Shed Seven: Rick Witter calls for more Museum Gardens gigs

Rick Witter told The Press that York “needs something like this to happen every summer”, referring to the three sold out shows at the gardens in July headlined by the group and Jack Savoretti with guests including Pete Doherty.

“We do a lot of these shows around the country every summer,” he said. “Why should York miss out on it?"

He added that the gigs meant people came to "our lovely city and spent their money on things that are going to improve the city".

The crowd in Museum Gardens in July for Shed Seven's 'homecoming' gig (Image: David Harrison) If they become a regular occurrence, Rick said, bigger acts would be drawn to York to perform at Museum Gardens. 

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a City of York Council licensing hearing decided against further action following the complaint from a Clifton resident but asked York Museum Trust to consider ways that noise could be managed better.

A representative for the trust said they had worked to ensure the concert complied with noise limits and they would look to learn from it when staging future concerts.

But the resident said the noise had stopped him and others from sitting in their gardens while also distressing his autistic son.

Councillors recommended that the authority’s licensing committee look into the impact of policies on neuro-diverse people as part of their decision.

The decision to take no further action against the complaint followed the resident’s application to review York Museum Trust’s licence, which regulates its holding of outdoor events.

'It’s the best possible news that we could have got'

For Shed Seven, the gigs marked a homecoming show for their 30th year together – the same year they also landed their first number one album with A Matter of Time.

“It’s really ace, the way we’ve started this ball rolling but I’m hoping, over the next few years, you’re going to see some really big names coming and playing in our city,” Rick said. “That’s just going to attract more and more interest.

“Thankfully the council have done the exact right thing.

“It’s the best possible news that we could have got.”

Pete Doherty on stage in Museum Gardens in July for Shed Seven's homecoming gig (Image: David Harrison) Reflecting on the gigs, he said: “To get so many people travelling into our home city to see us over a weekend was amazing.

“The hotels, the restaurants, the taxis, the bars – I’m hoping that everybody did quite well out of it because that’s what it’s all about.”

Recommended reading:

• York Museum Gardens can host more gigs after noise complaint dismissed
• 'Nobody loses, surely?' - Major gigs could be regular events in York park
• Shed Seven rock the Museum Gardens in York 'homecoming' gig

Looking ahead, Rick joked: “You never know, in 30 years’ time for our 60th anniversary we might do it all again.

“I’ll be 81, I might need a Zimmer frame.”

Shed Seven’s new album Liquid Gold is currently leading the mid-week charts, with the band hoping to secure the Number One spot in the Official Album charts on Friday (October 4).