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Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Remarks on the Creative Sector Prompt Angry Response from UK Musicians

Daniel Parker — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 17:55:59 +0000

Remarks made in a TV interview today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, suggesting that musicians and the arts sector should “find ways to adjust to the new reality” have been met with an angry response from figures in the UK music sector.

In response to a question on whether self-employed musicians and those working in the creative sector should find new employment as a consequence of the pandemic, the Chancellor said “I can’t pretend that everyone can do exactly the same job that they were doing at the beginning of this crisis. That’s why we’ve put a lot of resource into trying to create new opportunities.”

What’s Rishi Sunak’s message to musicians, actors, freelancers in the arts who don’t feel govt is supporting them? Should they get a different job?

The Chancellor told me it’s “not right that there’s no work available…and everyone is having to adapt.” @ITVNewsPolitics pic.twitter.com/ewrQixpAne

— Daniel Hewitt (@DanielHewittITV) October 6, 2020

The comments prompted a backlash from a host of acts, who emphasised the importance of the music sector and wider creative industries to the UK economy. Folk-pop troubadour Damon Gough (aka Badly Drawn Boy) accused the Government of having ‘given up‘ on musicians. Derbyshire rock three-piece Drenge highlighted the importance of the sector to the UK economy, a theme also picked up by alt-rockers Shame, Blur drummer Dave Rowntree and X Factor alumna Diana Vickers.

To give up on Music, Art, Film, Theatre, all other art forms which celebrate the Human Spirit.. is to give up on Life itself Mr. Sunak !

— Badly Drawn Boy (@badly_drawn_boy) October 6, 2020

The live music industry brings in £5.2 billion a year, with nearly 200,000 jobs according this report published… last November.
What training has Sunak had?https://t.co/O5LJHUUuVj

— drenge (@drenge) October 6, 2020

Northern Irish indie-rock stalwarts Ash were also keen to emphasise the jobs the music industry supports off-stage.

Not just musicians though is it? It’s our technicians, our engineers, our management, our agent, our promoter. It’s the venues, their staff, the production companies, transport, storage. It’s roughly one million people you’re throwing on the job market.

— ASH (@ashofficial) October 6, 2020

Lily Allen delivered a more tongue-in-cheek response to the Chancellor’s comments, joking that she would now “get implants and join OnlyFans“.

Rishi Sunak took to Twitter to respond to some of the criticism, saying “I care deeply about the arts which is why our £1.57bn culture package is one of the most generous in the world.” In a separate ITV News interview, Labour Deputy Leader Angela Rayner said that the Chancellor should be working with businesses which would be viable if not for the pandemic.The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s comments coincided with a rally in Parliament Square in support of creative industry freelancers. The demonstration was organised by Let Music Live and spearheaded by Electric Light Orchestra musician Jess Murphy.

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Excellent placards at today’s demonstration #letmusiclive

A post shared by Let Music Live (@letmusicliveuk) on Oct 6, 2020 at 8:23am PDT

Live at Leeds adds Additional Names to 2019 Line-Up Including Kate Tempest and Sam Fender

Caitlyn Hart — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 14:04:57 +0000

A new wave of acts have been added to the Live at Leeds 2019 line-up, and it’s led by some of the hottest names today, including Sam Fender, Kate Tempest, and Drenge. A total of 80 artists have been added to the annual new music festival, which takes place across multiple venues around Leeds, on Saturday the 4th of May 2019. You can view the line-up for Live at Leeds in full below. Tickets are available now, and can be purchased here.

Indoor Pets said: “Leeds is one of the best towns in the world for live music and it’s always a pleasure to be in the vicinity of some proper tough northern bouncing crowds. I’ll brew the Yorkshire Tea, you just get yourselves limbered up.”

Ross Leighton, of Fatherson, said: “We’re really excited to be coming back to Live at Leeds this year. We had a great time in Leeds on our last tour and have been itching to get back since.”

Sam Fender’s return to the festival comes a year after he appeared on The Independent stage, as One to Watch. Fender’s performance comes as he prepares to release his debut album, after winning the prestigious BRITS Critics Choice Award for 2019.

Speaking about the win, Sam Fender said: “I am truly humbled to win The BRITs Critics’ Choice Award. Being nominated was crazy enough, never mind winning it. I’m so grateful to everyone back home for believing, and to my band and team for all their hard work. We’ve played literally hundreds of shows this year, and we’re going to go even harder in 2019. Most importantly, a big shout to my fans. I’ve met a lot of you over the last few years and it’s truly an honour to get up and play night after night to such a wonderful bunch of people. To everyone who’s taken a punt on me so far, thank you. Here’s to next year!”

Bloc Party, Drenge and Rat Boy head up NME Awards Tour 2016

Ashton Rowntree — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 12:36:38 +0000

NME have announced the line-up to the NME Awards Tour 2016 with Austin Texas, which accompanies the annual NME Awards ceremony. The tour will begin 29th January in Cardiff, winding its way though the UK until it reaches Birmingham on the 16th February.

The tour is headlined by indie rockers Bloc Party, along with supporting acts Drenge, Rat Boy and Bugzy Malone. The NME’s editor-in-chief, Mike Williams, said of the lineup: “The line-up for the NME Awards Tour 2016 with Austin, Texas is amazing for UK music fans – where else next February could you see three of the most exciting, game-changing new artists around, as well as a bona fide festival headliner in such an intimate setting?”

Bloc Party have recently announced a new album Hymns, with the release date being penned for around January 2016, coinciding neatly with the NME Awards Tour. Drenge have also released a new album, Undertow, so expect a healthy dose of new material being played by both bands. Meanwhile Libertines flavored rap act Rat Boy and 2nd wave Grime champion Bugzy Malone give the lineup some exciting new acts.

According to NME, exclusive ticket pre-sale begins at 9am on Wednesday (November 4) at NME.com/tickets. Tickets go on general sale at 9am on Friday (November 6).

The NME Awards Tour with Austin, Texas dates are as follows:

Cardiff, Great Hall (January 29)
Southampton, O2 Guildhall (January 30)
Bristol, O2 Academy (February 1)
Nottingham, Rock City (February 2)
Newcastle, O2 Academy (February 4)
Glasgow, Barrowland (February 5)
Manchester, Academy (February 6)
Leeds, O2 Academy (February 8)
Cambridge, Corn Exchange (February 9)
London, O2 Academy Brixton (February 11)
Birmingham, O2 Academy (February 12)