Upon the release of the Glastonbury lineup in March, heads turned to the posters for over 100 of the biggest names in the current UK music scene were stacked atop one another for the much anticipated, sold-out summer festival. Heads then turned the other way as the Music Venue Trust put out a revised poster all over their social media, similar to the originals except erasing the names of performers that had their come up through grassroots music venues. Pop icons like Dua Lipa and Coldplay to indie rock legends like Bombay Bicycle Club were announced to grace the main stages – all of whom their careers would not have existed without grassroots music. Almost all names, bar eight, were missing. The MVT then posted a revised Reading and Leeds lineup, to a comparable result.
The posts were a statement, making clear the importance of these venues to the existence of bands and artists, especially in the UK. This spread of awareness comes during a strenuous point in the fight to maintain grassroots music venues across the country. With continuously rising costs and countless budget announcements pertaining to business reliefs post-COVID, grassroots venues are facing increasingly difficult times.
The Music Venue Trust, established in 2014, was created for the sole purpose of protecting and fighting for the existence of these music venues. According to the MVT’s 2023 annual report, 125 venues had shut down with almost 40% of the entire sector reporting financial losses. These venues cite rising costs and reduced foot traffic as the two main reasons for closure.
Grassroots music venues are the lifeblood of up-and-coming British musicians and always have been. They nurture culture and provide a pipeline for performers. As a hub for creativity, they stand to gather a community to raise up the talent amongst them. As venues continue to pivot away from music to other forms of revenue making through quiz nights and comedy, the biggest impact is on these performers who lose a space to grow and lose a space to showcase their talent.
This fight is hugely important, especially in a place like Brighton where DIY music and up-and-coming performers are intertwined within the fabric and culture of the city. With multiple venues scattered across neighbourhoods under constant threat of being shut, it is more urgent than ever to support our locals. What would we do without our beloved Hope and Ruin, Prince Albert and Paris House? All of which have been threatened with closure within the last year, the latter being the latest while the MVT provided aid in the public campaign against the dystopian building applications threatening Prince Albert’s position as a prime Brighton venue.
Festivals continue to dominate though, rising performers often use these platforms for the chance to propel their careers tenfold in a lottery-like system to make or break it from a single weekend. But as of today, festivals are silent to the struggles of smaller venues – as are the live music and record companies receiving record high revenues, whilst the venues that make young stars shine are left in the mud. It is uncertain how much longer venues will be placed in this situation however awareness is key in supporting our venues and keeping grassroots music alive.
