Bristol venues come together to release fundraising single

Bristol venues come together to release fundraising single

Posted on: 29 Oct 2020

The organisers are aiming to raise money for venues denied access to Cultural Recovery funding.

 

Owners of four of Bristol's best-loved live venues have today (Thursday 29 October) released an exclusive single to raise funds for The Thunderbolt.

 

The struggling Totterdown venue is facing an uncertain future as a result of the coronavirus crisis, having been deemed ineligible for support from the government's Cultural Recovery Fund.

 

The track - titled 'Save Our Venues' - is on sale now via a dedicated Bandcamp page.

Artwork for The Venues' 'Save Our Venues', out now.

The venue-owners band, called The Venues, comprises of The Thunderbolt owner Dave McDonald on guitar and lead vocals, Matt Otridge of The Exchange on guitar and vocals, The Fleece owner Chris Sharp on bass and vocals, and Mig Schillace of The Lousiana on drums.

 

Amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis, the band were mindful of producing and recording the track safely and responsibly, and as such ensured no-one got together in the same room at any point throughout the process.

 

'Save Our Venues' draws attention to the perilous situation facing live venues across Bristol and the rest of the UK, whose classification as sole traders meant they missed out on support from the Cultural Recovery Fund.

 

Money raised by the single will go towards The Thunderbolt's crowdfunding campaign, which, at the time of writing, has raised just over half of its £15,000 target.

 

Surplus donations will go directly to the Music Venue Trust, for whom The Exchange owner Matt Otridge is a South West co-ordinator.

 

Speaking on the release of the single, Matt said: “I think it’s important to remember that at a time when everyone’s being really positive about the Culture Recovery Fund grants, some of us have not been so lucky – and touring music is an eco-system where we all depend on each other.”

 

For more information, to listen to 'Save Our Venues' or to download a copy, head to The Venues' Bandcamp page.

Read more:

 

 

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.