The future of ‘Musik’ in Huddersfield

By Dan Antunes
On the 7th of November journalists, councillors, DJs, studio owners, and other creative minds gathered at BASSment recording studios for the launch of a new brand, identity and online hub for Music in Kirklees – Musik.
A town with a rich musical heritage, which includes a diverse sound system culture that grew out of it in the 60s up until the 80s, Kirklees council’s art and creative team are looking to usher in a new era of culture for Huddersfield.
With a focus on creating a ‘diverse and robust community’, Musik aims to bring more music tourism into the town through the important social and economic benefits this release offers.
With 40% of tourists visiting England for the music, the council hopes to make Kirklees stand out as a beacon for cultural progression by heavily promoting the scene by 2023, the year of culture in the Yorkshire region. Places like Queensgate will receive major investment with rehearsal and specialist performance spaces being the tip of the iceberg of what the scheme will bring into the town.
The event also featured a sample friendly journey into music courtesy of BASSment resident Shaun Dean. With effortless switches and casual flamboyance, the Baseline juggernaut issued a flurry of crowd-pleasers that helped cement the warm atmosphere of the night.

Speaking on the future of Huddersfield’s music scene the DJ felt that ‘making spaces’ for young people looking for guidance is a ‘valuable’ part of the community. With ‘new generations always looking to engage in an avenue of expression’, investment in creative spaces and the creation of new opportunities for people to project their artistic identities is a vital part of community culture.
Pushing the idea of ‘accessibility’, something very much reflected in the host venue’s D.I.Y feel, Musik’s all-inclusive feel looks to counter division in communities promoting cohesion in all wider communities in Huddersfield. With so many industry people in Kirklees backing the scheme the future of culture in Huddersfield looks bright.