Keeping Music Live

Independent music venues lie at the heart of grassroots music. This is where many emerging artists and musicians begin their journey to becoming successful, confident performers. In collaboration with the Music Venue Trust, we’ve launched the Keeping Music Live campaign to stand with and support these venues, and to champion their vital role in shaping the future of music. We also run our very own music venues – The WaterBear Venue on Brighton Seafront, The WaterBear MusicBar in Brighton’s Kemptown, and the WaterBear Green Room in Sheffield.

Run by musicians for musicians

From our founders and tutors through to our supporting staff, we are a college filled with professional musicians and creatives actively working across many areas of the industry. This not only brings real-world context and experience to the curriculum, but also creates a network of like-minded musicians and creatives, all with lived experiences of a life in music.

Developing independent artists

WaterBear is all about empowering the independent, DIY artist, who wants to take full control of their music and their life. We foster a culture of self-belief and determination, with a commitment to high-quality musical output, all of which are key to success and fundamental to the WaterBear experience. Our Artist Development team brings extensive industry knowledge and experience, supporting students as they grow into independent, authentic artists.

Creating career opportunities

At WaterBear, the Music Industries team is the engine behind your music industry journey. They’re committed to providing exciting opportunities for hands-on experience across a wide range of music business activities, including live gigs, touring, session work, record labels and publishing, artist management, live sound engineering, studio production, festivals, conferences, education and live events management. There are also regular masterclasses and events designed to grow your network and fast-track your connections to industry.

1-1 Mentoring programme

Our unique mentoring programme is a key part of the WaterBear experience. All students receive allocated 1-1 mentoring time with a diverse group of industry professionals. Your mentoring sessions can really help you focus on those areas where extra support is needed to improve. The WaterBear mentoring programme is structured to provide 1-1 advice, guidance and support in 3 fundamental areas: Musical development, academic achievement, and music industries support, providing personal advice across careers and artist development.

Building World-Class Facilities

WaterBear’s campuses are equipped with cutting edge, professional grade facilities that support every stage of your music journey. From high spec rehearsal spaces and recording studios to media suites and performance venues, every space is built to industry standard. These creative environments give you the freedom to experiment, collaborate and produce your best work from day one.

Partners of Falmouth University

WaterBear is a proud partner and College of Falmouth University, one of the UK’s most prestigious creative arts institutions. Our close relationship with Falmouth ensures consistently high standards of academic quality and student experience are met. All courses delivered at WaterBear are approved and awarded by Falmouth, meaning you’ll graduate with a Falmouth University degree or master’s qualification.

Smaller Class Sizes

You won’t find big lecture halls here. Classes are restricted in size to smaller groups, something we believe is vital for high-quality learning. Typical class sizes range from 8-12. Tutors can therefore spend more time with each person, focussing on personal strengths development and individual learning styles.

Flexible Learning

Whatever your course of study, content from every WaterBear course is available 24/7, for everyone. If you’re studying a campus-based course but can’t get to the college for whatever reason – no problem. You can log in remotely to the WaterBear VLE and keep up-to-date with your course, access the huge library of course content, and keep in contact with the WaterBear community. This flexible approach to learning allows you to fit study around your life, not the other way around, which is often so important for today’s musicians

COLLABORATION

At WaterBear, collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you’re forming a band, producing tracks, creating content, or planning live events, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded creatives ready to connect and co-create. Our courses, venues, and digital platforms are designed to encourage teamwork, build networks, and spark new ideas—helping you grow as both an artist and a collaborator.

Adaptive Learning

WaterBear is a leading player in both digital learning and classroom-based teaching and learning. All live lectures are backed up with rich online content, discussion groups, feedback forums and tutorials. With course content for all subjects on every course being available for everyone, you’ll have the freedom to choose what you want to study and learn.

Hanover House

Located on Queens Road, between the train station and the seafront, our Brighton HQ at Hanover House spans seven floors of creative space. You’ll find four recording studios, dedicated guitar, bass and drum studios, rehearsal rooms with full backline, DJ facilities, Mac suites, a Creative Studio for photo and video, the Business Room, a library, mentoring rooms and common spaces. At its heart is our 1,000 sq ft flagship studio, the engine room of Hanover House. Built around an Audient ASP 4816 console with a full live room, it blends analogue and digital gear to support everything from full band tracking to vocal production.

