What people think about Grammy award-winning producer turning a church into a music space
Greg Wells is creating new opportunities for musicians in rural Newfoundland
Why would one of the biggest producers of the pop music industry suddenly go and create a music space in a rural area? After all, he spends his own money for this project, and many people might not see what he gets out of it. This is actually a great decision for such a celebrity, so let’s see the real reason behind this act of generosity.
If you’ve ever heard about Pink, Katy Perry, or Ariana Grande, you know the artists who Greg Wells helped on their road to fame and success. It goes without saying that many of these artists are Grammy award winners, and the latest award was given this year, 2023, to Michael Bublé for his album “Higher” in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album nomination. This is one of the most prestigious of the Grammy award categories. Of course, the one who helped this singer and received the award together with him was Greg. This producer has once again proven to be an exceptional mentor for the most talented musicians out there.
So why did he decide to suddenly buy an old church and reformat it as a music hub? Well, the answer is simpler than you may think. Let’s start with the fact that Greg is a son of a minister. He has been closely connected to the church atmosphere since the very first years of his life. Moreover, the future producer became a trained pipe organist. Just imagine playing an instrument that you can only find in a church! It’s no wonder that Mr. Wells had a lifelong dream of getting his own church. Now, this dream has finally come true, but he’s not the only one to benefit from that.
According to Greg’s own words, the project he started will help him rediscover his origins. That’s why he treats the building he bought as heritage, not a commercial asset. For example, the Grammy award-winning producer has primarily restored the church’s heating system, added special lighting, and restored the deadstones in the area. Of course, the new stage has a restored pipe organ as a centerpiece. If anyone ever thought that this is a “soulless pop music advertisement campaign,” they couldn’t be more wrong.
It’s a bit ironic that Wells’ grandfather, who was a minister as well, used to work in the church just behind the one that’s been turned into a music hub. Winterton, N.L., is a very lucky town because now it’s home to prestigious Trinity Hall. That’s the name Greg chose for the place he has created for his own money. The benefits to the townspeople are clear—aside from numerous opportunities for musicians they include drawing attention to the town and revitalizing the entire area around it. However, the real question is, what will they actually do in Trinity Hall when it opens? Although that’s a nonprofit, there are numerous activities, so let’s dive into the details.
Naturally, the new music hub will be a place where local musicians can play their concerts and gain some popularity for themselves. Anyone who has ever tried to organize even a small event will know how valuable such help is. After all, most artists start their careers without tons of money to rely on.
Speaking of reliability, Trinity Hall will also offer workshops with Greg Wells himself and, maybe, other top-level producers or musicians. If this plan works, the local musicians of Winterton and those who visit the town can learn from the best at the very start of their careers. Who wouldn’t like free advice from the brightest stars of the pop music stage?
On top of that, Greg Wells has already created a new non-profit label called Scilly Cove Records. The remarkable thing about it is that the artists get half the money earned from their songs while the other half goes to local charities. This is a good way to support the blooming talents and their home town at the same time. Moreover, this is a huge step towards forming a bond between the producer’s project and the people it’s for since some of them were skeptical at the beginning.
For example, the current director of the hub’s board has kept a close eye on Wells ever since he bought a church. It’s hard to blame that man though because he just wanted to protect the welfare of his home town. After all, the modern pop music world usually relies on cold business logic when handling property. That’s why people struggled to believe their luck at first when Greg Wells came to grace them with new opportunities and asked for nothing in return.
Now everyone agrees that this producer is a great person who fulfills his dreams to make everyone around him happy.