Local couple Brian and Tracey Leach took drastic action when their son’s band was left with nowhere to practice in January this year. As the old rehearsal venue, Vizion, closed on the Saturday, Brian and Tracey opened Jam on Top at Melbourne Mills two days later to support the thriving music scene in the area.

Six weeks later, Jam on Top offers musicians two fully equipped studios with a third on the way soon, plus a green room and chill out area where customers can play pool, darts and video games, or watch DVDs and music videos on a four metre wide cinema screen. All the PA, drum kits and amps are provided but there is also a free storage for band equipment between gigs. And, when a creative break is needed, there is a kitchen where customers can help themselves to free tea and biscuits.

The excellent facilities at Jam on Top are already appealing to musicians in all genres - whether they play in a brass band, a string quartet or a heavy rock group! And Brian and Tracey are also planning to open a music workshop for budding musicians, where youngsters can get advice, play, and learn about life in a music group.

Melbourne Mills had been empty since last summer but it proved to offer Brian and Tracey the perfect venue for their new company. With virtually everything in place, Brian called Bradford Kickstart and was put in contact with Charles Kitchen, a business advisor. Charles helped them put together a cash flow forecast and business plan, and then put this in front of a Bradford Kickstart panel three days later. It was approved immediately and the newly formed Jam on Top was put in touch with a solicitor and a book-keeper to help through the start-up stage.

Brian is delighted how life has changed: “It is like a dream come true, I love what I am doing. It is so exciting to think that groups in the future could have passed through Jam on Top. In only six weeks we already have over 25 bands practicing each week and the feedback we are getting from the musicians about the acoustics and the atmosphere is fantastic. ”

Picture: Brian and Tracey from Jam on Top in front of one of the new studios at Melboune Mills