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In the recent news of 13 venues being removed from The Red List Davvyd stated, “The love shown for these venues continues to demonstrate how important they are to people and to our towns and cities. Music Venue Trust is committed to reopening every venue safely and we are going to carry on working through this crisis until that outcome is achieved.”

One of the 13 saved from the Music Venue’s Trust fundraiser was Grand Elektra in Hastings. The venue is the cities leading music venue and nightclub, hosting comedy nights, theatre and music videos as well. Paul Mandy, the owner of Grand Elektra stated, “Being part of the red list #saveourvenues has been great support for the venue and hospitality sector. It’s brought great publicity to our cause and with the support of the MVT which has been amazing throughout the whole of the pandemic crisis and helped us weather this storm so far.”

The full list of the 13 venues removed from the Red List are:

Arden Inn, Accrington
Backstage Kinross
Boulevard, Wigan
Four Horsemen, Bournemouth
Gellions, Inverness
Hootenanny, Inverness
Plot 22, Sheffield
Rossi Bar, Brighton
Strange Brew, Bristol
The Brunswick, Hove
The Grand Elektra/ The Crypt, Hastings
The Railway Inn, Winchester
Waterloo Bar, Blackpool

However, there are still venues being added to the ‘Red List’ that are in desperate need of support. These include BOOM in Leeds, The Lexington in London, The Windmill in Brixton and many more. The target for the campaign to succeed is £1,750,000 with a current £791,502 raised from 12,418 supporters.

BOOM Leeds, a renowned punk music venue, has hosted famous artists such as slowthai, Gallows and Code Orange. Yet, the beloved venue is still in dire need of donations due to the pandemics restrictions on live music. Frank Turner, lead vocalist of Million Dead and now solo singer-songwriter, performed a live-stream set in which the proceeds went to BOOM Leeds. In a social media post, the singer stated how his ‘first hard-core gig’ was at BOOM, leading to Turner and his fans raised £7000 for the venue. 

To support your favourite music venue and stop iconic live music settings closing, donate here.

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In a statement on Black Midi’s social media announcement of the releases, they stated that they,  recorded a couple of covers of our favourite Christmas tunes at our rehearsal room and then added some bells an whistles at home. The London rockers go on to explain their special relationship to the venue, saying they would usually do some fun one off covers shows at the Windmill around this time of year so hopefully this goes some way to fill the gap. The covers are the bands way of continuing their ongoing Christmas cover tradition, however remotely.

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The covers were released today and are only available for streaming on Black Midi’s Bandcamp, available to listen here. The band also pleaded for fans to go directly to The Windmill Venue’s fundraising site, saying that if fans were available pay what you want on @windmillbrixton bandcamp, link in bio
all donations go to the save the windmill brixton fundraiser. The crowdfunding site for The Windmill Venue has so far acquired £50,677 with a 70k goal, thanks in large part to Black Midi fans.

The Windmill Venue stated We’re one of 30 venues identified by Music Venue Trust as being at risk of permanent closure inside 6 months. We want the music to continue. In the MVT’s ranking, The Windmill is currently in the Red category, meaning that if it closes then it will be very soon and it is likely never to open again. The Windmill Venue’s crowdfunding site is available for charitable donations here. 

The Windmill will be hosting a Christmas themed livestream for their stage, the venue said on Instagram that it’s truly humbling and amazing what people are doing to #savewindmillbrixton. The next big thing is this superstream. The livestream will be held on December 29th, 2020 and tickets are going for 10GBP, available to order now. Black Midi will feature as one of the bands to perform this special concert.

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To help Grassroots teetering on the brink of closure amidst the coronavirus crisis, ‘Passport: Back To Our Roots’ will feature a selection of diverse artists who have promised to play one-off intimate gigs in independent music venues across the United Kingdom.

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In 2021 I’ll be playing at Corsica Studios for Passport: Back to Our Roots, a series of one-off intimate gigs, supporting independent venues, and the UK live music scene. I used to go to Corsica Studios almost every week when I lived in Brixton, and I’m definitely going to be there a lot more when we’re allowed to again. By donating £5, you have the chance to win entry to the event when it is safe for it to happen (date TBC 2021). Entries open 14th September and all money goes towards helping these independent venues. Can’t wait to play. Link in stories.

