Jersey musicians call for more grassroots music venues

BBC News

6 days ago

Local musicians have called for more music venues in Jersey, including small capacity grassroots sites.Their plea follows the results of the Fort Regent redevelopment survey which found a 2,500 capacity concert hall was the most popular proposed feature.The multi-purpose hall proposal received an average rating of 8.7 out of ten for satisfaction from the poll's 6,000 respondents.Members of Jersey band The Riffs said the island needed more permanent music venues.
Local cover band The Riffs, made up of Steve Doyle and Barry James, said a dedicated music venue was needed in Jersey.Mr James said the Fort Regent concert hall was "absolutely what this place needs" but only if local bands could play there as support acts to UK musicians. The local musicians said they also wanted to see more grassroots venues in Jersey, dedicated to original music performances. Mr Doyle said a permanent grassroots venue would give viewers the choice to watch bands perform new music.
'People love music'
Mr James said without a permanent grassroots venue, there would not be any local acts to perform on a large stage at Fort Regent.He said: "If there is a number of grassroots venues, then people start there, then they start to build a following."So without these small venues, there are no middle venues and then there's no one in Fort Regent supporting whoever."Without the middle venues and without the grassroots venues where do the bands play?"
Meanwhile, Mr James said the government's decision to reintroduce drinks promotions had removed a "massive stumbling block" for independent venues considering hosting live music.Mr Doyle said he hoped the change would revive the "dwindling" numbers of people in Jersey's pubs and bars.He said lower alcohol costs would get more people watching and interested in live music.Mr James said: "If [interest] is there, hopefully venues follow. People love music. Everybody likes music and the ability to go out and see live music is a joy in someone's life."Yes, there are places that do [live music] but we need more."
Shay Barker, frontman of UK-based band Hot Juice, moved from Jersey to Brighton to develop his music career.He said the cost of travelling to gigs on the mainland was too expensive and he had out-grown the limited number of venues to play in the island.He agreed that a Fort Regent music venue would benefit Jersey.Mr Barker said: "I think it's brilliant, it will bring people over to Jersey and then there's the opportunity to open for bigger artists."But I think they need more grassroots - almost 50, 75, 100 to 150 [capacity venues]."He said venues of that size were a more "realistic" step up for bands who had played at local pubs.
Mr Barker said: "Whether I would have moved eventually or not, I definitely would've been [in Jersey] a lot longer if I'd been able to get to the next place."I do think Jersey's got a really good music scene - it's just a shame there's a lack of venues."