Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm
The unlikely tale of how two Welsh farming brothers turned their dairy farm into a legendary recording studio starring Ozzy Osbourne, Liam Gallagher, Chris Martin and many more.
Black Sabbath, Queen, The Stone Roses, Oasis, Coldplay, Simple Minds, Robert Plant and Manic Street Preachers are some of the greatest bands and musicians of our time, but what is the one thing these titans of music have in common?
This film tells the unlikely tale of how two Welsh farming brothers turned their dairy farm into one of the most successful recording studios of all time, producing four decades of legendary rock music. It鈥檚 where Queen recorded their seminal Bohemian Rhapsody, featured in the Hollywood blockbuster of the same name. But Rockfield鈥檚 own story has never been told until now.
Fifty years ago, deep in the Welsh countryside, brothers Kingsley and Charles Ward were starting out in the family dairy farming business. But they yearned to do something different 鈥� they wanted to make music. So they built a studio in the attic of their farmhouse and started recording with their friends. Kingsley鈥檚 new wife Ann left her job in the local bank to do the books, and they continued farming all the while. Animals were kicked out of barns to make way for recording equipment, and musicians were moved into Nan鈥檚 spare bedroom. Inadvertently, they鈥檇 launched the world鈥檚 first independent residential recording studio.
Rockfield鈥檚 reputation spread like wildfire, quickly garnering international acclaim. From Black Sabbath, Hawkwind and Queen, to Simple Minds, Iggy Pop and Robert Plant, and later Oasis, The Stone Roses, The Charlatans, Manic Street Preachers and Coldplay - an unbelievable roll call of artists have made music and mayhem at Rockfield.
Legendary musicians give us their awe-inspiring Rockfield stories - sharing with us the highs, lows and magical moments that created some the world鈥檚 best-known and loved songs of our times - from Wonderwall to Yellow.
Innovatively told through archive, animation and personal interviews, Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm is an extraordinary story of rock and roll dreams intertwined with a family business鈥檚 struggle for survival in the face of an ever-changing music landscape. Amazingly, Kingsley Ward and his wife Ann, now in their 80s, are still at the helm today, with daughter Lisa 'front of house'.
The film is the debut documentary feature from director Hannah Berryman, produced by Catryn Ramasut from award-winning Welsh production company ie ie Productions.
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The Rockfield Studio Music Quiz
How much do you know about the artists & bands that have recorded here over the years?
Clips
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How Rockfield influenced Coldplay
Duration: 03:51
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Home to some of the biggest rock stars
Duration: 02:45
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Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm - Trailer
Duration: 00:40
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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10:00The Stone Roses
Love Spreads
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10:01Hobo
You
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10:03Stud Farm for Shire Horses
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10:05Charles Kingsley Creation
Summer Without Sun
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10:06Heather Jones
Nos Ddu
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10:07Spring
Hendre Mews
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10:10Black Sabbath
Blue Suede Shoes
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10:11Dave Edmunds
Baby I Love You
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10:12Black Sabbath
Paranoid
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10:16Hawkwind
Silver Machine
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10:18Hawkwind
Space Is Deep
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10:19Hawkwind
Opa Loka
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10:22Ace
How Long
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10:25Rush
Xanadu
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10:25Alexander Parsons
The Eighties
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10:29Adam and the Ants
Ant Music
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10:29The Teardrop Explodes
Reward
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10:30Iggy Pop & David Bowie
Play It Safe
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10:34Simple Minds
Changeling
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10:34Simple Minds
Changeling
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10:36Robert Plant
Big Log
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10:37Simple Minds
Promised You A Miracle
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10:43The Stone Roses
I Am The Resurrection
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10:44The Stone Roses
I Am The Resurrection
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10:47The Stone Roses
Love Spreads
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10:56Oasis
Wonderwall
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10:58Oasis
Wonderwall
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11:00The Boo Radleys
Wake Up Boo!
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11:00The Boo Radleys
Wake Up Boo!
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11:02Manic Street Preachers
If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next
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11:02The Charlatans
One To Another
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11:11Oasis
Champagne Supernova
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11:17From Madama Butterfly
Coro a bocca chiusa (Humming Chorus)
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11:20Coldplay
Shiver
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11:21Coldplay
Yellow
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11:26Eliza Carthy
Devil in the Woman
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11:29Ace
How Long
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Director | Hannah Berryman |
| Editor | Rupert Houseman |
| Producer | Catryn Ramasut |
| Executive Producer | Julian Carey |
| Executive Producer | Kimberley Warner |
| Executive Producer | Keith Potter |
| Composer | Alexander Parsons |
| Production Company | ie ie Productions |