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 The organisers of the ‘Passport’ fundraiser have confirmed today (September 10th) that Metronomy are set to perform in Brighton nightclub, Patterns, whilst Jamie xx will be playing at Corsica Studios, situated in Elephant and Castle in London.

Confirmed acts for the fundraising event include Everything Everything, The Slow Reader’s Club, and The Pet Shop Boys. However, dates for Metronomy, Jamie xx, or the other gigs in the series remain unconfirmed. Organisers have also maintained that they will only move forward once social distancing measures are no longer required within independent music venues.

Jamie xx, real name James Smith, took to social media to announce his support for Grassroots venues. Posting details of the campaign’s prize draw to Instagram, Jamie xx spoke on how the fundraiser has struck a personal chord for his own beloved music venue.

The Gosh musician stated that  “I used to go to Corsica Studios almost every week when I lived in Brixton, and I’m definitely going to be there a lot more when we’re allowed to again.” Jamie xx fans were certainly supportive of the artist’s pledge, as the post has gathered over 8,000 likes in a few short hours. 

 

 

 

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We last played at patterns Brighton (then Audio) in 2008 with @thexx. It just goes to show how important small venues are in building the careers of band like ours. Please follow the link in Stories to find out how you could be in with a chance of seeing us perform live at @patternsbtn once more! A post shared by Metronomy (@metronomy) on Sep 10, 2020 at 5:38am PDT

Metronomy followed suit and also announced their support of ‘Passport: Back To Our Roots’ on Instagram today. Metronomy, like Jamie xx, have not forgotten their roots, writing nostalgically “We last played at patterns Brighton (then Audio) in 2008 with @thexx. It just goes to show how important small venues are in building the careers of band like ours.”  Obtaining over 2,000 likes, fans were quick to support Metronomy’s decision to play the important benefit gig. 

Tickets to a ‘Passport’ gig are hard to come by, the only chance being an entry in the prize draw with a minimum donation of £5. The prize draw will begin on September 14th and run for three weeks until October 5th. Each week, fans will be entered into the draw, and winners will be able to attend the concert of their choice.

Metronomy lead guitarist Joe Mount recently spoke on how Grassroots venues are integral and can be career-making for musicians, both rising stars and legacy artists. Mount declared that “These small venues aren’t just the modest beginnings for bands that make it big. They also supply performance spaces for choirs and theatre groups, for example.” 

Southampton Joiners, Brighton Freebutt, and Leeds Cockpit were all vital venues for Metronomy when they were rising stars themselves. Mount stressed that preservation of Grassroots venues is paramount, adding “We have already reaped the rewards of performing in the intimate surroundings that places like Patterns in Brighton provide.”

Mount continued: “Now we’d like to help secure the future of as many small venues as possible so that the world at large can keep discovering the new and exciting talent that they nurture.” More information about ‘Passports: Back To Our Roots’ can be found here.

Although the UK government awarded the music industry a £1.7b emergency fund after an eruption of protests from fans and musicians alike, it is unconfirmed whether this fund will accommodate electronic dance events, nightclubs, and music festivals. These beloved events kept the dance scene thriving across the country for decades before coronavirus paused life as we knew it.

So far, it does not appear that the government has recognised the importance of funding these music events in the same regard as the performing arts like live music or theatre. Fourtet, Caribou, and Thom Yorke, to name a few, have taken a stand against this by signing the #LetUsDance campaign today.

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#LetUsDance is an urgent plea for the UK Government to recognise that the dance music club and events sector must be protected and recognised as an important part of the nation’s art and culture in parity with the wider Live Music sector. The government narrative to-date on the allocation of this support has not included Dance music clubs, events, and festivals to receive funding from this package for the arts. Dance music clubs and festival culture are a vital part of British heritage as well as generating millions of pounds in revenue for the economy, it adds to the ever-growing nightlife tourism figures boasting 300 million visits a year across the UK. You can add your support by posting your favourite picture from a recent nightclub, festival or event with a note including the hash tag supporting its place within arts and culture.

