- harriet robinson
- BBC News, West of England
The founder of Independent Venue Week (IVW) said grassroots music venues were a “really important part of British culture”.
This annual event celebrates independent music and arts venues and the people who own, operate, and work there.
Former Morse in Bath owner Sybil Bell said times had been “tough” for owners of these spaces.
The venue is “very important” to music fan Matt Pugh, who likens it to a church.
He said he did not “disparage traditional or modern religion,” but said religion was “the ultimate place for me to start and end my day.”
”[They are] “It’s a place of discovery, a place of memories, a place to meet old friends and new,” he said.
Ms Bell hopes fans will use IVW to support smaller venues, which she says is “absolutely essential” to the community.
“These are really tough times for everyone, but this week is the week to buy tickets to gigs and go see music with your friends,” she told BBC Introduction in the West.
Ms Bell said the people who own and operate small venues have a “real passion”.
“They are absolutely determined to have space for arts and culture in their local communities.
“If you’re a truly independent venue, you’re the one taking the risk of putting on an artist that maybe no one has ever heard of,” she added.
She said she was “heartbroken” to hear that the Mall, which had hosted Oasis, Pulp and most recently Idols, closed in December.
“This was a really tough decision and I don’t think it was one that I took lightly,” she said.
“That situation is being replicated across the country,” she added.
Hannah Ryan, who works at a ticketing platform, said: [venues] It’s heartbreaking to see so many people so close together. [which is] It completely negatively impacts the lives of many people working in the industry. ”
She added: “Grassroots venues in particular were a big part of my growth, discovering real bands and finding my place in the ‘scene’.
“If we didn’t have the opportunity to experiment in grassroots venues, we wouldn’t have half the major artists we have today, and they wouldn’t have built the fan bases they have.” [have]. ”
Daniel Pickard, assistant manager at the Frog and Fiddle in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, said the IVW was “important” because it “connects us with the local music venue community like never before”. .
The venue hasn’t struggled as badly as in recent years, but Pickard attributes that to customized events and the venue’s reputation.
But it also said it had lowered ticket prices, introduced price caps, and offered more choice and a number of free events.
“Essentially our aim is to encourage people to go to shows, rather than punishing their curiosity about new artists,” he said.
Mr Picard added: ‘One of the key problems, as well as the exodus of retail onto the high street, is that town councils and government are too slow to support and alleviate the corruption of closures, leaving business owners feeling alone and vulnerable to future “I feel that there is no plan in place,” he added. .
He said the venue had “worked hard” to provide IVW with “an unforgettable roster of artists”.
“A touching moment”
Grace McWilliams, another music fan from Bristol, said venues were “essential for connection and belonging in a very personalized world”.
“I love this emotional moment of shared emotion, being swept away in a song, lost in my own thoughts and memories, yet connected to a room of others sharing the same moment. ” she said.
Independent Venue Week runs until February 4th.