Since the spread of Covid-19 called for social distancing and isolation measures around not only the country, but the world, the arts industries have suffered, with many grassroots venues closing permanently. As musicians themselves, Lovett and Bay feel passionately about this issue, but they also worry about their teams who might not be as well off, and other artists, such as new aspiring acts.

On this topic, they reminisced about their early careers, which both began as so many do, playing in small music venues. Lovett described this, saying it’s “a place to build up a bit of a fan base but it’s also a place to make mistakes.”

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Caught up with Ben Lovett of @mumfordandsons, @communionmusic and @omearalondon to discuss the current music venue crisis we’re facing. Hopefully this helps to give you a bit of insight into the effects of Covid-19 on the music industry. If you want to help, you can watch my free online gig from Omeara a few nights ago and donate to Save Our Venues! x

A post shared by James Bay (@jamesbaymusic) on Jul 19, 2020 at 12:52pm PDT

After expressing the urgency of supporting music venues, the pair looked at how to remain positive during this time, and what artists and fans can do to help. Bay recently performed a solo show at Omeara which followers watched via livestream, and he explained that although it feels strange playing without an audience, it’s important for venues to have the business. Although Bay’s gig was free to watch, and is still available on his YouTube channel, he is donating all the income from the video to the #SaveOurVenues campaign. So far, over £4k has been raised.

Taking place on 16th July, the singer played his famous hits along with new single ‘Chew On My Heart’, and included a message to viewers in the description box of the video. He wrote, “We must never live in a world where live music venues don’t exist. They are as important for the artist as they are for the countless visitors and of course the dedicated staff that devote themselves to running those rooms like clockwork.”

Fans are encouraged to watch the video back, and to donate to the campaign themselves, or to Lovett’s Crowdfunder page which was set up in May to fund the workers at Omeara and prevent its closure. Furthermore, Lovett opened his new venue, Lafayette, in February, which the campaign will also support.

Despite the worry that both Bay and Lovett are feeling, they did bring up a hopeful element in their video chat, with Lovett saying, “I think hope is important and we’ve been through a lot as human beings, and through everything music has come through the other side of it.”

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Alongside venue founder Ben Lovett and the incredible team that make Omeara the special venue that it is, @maggierogers @theamazons @dermotkennedy and @sonicseagirls show their support, sharing some memories of what the venue means to them… first headline show, first night of their first tour, the first place that showed the power of a British audience… long may it continue! To help raise support and vital funds, visit https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/omeara (link in bio) Omeara x #saveourvenues

A post shared by Omeara (@omearalondon) on May 20, 2020 at 11:26am PDT

Not only will this action help artists and venue owners, but also promoters, chefs, bartenders, and more. Lovett has asked workers from various fields to come together with music fans in saving his beloved Omeara. In a statement on the Crowdfunder page, Lovett wrote that “in an effort to prevent the closure of Omeara and protect the wellbeing of our extended family, as well as ensuring we are still here on the other side of all of this to host artists again,” the venue will be offering experiences, merchandise, and more in exchange for donations.

He explained that “all proceeds will go directly to our staff and artists. Everything above the amount we need will be donated to the Music Venue Trust GMV Crisis Fund.” With rewards ranging from £10 to £25,000, there is plenty of incentive to participate, if not only to save this incredible venue. Fans can purchase clothing, accessories, or beauty products on the lower end of the scale, while for a higher price, they can receive a cocktail masterclass or an annual Omeara ticket pass. View all options here.

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To help raise support and vital funds to protect the wellbeing of Omeara and our staff we’ve reached out to artists, dug into the vault, spoken to everyone from our cocktail makers, suppliers, engineers, chefs and promoters to do what they do best… get creative and think of experiences we can open up to our community to show your support, as well as creating some special moments along the way! So whether it’s buying one of our new limited edition hoodies, coasters carved out of floorboards from the stage, dining experiences from Flat Iron Square, or your very own full take over of the space, every single contribution will make a difference. For more information on how to get involved, head to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/omeara (link in bio). #saveourvenues

A post shared by Omeara (@omearalondon) on May 19, 2020 at 10:40am PDT

With £9,000 already raised for Omeara, Ben Lovett recently opened new venue the Lafayette in a further attempt to keep the music industry open for  emerging artists. The musician himself  began performing around London in small, independent venues which have housed many more popular artists over the years. It is his hope, and the hope of music lovers around the UK, that we can continue to support both smaller artists and venues and appreciate them for their unique, high-quality experiences.

Lovett also showed his love and support for other musicians and record stores by sharing his favourite albums for Off the Record’s ‘Isolation Albums’ on their YouTube channel. His picks included No Doubt, Michael Kiwanuka, and Leiff Vullebekk.

Supported by UK singer-songwriter Frank Turner, the Music Venue Trust has confirmed that, thanks to the help of fans, artists, and staff, 140 venues have been protected from closure due to the coronavirus. The Save Our Venues campaign has raised over £1 million, while their target is £1.5 million, so head to their page to keep donating.

Image Credit: Kalyn Oyer

Lovett has noticed the closure of many wonderful venues over the past few years due to lack of exposure and popularity in this new digital era – a time in which lesser known artists find it practically impossible to find space within the industry. These grassroots venues often hold huge amounts of talent and memories of world-famous bands or artists when they were starting out. There’s history there which is being ignored and forgotten. Lovett said “What we don’t have here, which some venues like the 100 Club do, is that Eric Clapton sweat on the walls – legendary stories of people that have played here”.

With a 600 person capacity, this venue is part of a larger space containing a food court and bar. The name of the space will be Lafayette, and the hope is that venues like this one will lay out a path for future headlining musicians. Artists with whom Lovett has played small venues in the past include Adele, Jamie T, and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine, all of whom performed to rooms of 200 people and now play to stadiums holding thousands.

In 2016, Lovett opened Omeara near London Bridge, which holds 325 people and has put on many successful gigs since then. Performers who have played there are Clean Bandit, Tom Odell, Jorja Smith, and Tom Walker, to name a few. This makes Lafayette the second venue which he has opened, under his company, Communion: a record label, publishing and promotion company. Venue Group is the name of the entrepreneurial venture; the next plan is to open an 8,000-seat amphitheatre in Alabama.

Ben Lovett is one of the founding members of popular band Mumford & Sons, in which he primarily plays keyboards, but also occasionally accordion, drums, guitar, percussion and backing vocals. The band has four studio albums and have been awarded two Brit Awards and two Grammys for their work. Starting out with a folk sound on songs such as ‘I Will Wait’, they have now taken on a more alternative folk-rock style in 2018 album ‘Delta’. Mumford & Sons have always loved and supported independent music, having grown up around it and been a part of it for such a long time.

‘Delta’, their latest release, reached number 2 in the UK charts and October 2019 saw a new single release, called ‘Blind Leading the Blind’. Could there be a new album on the way? The band has plans to play at Glastonbury and multiple other UK and US gigs this year, so either way, we’ll be hearing a lot of them. Lafayette will open in approximately 6 weeks and the acts will be announced very soon.

Featured Image taken by Kalyn Oyer.