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A follow up to the wider music industry initiative, #LetUsDance comes after the widely influential #LetTheMusicPlay campaign. Launched earlier this year, #LetTheMusicPlay is a bid to save the music industry from complete obliteration by Covid-19.

Some key industry players at the forefront of the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign include The Cure, Coldplay, Johnny Marr, and Nick Cave. Other industry giants that pledged their allegiance to the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign are The Rolling Stones, Dizzee Rascal, and Radiohead. This eclectic mix of artists banded together earlier this year to sign an open letter to Her Majesty’s government demanding instantaneous action to protect the music industry during the Coronavirus crisis.

Bristol-born dance music guru Roni Size also joined #LetUsDance today. Size urged the government to acknowledge the UK dance scene’s worth, financial and otherwise: “We call on the government to recognise this sector as a significant part of the nation’s art and culture, and ensure fair access to the support offered to the wider live music sector. Clubs are being forgotten and the discussion on festivals remains unclear. We need your help and support! I want to see you back on the dance floor soon.”

Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) spokesperson Greg Marshall recently spoke out regarding the dance music sector and the #LetUsDance campaign. Speaking out in a recent press release, Marshall relayed that: “Nightclubs and festivals are the beating heart of the UK dance scene; providing collective joy to millions of fans each year, providing employment and incomes for an interdependent network of hundreds of thousands of people while also contributing hundreds of millions to the economy.” 

However, David Martin, General Manager of the Featured Artists Coalition, relayed his worry for the future of the UK dance music scene. In a recent public statement, Martin said “as many as 38% of artists have fallen through the gaps between income support schemes and have received nothing for almost four months. Those that have had support will soon see that lifeline come to an end.” Artists and music lovers everywhere can only hold out hope that the dance scene won’t be disregarded in wake of the government’s music sector emergency fund.

The Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick (who has recently been dogged by accusations of corruption in granting planning permission to personal friends without council approval) referred to Britain’s cultural institutions the “envy of the world”, and that it was therefore “vital they are properly protected by the planning system for both people today to enjoy and future generations”. Jenrick was repeating a sentiment put forward by his fellow cabinet members following the government’s plans to inject £1.57 billion of investment into the ailing arts industries; the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak similarly called Britain’s galleries, museums, heritage sites, music venues and independent cinemas “world-renowned”. 

Adding his approval, the Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden also named the creative industries “world-beating”, despite later conceding that the primary aim of the package was to preserve Britain’s cultural “crown jewels”. The government’s supportive rhetoric however, does not match the lack of intervention on behalf of the arts sector over the course of the pandemic, nor their confused message with regard to the protection of the UK’s music venues. 

PLANNING AMENDMENTS

We are pleased to confirm that Grassroots Music Venues will not be included in amendments to the planning law under the proposed ‘Project Speed’. Thanks to @KevinBrennanMP for asking the question and @DCMS for the very clear answer. pic.twitter.com/OSi124K3TD

— Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) July 7, 2020

On the 30th of June, the Prime Minister established an Infrastructure Delivery Taskforce (dubbed “Project Speed”) that aimed to “to cut down the time it takes to develop, design and deliver vital infrastructure projects”. The Music Venue Trust condemned the project as a “replica” of the widely-criticised Permitted Development Rights, a scheme by which developers closed hundreds of venues before eventually being reversed in 2018, asking for “urgent clarification”. The government then responded to confirm that music venues would be an exception from the development plans, with the Minister of State for Health Caroline Dinenage reassuring the Trust that the “significant challenges” grassroots music venues were undergoing were being recognised.

Despite the praise heaped on by various members of the cabinet, appeals from arts organisations for government intervention had been ignored for several months, until the instigation of the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign. Days after more than 1,500 high-profile artists signed an open letter in support, plans for the £1.57 billion investment were announced. With live events limited to either open air arrangements or not at all, hundreds of independent theatre and music venues across the country were previously under imminent threat of closure. Read the full letter here.

