| Location | Palmerston North, New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Type | Music venue, studio and rehearsal space |
| Capacity | 150 [1] |
| Opened | 1988 |
| Website | |
| https://www.creativesounds.org.nz/ | |
The Stomach, also known as Creative Sounds: The Stomach and The Tummy, is a music venue, music studio, and rehearsal space located in Palmerston North, New Zealand. The venue focuses on artists playing their original music.
The venue was opened in 1988, within a previously vacant, Council-owned building in a semi-industrial area on the fringe of the central business district. The building was initially shared with a charity organisation. By the mid-2000s, The Stomach had a negative stigma of being a hangout for rowdy teenagers and the building was needing maintenance. This lead to the building being renovated in 2008. [2] The Stomach is the primary venue for Swampfest, a music festival showcasing local acts. [3] The Stomach often partners with the local student radio station Radio Control 99.4FM to record live music sets.[ citation needed ] The venue has roots in the punk movement and caters to all ages. [4] [5]
The venue is managed by a volunteer committee[ citation needed ] and is operated as a not-for-profit charity. [5] It largely relies on grants from local and central government, and hosts music workshops for people with disabilities. [6]