After years of searching, Roswell Rehearsals has finally found a new home.
Roswell Rehearsals, founded in 2015 by Trevor and Anita Johnson, has finally found their new location at Unit 7, 700 Progress Ave., spitting distance from their previous location. ed through tough pandemic years by the Kingston music community, the pair have found a new base from which musicians can hone their craft. Cornerstones of the Kingston music world for their work in lighting and sound production for live events—the Johnsons are excited to open their doors once more in this permanent space.
If you’ve ever been to a live music event in Kingston over the years, you’ve probably come across the work of Trevor and Anita Johnson, also known as “The Roswells.” Their moniker is inspired by the extraterrestrial incident in New Mexico of the same name, reflected in the alien motif throughout their branding. Their work in the Kingston music scene both in production and in their rehearsal space has been vital in ing local live music.
Originating after the pair’s return from England, they filled a gap Kingston needed. “We sort of gradually grew and got a reputation. People sort of started to appreciate what we were doing, and we got more and more bands. We had a lot of bands that kind of formed here essentially,” Anita Johnson said in an interview with The Journal.
Despite their growing success and good reputation, like many businesses in the entertainment world, COVID-19 posed unexpected challenges. “We thought we were going to have to close,” Anita Johnson said. “We fought, and struggled, and changed things, and did what we could.” The pair have recently “pressed play” on their GoFundMe efforts once again, hoping to raise funds to them through the early stages of this transition, allowing Roswell Rehearsals to grow and evolve.
Now, in October 2024, the Johnsons are excited to open their doors to musicians again, not far from their old home. “We looked all across the city—east-end, downtown, everywhere—to eventually settle on a unit three doors down from where we were,” Anita Johnson said.
The type of rehearsal space the Johnsons provide is key in the music world, offering a unique space for musicians to get focused practice, familiarize themselves with professional equipment, and enhance their stage craft.
“We’ve tried to be more purpose built,” Anita Johnson said. “[At an] open jam in the basement, things can get out of control, you know. A couple beers come out and that’s the end of it. But here, if you’re paying, you get your money’s worth,” Trevor Johnson said. “People tend to get things done,” Anita added.
With bands like Tiny Horse, The Wilderness, Moist, and The Blue Stones all alumni of the space, Roswell Rehearsals has developed a reputation for being a place where great work happens. They’ve coined the term “the Roswell Effect,” which describes the way musicians tend to find a productive groove in the space.
The term was immortalized in a compilation album aptly titled The Roswell Effect, which featured 25 “out of this world musical acts” by the studio’s alumni. The proceeds from these album sales went towards the GoFundMe effort to save Roswell Rehearsals during the pandemic.
Featuring songs by The Astros, The Wilderness, Dan Taylor Band and more, it displays the importance of community and showcases the impression the pair have left on musicians far and wide.
The desire to and connect the music community is something Anita and Trevor highly value. “[Community] is everything really. Kingston has always had a reputation for incredible bands—it still does,” Trevor Johnson said.
Music is a huge part of both Johnsons’ lives, and the pair are excited for the chance to help artists once again. “I guess we both got the music bug in different ways […] I just feel very ed, I get inspired. There’s just so many creative people we know, and I just feel like it’s something we can do to help them,” Anita Johnson said.
Roswell Rehearsals have hopes to expand the studio further, creating space for more musicians, providing lock-up spaces as well as a video element to their offerings. “That’s really why we’ve looked so hard, and hopefully this space will also fit the need for a lot of people. It’s quite a big project, this one, the long-term vision of it is actually bigger than what we had before,” Anita Johnson shared.
Roswell Rehearsals is officially open in the west-end and is excited for what the future has in store.
Tags
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be ed, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to [email protected].