Consequential to the Coronavirus pandemic, it has been no secret that Grassroots music venues have been under serious threat. Music venues everywhere have reached out to the British Government for support throughout the coronavirus crisis, who until recently have remained silent on such pressing issues. However, the Music Venue Trust has now confirmed that UK Grassroots venues will no longer be at risk of “Project Speed”.

Created by the British Government, “Project Speed” is a new initiative that will allow vacant and redundant commercial buildings to be demolished by developers if the sites are rebuilt as residential homes. In preparation for the economic aftermath of Coronavirus, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled on the 30th June 2020 that “Project Speed” will also allow proposals for commercial buildings to immediately switch to housing without the previous appropriate planning permission.

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We know some people have been asking whether or not grassroots music venues will get access to the funding the Government announced on Monday. Well, let’s pop to Parliament to see what the MPs are saying #saveourvenues

A post shared by Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust) on Jul 7, 2020 at 11:38am PDT

After the MVT pleaded for elucidation from the government whether or not the new planning regulations will threaten our treasured music venues, and after further questioning from Welsh Labour MP Kevin Brennan, the UK Government Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) confirmed to the MVT that Grassroots venues will be safe.

The Music Venue Trust informed people of the good news on their official Twitter page today, writing that: “We are pleased to confirm that Grassroots Music Venues will not be included in amendments to the planning law under the proposed “Project Speed”. Thanks to @KevinBrennanMp for asking the question and @DCMS for the very clear answer”

In response to the Music Venue Trust, Minister of State for Health Caroline Dinenage replied to the post with the following statement: “We recognise the value of Grassroots music venues and understand that this sector is facing significant challenges due to the Coronavirus pandemic. During this period we are committed to finding the best ways to protect them so that they can continue to exist as a vital part of the music ecosystem.”

In light of the government’s announcement of a £1.7bn rescue fund towards the art industries, Mark Davyd, founder and CEO of the Music Venues Trust, spoke about the government’s upcoming financial support, stating that: “We’d like to thank the team at DCMS for the opportunity to work closely together throughout this crisis to develop genuine solutions to the challenges faced by Grassroots music venues.” 

The Music Venue Trust also released a statement from Boris Johnson on their official website, where donations for the MVT can be made. Johnson maintains that “this money will ensure arts groups and venues across the UK can stay afloat and support their staff whilst their doors remain closed.”

Donations for the Music Venue Trust can be made here.

The announcement comes just days after the pressure mounted by the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign, under which more than 1,500 artists including PJ Harvey, Johnny Marr, Paul, and McCartney signed an open letter urging the government to intervene to prevent “catastrophic damage” to the music industry. Despite contributing nearly £11 billion to the country’s GDP in 2019, the government had remained largely silent in regard to support for the UK’s cultural institutions after initiating lockdown in March, despite offering financial aid to several other industrial sectors, such as Britain’s airlines.

That silence has now however been ended. Accompanying the press release were individual statements from Dowden, Sunak, and the Prime Minister himself, all emphasising the vast global impact of Britain’s museums, theatres, and concert halls. While the latter two were wholly optimistic in their outlooks, Culture Secretary Dowden admitted that the priority would be to protect the “crown jewels” of the country’s arts venues, a cold comfort to the more than four hundred independent music venues that currently face closure. “Sadly, not everyone is going to be able to survive”, he continued, “I will have to be honest with you, of course we will see further redundancies”. 

Nevertheless, many warmly welcomed the news. Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd, who had in June warned of irreversible damage to Britain’s live music industry should it not receive £50 million in emergency funds, responded by saying: “This fund provides the opportunity to stabilise and protect our vibrant and vital network of venues and gives us the time we need to create a plan to safely reopen live music”. The government has not yet specified how the money will be divided between competing art forms or regions, and with no timeframe given for the return of socially distanced gigs to return it’s far from over (though ticket sales for the UK’s first drive-in concerts have already begun). But perhaps here we can finally start to see some light at the end of the tunnel.