A place for musicians

Ben Stephens and Nathan Prowse, owners of Live Musicians Co-op. (photo by Will Bucquoy)

by Crissi Langwell and Will Bucquoy

The Live Musician’s Co-op feels brand new because it is…..and it isn’t.  The truth is, the co-op was created back in October 2006, going through many changes before their grand re-opening earlier this year.

For Ben Stephens, 34, and Nate Prowse, 30 (who came on board in 2012), it has been their goal to provide local, struggling musicians with an affordable creative environment to rehearse, to record demos and music videos, and a place to network.  And because music lessons are available for nearly every instrument, musicians can learn the basics of music as well as how to obtain work as a professional artist.

Stephens and Prowse are both seasoned music professionals with a first hand working knowledge of what a starving musician must endure to build on his craft and make it available to the community.

“There was a huge market for bands that hadn’t ‘made’ it yet or had little money to pursue their passion for music,” Stephens said.  “Now, bands or individual performers of all skill levels have a place where they can perform on a live stage in front of a live audience, or record, or tighten their sound and get critiqued by others who can help them grow and flourish.”

“All these bands were going through Santa Rosa and there was a huge wall put up by the city,” Prowse added.  “The city was strict on the places these bands could play and venues were closed. With new council members if feels as though there is more support for the arts.  Perhaps they realize that Santa Rosa is a very artistic community with some of the best musicians in the world living here.”