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NME has spoken to new independent venues from across the UK about their reasons for opening during what is arguably the most challenging period in history for the grassroots music scene.

According to the 2024 annual report by Music Venue Trust (MVT), there are currently 200 independent venues in a state of emergency, with the UK losing around one venue every two weeks. Rising business costs following the UK’s autumn budget are expected to put over 350 grassroots venues at immediate risk, as reported by the MVT.

Despite these challenges, venues like LVLS and Soul Mama in London, as well as The Rat & Pigeon in Manchester, have successfully opened in the past year. Papillon in Southampton opened in late 2023, while KOLA in Portsmouth is set to open its doors in March.

LVLS, Soul Mama, and The Rat & Pigeon are all taking part in Independent Venue Week (IVW) for the first time this year, joining 211 other UK venues in celebrating independent music and arts venues. IVW will run from January 27th to February 2nd.

Sam Foster, who runs The Rat & Pigeon and is Operations Director at the FutureCultures Pub Group, expressed the importance of IVW in building a history for the venue. Alice Frith, venue programmer at Papillon and KOLA, emphasized the need for year-round awareness and support for independent venues, not just during IVW.

LVLS, located in Hackney Wick, hosted its first show in November, with owner Izaak Rushton sharing the challenges faced in opening the venue. Similarly, The Rat & Pigeon in Manchester aims to establish a long-lasting presence in the city by creating meaningful relationships with local bands and promoters.

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Frith and Tom Dyer from Psych are hopeful that KOLA will help revive the live music scene in Portsmouth, which has been impacted by the decline in touring. They believe that new venues like KOLA can bring communities together and provide opportunities for local bands and artists.

Overall, these new independent venues represent a beacon of hope for the UK’s struggling grassroots music scene, with their determination and passion driving them to succeed despite the challenges they face.

„Es wird immer schwieriger, einen dedizierten Graswurzelraum zu betreiben, der nur das macht, deshalb müssen alle diversifizieren“, erklärte er.

„Aber wenn wir Räume bereits bei der Konzeption entwerfen können… können wir Schalldämmung und Akustik verbessern, um zukünftige Bedrohungen durch Anwohner und Entwickler zu minimieren. Die oberen Barbereiche werden dazu beitragen, die Musik zu ergänzen, was bedeutet, dass wir nicht so sehr auf Besucherzahlen angewiesen sind – wenn wir eine schlechte Woche haben, sind wir [weniger wahrscheinlich] finanziell unter Druck. Das ist die langfristige Perspektive.“

Besuchen Sie hier für weitere Informationen zu Konzerten und Veranstaltungen, die die Independent Venue Week 2025 feiern.