In light of recent circumstances, independent live music venues across the country need your support more than ever. A cornerstone of what makes this industry so phenomenal, independent venues make up a huge proportion of the patchwork quilt that is live music and entertainment in the UK; and having brought incredible entertainment to the masses for so long through artists big and small, they are now asking for your help during this difficult time. From the established and long-standing to the new-starters and up-and-coming, find out how you can support all of the venues below.
Melting Vinyl
If you value live music and live in the Brighton area, chances are you’ve been to a Melting Vinyl show. A grassroots arts organisation with a shoestring budget, Brighton’s longest running live music promoter has been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown. From intimate pub gigs at The Greys, to sell-out concerts at St George’s, nurturing new talent such as Natasha Khan (Bat for Lashes) and fostering leftfield collaborations with the likes of Charleston House, Melting Vinyl is a local arts institution that urgently needs saving! Donate what you can via their Crowdfunding page here.
The Boileroom
Celebrating its 12th birthday this year, award-winning venue The Boileroom has been entertaining the masses in Guildford since 2006, in which some of its many visitors have seen Foals, Ed Sheeran, The 1975, Catfish and The Bottlemen and lots more live. To support the venue in light of the current situation, The Boileroom are kindly asking the public to donate via their GoFundMe page to support the venue and its staff. But that's not all. Your donation will be rewarded by the venue depending on how much you donate, with portrait sketches, production, songwriting and composition courses, free drinks, entrepreneur workshops and more up for grabs!
The Leadmill
Opening in 1980 in the heart of Sheffield, The Leadmill is the city's longest-running live music venue. Consistently voted as Sheffield's best live music venue, this award-winning hub of entertainment is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious venues in the country with the likes of Pulp, Coldplay, Oasis, Kate Bush, The White Stripes, The Killers and more gracing its stage. During this time, The Leadmill are asking for the public's help to help support the venue and their staff; you can do so by purchasing some merchandise, such as a hoodie or gift card, here.
Bird On The Wire
London-based independent music promoters Bird On The Wire are known for bringing incredible live acts to London and beyond, such as Angel Olsen, Big Thief, Beabadoobee, Mac Demarco, Weyes Blood and more. Having celebrated their 10th-anniversary last year, Bird On The Wire are counting on you to help them see another 10 years in the industry by kindly asking the public to donate what they can, if they can, here.
EartH and Village Underground
Independent and esteemed Hackney-based venues EartH and Village Underground are firm favourites as musical, creative and cultural hubs within East London. Between them, the venues have hosted the likes of James Acaster, Charli XCX, Hot Chip, Foals, Ruby Wax, Kate Tempest and so many more. Heralded as forward-thinking, innovative spaces, these venues are currently asking for your help to support the venues, livelihoods of their staff, and help protect the independent live music and arts scene within London. Donations can be traded in for drinks vouchers, a special evening at one of the venues and more; see how you can support here.
Alexandra Palace
Ally Pally in North London is not only a stunning venue bringing you a programme of world-class performers, culture, fun, learning and more, but it is also a charity - working with communities across Haringey and beyond. Any donation makes a massive difference. It will ensure that they can maintain the Park and Palace, a challenge that never stops. It also means that when the time is right to re-open, they will be able to offer an action-packed programme that can inspire and enrich everyone's lives. Donate here!
Alexander's Live
The 150 capacity venue in Chester are extremely uncertain as to their future. If you can, please donate to help keep the Grass Roots Live Music Venue alive they would be eternally grateful and you can do so here. The venue which opened in 1991 offers a huge range of bands, comedy, theatre, burlesque, poetry and more…
The Black Heart
Nestled in the heart of Camden The Black Heart is all about Beer, Booze and Bands – in no particular order… You can support their venue by purchasing a reward voucher now, which allows you an extra 50% to spend there when it opens! Eg. £20 voucher gets you £30 to spend. Purchase here now!
Bush Hall
Leading, vibrant and independent venue Bush Hall has been hit extremely hard by the current crowd and require our help and support to help raise £28,000. The venue has hosted many great artists in its 20 years, and thousands have enjoyed themselves at its live concerts and events.
Contributions large or small are greatly appreciated at this time from anyone who has graced the space of Bush Hall, be that performer, entertainer, promoter, guest, customer or client. The much-loved small venue confirmed they have never had the luxury of holding back money in reserve as everything goes back into the running of the venue with its overheads. The money will be used to cover the day to day costs such as staff salaries, contracted employees, sizeable utility bills, leased sound, stage and lighting equipment and running repairs. Please donate here.
The Craufurd Arms
Featured in a Victorian pub building and situated in Milton Keynes, the venue has hosted to many intimate, live concerts and events and has an extremely loyal customer base.
The venue and its team of passionate staff are facing uncertain times due to the impact of COVID-19. They have reached out online asking for it’s kind and loyal customers to help support them during these uncertain times. To help support its staff and pay bills they are asking for £30,000. Without this financial support from us all, The Crauford Arms will not be able to survive this difficult period. Please donate what you can to support the independent venue here.
The Crescent
A former Working Men's Club located in York, The Crescent has been operating for over 100 years. Since re-opening, it has developed into the cornerstone of York's music and cultural life. Following the government's advice, the venue has shut and is now asking for your help to support it during this pandemic. As a music venue and pub, the venue’s income is dependent on bar sales. There are significant overheads to pay through these times (mortgage, utilities, VAT, staffing, fees for cancelled shows, loans) alongside some essential maintenance work during this downtime. Please feel free to donate and support The Crescent through their Just Giving site here.
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Thanks, just wondering if The Trades Club in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire could be put on this list?