Over the past decade, hundreds of live music venues have shut down across the country. Casualties include the Picture House – Edinburgh, the Cockpit – Leeds and the London Astoria. With rising rent prices and persuasive property buyers often to blame, live music venues are simply struggling to cope in 21st century Britain.
To help protect the UKs live music scene, London based charity The Music Venue Trust was set up in January 2014. They campaign to highlight the essential roles of these venues, not only for the artists but for the music industry, the economy and local communities. The MVT’s goal is also to improve grassroots venues for performers and audiences, leading to the prevention of their closure.
In an MVT report by The Mayor of London’s Music Venues Taskforce, it was found that “between 2007 and 2015, London lost 35% of its grassroots music venues, a decline from 136 spaces programming new artists to just 88 remaining today.” With many of these venues playing a crucial role as the building blocks to many bands’ successful careers, it is unsurprising that artists and fans alike are protesting against the closure of these iconic musical landmarks.
​
English musician Frank Turner, an advisor to the Music Venues Taskforce, is an artist who supports the work of MVT: “I moved to London at age 18 to make my way in music. Since then the city and its scene has changed a lot. I've seen a lot of the venues that gave me the chance to experiment and grow as an artist disappear. Without the spaces for new talent to discover itself and its audience, music in London will die a slow death. Something needs to be done to protect these spaces.”
Whilst speaking out about the closure of live music venues helps to raise the profile of this growing problem, actions need to be taken to prevent this from continuing to occur. Although stopping the closure of grassroots venues is easier said than done, Mumford & Sons member Ben Lovett is doing his bit to help the state of live music venues.
Earlier this month, the musician and co-founder of independent record label Communion opened Omeara, a new live music venue in Southwark, central London. Whilst some might call it a foolish move, the Mumford & Sons pianist is certain it is the right thing to do for the future of live music venues. When speaking to The Independent about Omeara, Lovett said: “I want to do what I can to try and reverse that decline. I’m extremely excited about its future and what it can do for London.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is supportive of Lovett’s opening of Omeara: “Growing London’s cultural sector is one of my core priorities and this includes supporting grassroots music venues,” he said in an interview with The Independent. “These venues, which are the lifeblood of our music scene, are often under threat, so I’m delighted to see Ben Lovett opening an exciting new destination for live music fans.”
​
Whilst live music venues may continue to close for the time being, it is clear that musicians, fans and politicians alike are on the same page when it comes to the future of them; a change needs to be made and nothing will stop them until they see an improvement in the future of live music venues.