With “The UK” set to “lose 10 per cent of its grassroots music venues in 2023”, calls have been growing for the “music industry and larger venues to do more”. The Music Venue Trust has also revealed that 67 venues have closed so far this year alone and claims that “the UK is set to lose 10 per cent of its independent venues by the end of 2023.” Bands and artists alike are questioning, how can this be turned around? 

Support grassroots music venues ❤️✊ https://t.co/AAhI0sMJP9

— ENTER SHIKARI (@ENTERSHIKARI) April 23, 2023

Rou Reynolds, MVT patron and lead vocalist and keyboardist of Enter Shikari says “There are a lot of new arenas on the way, while at the same time, there is no support whatsoever for the grassroots circuit. There’s a very clear link between small venues and big venues – especially in terms of providing new artists with a space to find their way in the industry and find their audience.” He continues ruefully “We’re going to have all these new arenas without supporting the ways that artists can grow into them. It just all seems a bit silly!”

During Venues Day, an event hosted in London by The Music Venue Trust (MVT), the band spoke about their upcoming UK and Ireland arena tour. In their bid to help save grassroots venues, the band is donating £1 for every ticket sold to help save the music community. Speaking at the event they declared “We will not be replaced by another block of f*cking flats.” Demanding the industry to “make it impossible” for any more grassroots gig spaces to close.  The band, which signed a funding agreement with the MVT received the Outstanding Contribution Award for their donations to this cause. 

Enter Shikari Drummer, Rob Rolfe mentions that “Grassroots venues helped” to “cut our teeth, hone our craft, meet and be inspired by other musicians, and how to be a proper touring band,” he also added, “It was also the platform to help us reach an audience and build our own fanbase.”

Venues have struggled over the last few years, with the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and then the cost of living crisis causing rocket-high bills. As many businesses switched to online, venues suffered. Many shut their doors back in 2020 either for a short period of time or for good with the grassroots venues which have remained open relying heavily on “support from crowd-funders or fundraising efforts led, in particular, by the Music Venue Trust (MVT).” 

The ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ European tour opens tonight in VEGA, Copenhagen

The orchestral arrangements will be adapted to the late musicians’ songs and are to be conducted by the English composer, conductor and arranger, Jules Buckley, for the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. Fans will be pleased to know that he will be playing songs such as “It’s Raining Today”, “Copenhagen” and “The Old Man’s Back Again”. 

Scott Walker emerged in the 60’s and caved a fond hole in many hearts of his generation. He was an American-English singer songwriter who rolled of a vocal tone as thick as honey. He was a popstar who ticked off the charts in the 60’s making it as a popstar and delving into baroque rock later in the 70’s. He was best known for brining a legendary experimentation into his sound, later on in his career, setting the scene for the UK’s underground music field.

He died due, due to cancer, at the age of 76 in London on the 22nd March 2019. Ever since this mournful day, where he was those who appreciated him and held in their high spirits have hosted a variety of tributes to him. One of these coming up in May. “Scott Walker has been a unique and challenging titan at the forefront of British music” described his label at the time, 4AD.

Misty regularly took Walker into his referential accounts and so he probably feels a nostalgic pulling to pay his respects towards him. For those who will not attend the concert, highlights of the performance will be broadcast on the 25th of May on BBC Radio 6 and then will be fully released on BBC Radio 3 later on, the date and time are still to be announced.

Father John Misty is now currently touring on a worldwide journey until the end of the summer. Today (17 April) he is playing in Roanoke, VA. Once he’s finished visiting cities in the US he will make his way across the pond to play the tribute on the 19th May. This is a one off special of the tour. The rest of his gigs will not be hosting the orchestral tribute. After visiting London he will be touring around Europe to finally land back in the US by the end of August.

Tickets are available here.

UK Tour Dates:

19/05/2023 – Barbican Centre – London