The auction agendas are to curate funds for music industry workers financially struggling from the Covid-19 pandemic. The fate of much of the music industry is undecided at the moment, thus the public support by the likes Twigs and Gallagher is vital.

The first auction is a one-off event for The Music Venue Trust (MVT), a charitable organisation focused on preserving and maintaining music industry artists, particularly independent venues. The MVT was behind the huge #SaveOurVenues movement, a national campaign that has since generated over £1m.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FKA twigs (@fkatwigs)

The second auction is entitled #ILoveLive. The proceeds of the #ILoveLive auction will go entirely to the Stagehand charity. Stagehand is a hardship fund for workers of live industry events.

After hearing of “a former stage manager who woke up in tears after realising she had £10 in her bank account”, Stagehand selected the worker for a series of £500 payments. Stagehand said: “It wasn’t much but it showed that someone cared.” Both FKA Twigs and Gallagher gave signed guitars to the #ILoveLive auction. Tahliah Debrett Barnett, aka FKA Twigs, bequeathed some of her famous stage masks too. 

Eric Clapton, Elbow and Nile Rogers also partook in the #ILoveLive, each gifting a signed guitar. Other artists that got involved were Florence Welch, Ellie Goulding and Robbie Williams, who gave the personal gift of handwritten lyrics. Meanwhile, The Chemical Brothers donated a signed synth, and Craig David gave away a signed mixing desk.  

Steven Wilson, singer, songwriter and founder of progressive rock band Porcupine, donated personal memorabilia for the MVT auction. Wilson donated a box set containing a Grammy nomination certificate, an unreleased song, and other surprises, all worth over £10,000.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Liam Gallagher (@liamgallagher)

David Stopps, music manager and founder of the Stagehand draw, spoke on the Covid-19 pandemic, and how the mental health of many industry workers have been negatively affected. Stopps said sadly: “When I heard about the 10th suicide attempt among road crew I thought, I’ve got to do something.”

Tom Bailey, a client of Stopps and a former member of the Thompson Twins, donated the guitar that he played at Live Aid back in 1985. Meanwhile, Nile Rogers, originally from Chic, gifted a special replica of his iconic Stratocaster guitar. The “hitmaker” replica was the driving force behind several Chic tracks, and more recently serving on Daft Punks’ Get Lucky.

Rogers showed his gratitude for music tour workers amid the donation. Rogers meditated that “A Chic show would not be possible without our incredible crew who have been deeply affected by the pandemic, as have all the crews. They’ve had such a tough time this year with no work at all.”

The need for financial action towards the music industry at these present times is immediate and pressing. Although the UK government has given furlough schemes and grants for industry workers, but it is not enough. Freelance workes such as sound and lighting engineers and tour managers have been left by the wayside during the Covid pandemic. Hopefully, the auctions are a step in the right direction for saving the music industry as we know it.

Lead single ‘The Hudson’, premiered back in August, which introduced the sound and lyrical themes. Inspired by her parent’s stories of their time in New York in the ’70s, the single is reminiscent of Macdonald’s debut single ‘Mr Rock & Roll’, released in 2007. This was followed by folk-ballad ‘Crazy Shade of Blue’ in September.

According to a press release, ‘The Human Demands’ “rediscovers, from a grown-up perspective, that magic youthful moment of excitement and discovery we can all relate to.” The singer herself said that the themes include getting older, depression, and life’s “many ups and downs,” but it always comes back to the idea of togetherness and love. She explained, “It’s OK to feel a bit crap, and it’s OK to talk about it as well.”

View this post on Instagram

‘The Human Demands’ is out!  I’m so pleased to finally share it with you all. It’s been a very difficult year for all of us, we’re not all in the same boat but we’re facing the same storm. This is an album about life and its many ups and downs. It’s not always straight forward and everyone is facing their own battles. I hope this album can be a comfort in these turbulent times. I am extremely proud of it. It feels like a special record coming out at an important time. Thank you so much for all your support over the past 15 years. I wouldn’t be anything without you. X #thehumandemands

A post shared by (@amy__macdonald) on Oct 30, 2020 at 2:03am PDT

This Sunday, Macdonald will hold an online album release party via live-stream this Sunday, 1st November, at 7pm GMT. Dubbed ‘An Evening With Amy Macdonald’, the event will be ticketed and priced at £15 per person, with all profits going to the #WeMakeEvents campaign. Set up during lock-down to support the live events sector and show that it needs urgent government support, #WeMakeEvents are raising money to help those in need.

The singer will also be going on a UK and European tour in 2021 once it is safe to do so; tickets are on sale now and include dates in Germany, London and Glasgow. Find more information on her website.

Check out the full track-list for the album below.

1. ‘Fire’
2. ‘Statues’
3. ‘Crazy Shade Of Blue’
4. ‘The Hudson’
5. ‘The Human Demands’
6. ‘We Could Be So Much More’
7. ‘Young Fire, Old Flame’
8. ‘Bridges’
9. ‘Strong Again’
10. ‘Something In Nothing’

(Deluxe Only)
11. ‘Bridges’ (Acoustic)
12. ‘The Hudson’ (Acoustic)
13. ‘Fire’ (Acoustic)
14. ‘Statues’ (Acoustic)
15. ‘We Could Be So Much More’ (Acoustic)
16. ‘The Human Demands’ (Acoustic)

Their message to the Government, music lovers, music business workers, and anyone who can help, is that “the events sector urgently needs more support to survive the Covid-19 crisis.” On PLASA’s website, they write, “Live events around the world have been devastated, from major festivals and landmark theatres, to grassroots venues and business events. Without major immediate support from government, the entire supply chain is at risk of collapse.”

In a new attempt to gain attention, the organisation has arranged a march to take place in locations around the UK today, Tuesday 11th August. Artists, bands, producers, engineers, managers, cleaners – many more who who work in the music industry – have shown their support and will continue to do so with this ‘Red Alert Day of Action’.

Check out #WeMakeEventMCR marching for #WeMakeEvents! Now it’s up to the rest of the UK to make a statement! #Manchester https://t.co/bayoayFpjX

— PLASA (@PlasaOnline) August 11, 2020

‘Red Alert’ is another slogan created to raise awareness of the closure of venues and festivals, and the loss of both jobs and globally recognised culture. Venues honoured this by lighting up in red to show support, and to ask for financial help during this time. The marches are taking place in cities across the country, with links to register for any given event on PLASA’s website. Find the full list of cities below, with more details on their respective websites.

We are proudly lighting in red in support of #WeMakeEvents

THE LIVE EVENTS INDUSTRY IS NOW AT RED ALERT

Find out how to help support including signing your name here:https://t.co/1CscvhVFCf pic.twitter.com/zfA0Gjzf7P

— The SSE Arena, Wembley (@ssearena) August 11, 2020

Alongside this, PLASA asks that the music industry be supported by the Government through grants (not loans) which would be made available to businesses in the supply chain; the furlough scheme to be extended until the industry is up and running again safely; finally, an extension of the self-employment scheme for all the freelance workers who have lost all work.

Manchester band Blossoms asked fans for help via a video posted to Twitter, in which they explained that their  2020 tour was cut short, and their production suppliers are facing loss of work, and therefore payment. Furthermore, venues are being forced to close as they are no longer receiving business – action must be taken now so that “there will be a music industry to go back to.” Other artists to speak out include Mani, bassist for The Stone Roses, New Order, Nial Rogers, The Courteneers, and King Crimson.

#WeMakeEvents pic.twitter.com/oCRvWJqjbQ — B L O S S O M S (@BlossomsBand) August 11, 2020