The Music Workshop
It all started with a group of teenagers who simply needed a place to play together, back in the late 80s. Øystein Lauen (guitarist) and his friends in the band Riders needed somewhere to rehearse. Eventually they were given access to the air-raid shelter beneath the lower secondary school, and from there the ball started rolling.
– We made the best of the rehearsal space, and as the years went by the project grew bigger and bigger. Now Byremo has its own fully licensed concert stage, both the primary and the lower secondary school have proper music rooms, and Musikkverkstedet has four rehearsal rooms and a common room for the young people, says Øystein. Its more than 80 members have a lot of fun here, and melodies from every genre get to ring out.
Byremo rocks when the band Lintrix gets going! Photo: Tor Olav Rydlende
And the number of paid staff across all the musical projects? 0. In Byremo, the volunteer spirit is strong.
– We work well with all the clubs and associations here, says Øystein.
– Of course, we are a rural outpost. If we want things to work, we have to do it ourselves. And there is something about building things up together, taking care of them and keeping them. Then you get a completely different sense of ownership of both the instruments and the buildings.
Byremo Scene. Photo: Tor Olav Rydlende
