Help save our smaller music venues

One of my plans for 2021 is to launch an entertainment preview website. Five or six years ago I felt my life was in a wilderness, one of the things that helped me rebuild my life was an opportunity to write freelance for a regional magazine eventually writing event preview articles about live events including live music. I have been lucky enough to interview at the top of the music profession – Francis Rossi, Toyah Wilcox, Joe McElderry to name but three. Now is my chance to return the favour and publicise all levels of entertainment – but for some venues even my humble efforts next year could be too late.

There is a red-list of music venues who are at risk of not reopening, it is places like them rather than television competitions that give new bands the best start in the music business and the chance to establish a following, we cannot afford to lose them. Singer/songwriter Frank Turner is stepping up to the plate, and the microphone to help support these venues. He is streaming a live show from The Troubadour next Thursday, 3rd December.

As he says ““I’ve played many of the venues on the Music Venue Trust Red List and can’t stand by while they’re under threat. It’s hard to imagine the risk to underground music and culture if we lose the stages where artists find their voice, develop and grow.

I hope performing at The Troubadour on day one of live audiences returning to gigs can capture some of the power of seeing a grassroots music venue performance and highlight what’s in danger of being lost.”

Sadly, the Red List was in existence pre-pandemic, but since March the situation has got far worse as Music Venue Trust CEO, Mark Davyd said: “The venues on The Red List play a crucial role in the development of British music, nurturing local talent, providing a platform for artists to build their careers and develop their music and their performance skills. These venues also play a vital role in the cultural and economic vibrancy of our villages, towns and cities. The power of the live music community that loves and cares about these venues, can make a huge difference. We welcome Frank and Fightback Lager’s contribution to the campaign.”

In this country we have had a long tradition of small venues where people can start their careers and who knows where that may lead. There is a pub near where I live that celebrates an early performance by the “Nerk Twins” – never heard of them, I guess? Well they later joined by two others and did rather well, they were John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Paul’s Uncle was the Landlord at the time. Without these small venues, what talent may never have a chance?