Cliftonville based music promoter Art’s Cool has teamed up with Canterbury store Monkey Boy Records to open a new premises in Margate.

‘Elsewhere’ is a new basement music venue and ground floor record store at 21-22 The Centre.

The site, which has previously been a Carphone Warehouse shop, a grocers’ and part of Rosebury’s furnishings, will also have a café and in-store events. Planning permission for the premises was granted on June 6.

Sammy Clarke, from Art’s Cool, said: “Having cut our teeth at the Tom Thumb Theatre and this being our fifth year of putting on shows just about anywhere and everywhere in Margate, it feels like it’s the right time to be stepping up a gear and to have a space for live music that is of our very own imagining. We feel that this venue will compliment Thanet’s current live music circuit.”

Art’s Cool has been prolific in Thanet’s music scene championing cutting edge new music, forging strong ties with Kent’s musical locale, programming stages for By The Sea Festival and this year, co-curating the new Cliftonville based multi-venue music festival, Caring Is Creepy.

Some of the artists the team has worked with include Teleman, Slaves, Syd Arthur, Indoor Pets, Gang, Chastity Belt, Flamingods, Flatworms, Jen Cloher, Girl Ray, HMLTD, Boy Azooga, Duds, Eagulls and Barbarossa.

But the new venue’s programming won’t just consist of Art’s Cool shows, the team there will be working alongside local promoters, club nights and DJs to bring a packed and varied program of events to audiences.

Art’s Cool and Monkey Boy Records have now launched a crowdfunder, offering live music fans and vinyl aficionados the chance to bag themselves some bargains and perks in order to help fully realise the joint venture.

The fundraiser has a target of £15,000 to help towards the cost of layout changes, build the stage, purchase new sound equipment, repair some of the equipment we already having a stage, making the space accessible to people of all abilities and most importantly building the bar!

Sammy said: “We’re going to need some help in ensuring that the space meets all of the local licensing authority’s requirements regarding sound insulation as well as ensuring the venue is accessible to people of all abilities. Inclusivity is imperative to all that we do here. So, we’re offering huge savings on vinyl, free merchandise and even year-long and life-time entry to all events at the venue.”

Monkey Boy Records, which has been trading out of a Canterbury premises for almost six years, is committed to stocking new releases and pushing exciting new music from up and coming indie artists to punk, world music, hip hop, metal and more.

Record store owner, Alex Barron said: “We’re delighted to be moving the shop to Margate, having outgrown our current space in Canterbury. The new shop will be big enough to do everything we’ve always wanted.

“We will have the ability to host intimate ‘in-store’ events and signings, we already have a couple of exciting things lined up on that front, so watch this space for announcements!

“We will also be teaming up with Coast Vinyl to provide an excellent selection of curated second-hand records. Every good record shop needs a second-hand section so we’re excited to finally offer this. We can’t wait to become a part of Margate’s thriving community!”

Find the fundraiser and more details at https://igg.me/at/elsewheremargate