Bristol artists and venues get behind national #LetTheMusicPlay campaign

Bristol artists and venues get behind national #LetTheMusicPlay campaign

Posted on: 06 Jul 2020

The Bristol music scene is speaking up as the Music Venue Trust campaigns to secure the future of hundreds of grassroots venues.

 

Some of Bristol's top artists and best-loved venues have put their weight behind the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign over the weekend, sharing gig photos and footage across their social media channels to highlight the importance of the live music sector to the UK economy.

 

Launched by the Music Venue Trust in partnership with the Concert Promoters Association, the campaign asks people to share photos and videos online, along with the hashtag #LetTheMusicPlay, to raise awareness of the uncertain futures facing hundreds of venues across the country.

 

 

Artists from every corner of the Bristol music scene have voiced their support for the campaign, from big names like IDLES to live jazz outfit Waldo's Gift, experimental trio Scalping and acclaimed singer-songwriter Fenne Lily.

 

Many artists chose to highlight the fact that as many as 90% of the UK's grassroots venues are under threat of closure, with a cash injection of £50 million needed to prevent widespread closures.

 

 

 

 

 

An array of Bristol venues have shared posts of their own, too, as the city's music scene faces a potentially devastating few months as a result of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

 

A number of Bristol venues, including The Old England, The Lousiana and The Mother's Ruin among others, have launched crowdfunders of their own in recent weeks in order to safeguard for the future.

 

 

 

 

 

Since the launch of the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign, which followed a nationwide push to #SaveOurVenues back in April, the government has unveiled a £1.5 billion support package for the arts sector.

 

Announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak yesterday (Sunday 5 July), the allocation of emergency grants and loans will be made available to UK theatres, galleries, museums and, crucially, music venues.

 

Reacting to the announcement of the support package, Mark Davyd, CEO of the Music Venue Trust, said: "Music Venue Trust warmly welcomes this unprecedented intervention into Britain’s world-class live music scene.

 

"This fund provides the opportunity to stabilise and protect our vibrant and vital network of venues and gives us the time we need to create a plan to safely reopen live music."

 

Also addressing the news on their Facebook page, The Exchange said: "We have fought hard alongside other venues and the Music Venue Trust for the funding that would allow our network to survive this crisis, so we welcome tonight’s announcement.

 

"We like to think that Boris was imagining our new stage when he mentioned ‘basement venues’..."

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Article by:

Matt Robson

 

Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
 

Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.