, lawyers and publishing. That’s assuming the artist is looking for this type of traditional career. Increasingly, they’re adopting a DIY approach and hoping to make a living through touring, selling merchandise and getting their tracks placed in adverts, television shows and computer games.”
Which all sounds eminently sensible. However, the nurturing of talent is a process that often defies logic. For some bands, the best creative prompt they could receive would be a few joints and a copy of Forever Changes. For others nothing less than an IT qualification and post-grad in marketing will suffice.
“There’s no set way to develop a musician,” Davy agrees. “It depends where they are in their journey. It may be practical advice such as explaining what can be improved about their live show. It may also be suggesting they look beyond their current influences to develop their songwriting.”
While Third Bar have only recently gone public, they’ve been quietly working under the radar for some time – meaning that, as they launch, they’ve already hooked up with a number of the north’s most promising acts.
“We’re working with loads of great bands at the minute,” Davy enthuses, reeling off an impressive list of collaborators: Elspeth, Tom McShane, Cat Malojian, Pat Dam Smyth, Robyn G Shiels and The Jane Bradfords.
“There are so many amazing bands coming out of Northern Ireland,” he continues, “and it’s my mission to let as many people know about them as I can.”
Of course, Mr. Lightbody’s involvement should help the noise carry. So, what role will the Snow Patrol frontman play?
“Gary is central to Third Bar. We’re both directors of the company. Gary has a desk in the office and advises me on bands he wants us to work with. When he’s not busy with the band he’s very hands-on. Having him as a business partner opens up a massive network of contacts within the music industry who have been amazing in assisting and advising about potential support for our artists.”
As Matchett has a yen for maverick talent like Kevin Rowlands, he is well aware that dealing with artistic temperaments can prove tricky. However, from the size of his grin, he doesn’t seem too worried that this new job is going to cost him a head of grey hair.
“I’ve no idea what you mean,” he laughs. “Andrew Ferris from Smalltown America records gave me the best piece of advice about managing/developing bands. He says that if a band does not trust you 100% then you’re wasting your time and that’s so true. I know a lot of artists. They’re focused creative people. The ones who are successful are the ones who have a team around them they trust. A team which removes the stress of the day to day things and allows them to be creative. I don’t believe there is anyone who is unmanageable. I believe if an artist trusts you and your motivations for helping that is a team worth its weight in gold.”