Gatecrasher

Located in the heart of the Cultural Industries Quarter, our Sheffield HQ stands on the old site of the famous Sheffield superclub, Gatecrasher. The building holds Mac suites, teaching spaces, a live performance room, mentoring rooms and two professional recording studios: Studio A, a 32-channel analogue studio with a large live room for tracking full bands, and Studio B, a hybrid mixing suite with recording and DJ facilities. It now includes brand-new common spaces alongside networking and collaboration rooms. A place to meet and relax is fundamental to every campus, and we want you to feel comfortable and welcomed.

Vintage and Modern gear

As a college run by professional musicians, we know everything about equipment and what kind of gear you need access to. Within their own dedicated spaces drummers learn on acoustic kits, guitarists and bassists plug into their own amps, music producers and electronic artists work with the latest tech and equipment. Teaching rooms are fitted out with state-of-the-art digital A/V technology. You’ll also find classic vintage gear alongside modern musical equipment to give you the best of both worlds. You’ll also navigate different Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) such as Pro Tools, Ableton and Logic Pro. All WaterBear students take part in audio production classes to expand their technical knowledge and compositional skills and to investigate different methods of recording.

Live Music Venues

You’ll have regular opportunities to perform live at fantastic partner venues across Sheffield and Brighton, including two WaterBear-run venues in Brighton, and another in Sheffield. Students are encouraged to organise gigs, tours, and events, gaining real experience, building networks, and becoming part of the local music scene. Live performance, along with supporting emerging artists and grassroots venues through our Keeping Music Live campaign, is central to everything we do at WaterBear.

WaterBear Green Room

Located in the heart of Sheffield city centre, the WaterBear Green Room is a historic grassroots music venue with a long-standing reputation for live music and emerging artists. Now operated by WaterBear, the venue hosts a diverse programme of gigs, showcases, club nights, open mics and special events in a refurbished space that retains its original character. WaterBear students benefit from access to the venue for classes, rehearsals, performances and stagecraft development. There are also opportunities to work at the venue and use it as a space to socialise within Sheffield’s thriving music community.

WaterBear Venue

This is WaterBear’s very own seafront music and club venue. Located right on the beach, this iconic venue was once one of Brighton’s most famous club venues. Now exclusively operated by WaterBear, it’s a great place for our musicians to socialise, with lots of events happening throughout the week. The Venue can also be booked by students for their own music projects, and there are regular opportunities for work there too.

WaterBear MusicBar

Located in Kemptown, this eclectic venue is known for its vibrant atmosphere and rich musical heritage. It has hosted renowned UK artists, including Amy Winehouse, The Kooks, and Chris Difford of Squeeze. Now operated by WaterBear, the music bar hosts a diverse range of gigs and events, featuring a dedicated live music basement and a ground-floor bar with an intimate performance space. WaterBear students benefit from access to the venue for classes, rehearsals, performances, and stagecraft development. There are also opportunities to work at the venue and use it as a space to socialise.

Recording and Rehearsing

As a WaterBear student, you’ll get free, bookable access to recording and rehearsal facilities that support every stage of the creative process, from songwriting and pre-production to tracking and mixing. Hanover House has four recording studios, including a 1,000 sq ft flagship with live room and Audient ASP 4816 console, plus rehearsal rooms with full backline. We also partner with Brighton Electric, home to two high-end studios and a live music space that has hosted The Cure, Royal Blood and Foals, and Alphabet for live performance. These partnerships give you professional equipment, expertise, local networking and work experience opportunities.

Recording and Rehearsing

In Sheffield, you’ll get free, bookable access to recording and rehearsal facilities and industry-standard DAWs including Pro Tools, Ableton and Logic Pro. At our Gatecrasher building, Studio A is a 32-channel analogue studio with an Audient ASP8024 console and a large live room for tracking full bands. Studio B is a hybrid mixing suite with an SSL console and Pioneer CDJ 3000s for recording, mastering and DJ work. You’ll also access partner studios across the city, including Spring Tank Studios, Hybrid3, Studio Tecna (Self Esteem, Reverend and the Makers) and MU Studios (Jarvis Cocker, Richard Hawley), giving you professional kit, networking and work experience opportunities.

Live Performance and Songwriting Spaces

Our songwriting and performance spaces have been designed as multi-functional, creative spaces tailor-made to support high-quality musical output. Think masterclasses, performance workshops, and loads of specialist activities for songwriters, vocalists, artists, and bands. You’ll be able to showcase your music while building confidence in these supportive, creative environments. The spaces are great for collaboration and impromptu lunchtime live performances.

Ronan Keating Scholarship

Steeze Factory & Toddla T Scholarship

AudioActive

DJ AG Scholarship