Falmouth Repair Café Saves Arrested Development Show at Princess Pavilions

A volunteer team in Falmouth stepped in at the last moment to rescue a concert by Grammy Award-winning group Arrested Development, after a crucial piece of equipment failed just hours before the band were due on stage at Princess Pavilions.

A Sudden Breakdown During Soundcheck

Arrested Development, known for hits like “People Everyday” and “Mr. Wendal”, were set to perform on Sunday 9th November when band member One Love’s sampler stopped working during soundcheck. The sampler holds many of the group’s signature backing tracks, and without it the show was under threat.

In a fortunate twist of timing, the Falmouth Repair Café was running that same afternoon in the foyer at Princess Pavilions. The volunteer group meets monthly on the second Sunday to help people fix items ranging from lamps and radios to bikes and sewing machines.

📷One Love’s Sampler – Arrested Development Instagram post

Volunteers Step In

The band’s drummer Will Montgomery spotted the repairers and asked if they could take a look. The volunteers got to work straight away, taking the sampler to the Repair Café to diagnose the issue. After four hours of work, which included a trip across Falmouth to the workshop of one of the founders, Sam Lanyon, they managed to get the equipment working again.

The fix was completed half an hour after the doors opened, while support acts were on stage, allowing the main performance to go ahead as planned.

The band later shared their thanks with more than 100,000 followers on Instagram, writing:

“On tour throughout Europe and the power board inside of our Sampler BLOWS! 🪫🔋⚡️🔌 The heart beat of the Arrested Development show… GONE! There just “happens” to be a [repair café] happening at the same venue we’re playing, so we humbly ask if they could look at it? They agree to, some hours later, our trusty, road torn sampler is FIXED, (at least temporarily)! THANK YOU GOD🙏🏾😇😫!!!!!!! #wonthedoit The odds of this is nothing short of amazing! So, tonight’s show is a go.”
Arrested Development via Instagram

📷Repair Café repairing on stage – Carey Davis, Princess Pavilions

“A First for Us”

Simon Baker, Chair of Falmouth Repair Café, said:

“We’ve repaired a lot of things over the years, but saving a Grammy-winning band’s historic equipment was definitely a first! It just shows the power of community skills and generosity and the value of repairing rather than replacing.”

About Falmouth Repair Café

Founded in 2017, Falmouth Repair Café was the first of its kind in Cornwall. The volunteer-led group meets monthly at Princess Pavilions to help people repair household items free of charge. The aim is to reduce waste, share skills and support the local community. Repairs include clothes, ceramics, furniture, electricals, bicycles and garden tools.
Website: https://fprc.org.uk

📷Repair Café repairing – Arrested Development Instagram post

About Arrested Development

Arrested Development formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1988 and were pioneers of socially conscious hip-hop, blending rap, soul and African rhythms. Their debut album 3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of… sold more than 4 million copies and won two Grammy Awards. The group continues to record and tour worldwide.

📷Will Montogmery of Arrested Development with Sheila from Repair Cafe

📷Arrested Development on stage with repaired sampler – Carey Davis, Princess Pavilions