Graham Ramsay, founder, Ten Feet Tall

Oct 26 2010 by Evening Gazette

GRAHAM Ramsay hopes he has made Teesside a better place to live - and many people would agree with him.

As the founder of Ten Feet Tall, the Middlesbrough based music, comedy and club night promoters, Graham is responsible for bringing many big names in the world of music and comedy to Teesside.

From musicians such as Coldplay and Scissor Sisters to comedians such as Jimmy Carr and Michael McIntyre, Graham has booked them all.

Founded in 2001, Ten Feet Tall was set on steady ground with Graham already having a wealth of experience.

Originally from Edinburgh, Graham’s first taste of working as a promoter emerged when studying English at York University where the lack of a live music scene urged him to start promoting gigs himself.

"I have always loved live music and grew up always going to see gigs," said Graham.

"But when I went to university in York, I found that there was not as much as I would like going on.

"It was then that I thought I should start promoting gigs myself."

And once he did, he found he had quite an eye for promotions.

After university he accepted a job as an events promoter at what is now Northumbria University in Newcastle.

"It was a dream job for me", said Graham, who worked there for three years until an opportunity to work at the Arena in Middlesbrough came up.

"I had some great years at the Arena and we did some amazing events there", said Graham.

"But the time came to go it on my own. It was a risk but I felt I had to give it a go."