Latest news with #DavidGregg
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Shropshire music venue profits are worse than during Covid
The CEO of two live music venues has said the rising cost of living is causing his industry more problems than the coronavirus Gregg, who runs Albert's Shed live music venues in Shrewsbury and Telford, said: "At least during Covid there was some kind of light at the end of the tunnel and everyone was keen to get back to it."He added that shrinking profit margins for music venues means they could take fewer chances on up-and-coming Gregg said that is harming grass roots music and performers who want to perform their own original material. In the past, he said he had been able to use profits made at the weekends to subsidise the nights he put on acts who "might not be as commercially viable".Mr Gregg said it was exciting to "push the boundaries a little bit" with new acts, and that he really wanted to avoid "selling out" by taking the easy option with cover bands."Without being a little bit more adventurous grassroots music doesn't move on, it's just recycling the same old stuff," he a fall in profits has forced him to think more carefully about his finances and he admitted "it's clipped our wings really".He's worried that without venues like Albert's Shed booking new bands, grassroots musicians might become discouraged."What you find then is that artists kind of give up on the original side or do it as a bit of a side project," he said. More support needed Some performers have made a name for themselves online, but Mr Gregg said: "I don't think TikTok is really a suitable pipeline, we're not going to see all our artists of tomorrow come from social media."Instead, he said musicians needed to continue the tradition of "playing in rooms above pubs and backrooms".Mr Gregg said he would like to see more support for grassroots music from the top of the music business, in the same way that top-flight football helps fund the lower levels of the he also said: "The best thing that people can do is go to gigs. Use it or lose it." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
South Wales Argus
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Goldie Lookin' Chain to headline Shrewsbury Loopfest
The band, known for their unique style and humour, will be the main attraction at Loopfest in Shrewsbury. The festival will take place over three days, from May 2 to May 4, and is expected to draw large crowds. Loopfest, which boasts nearly 300 acts across 40 venues in the town, is one of the UK's biggest festivals. It is bucking the trend of venue closures and festival cancellations that have plagued the UK music scene in recent years. The festival is the brainchild of musician and promoter Jamie Smith and David Gregg, who runs the Albert's Shed group of music venues. Their aim was to "supercharge the engine of grassroots music and give a unique platform for artists," according to Mr Smith. "And it's working," he added. "We've done that with the Albert's Shed venues by working alongside artists, but we created Loopfest to bring people to the town to see a whole host of incredible artists in one place at one time. "The festival is helping to turn the tide against the difficulties faced by grassroots artists and venues and increase people's awareness of new music in the area." Goldie Lookin' Chain will take to the main stage at Shrewsbury Castle on Friday, May 2. The festival will also feature internationally renowned artists such as Miles Hunt from The Wonder Stuff and producer Mandidextrous. Emerging artists like The Cheap Thrills from Liverpool, Girlband! from Nottingham, and Shropshire bands Adult Play and Boom Boom Womb will also perform. Loopfest has proven to be a major success, with last year's event seeing a 36 per cent increase in visitors to Shrewsbury town centre compared to the previous year. This success comes at a time when the British music industry is facing significant challenges. Figures released in February showed that for the first time in more than two decades, British stars failed to make it into the worldwide annual chart of 2024's bestselling singles or albums. Despite this, Loopfest continues to thrive, providing a much-needed boost to the grassroots music scene. The festival has received £40,000 in funding from Arts Council England to support the project and create a lasting legacy. This funding is being reinvested to support musicians and foster a love of culture from an early age. John Rostron, CEO of The Association of Independent Festivals, praised Loopfest as a "brilliant celebration of live music, creativity, and community spirit." He said: "We champion the innovation, dedication and hard work that goes into these types of multi-venue urban festivals, and we're thrilled to see such a diverse and exciting line up being brought to music lovers in Shropshire and the surrounding area. "Grassroot music venues have never needed public support more, so we hope that people will get out and support this fantastic event." For more information about the full line-up, the weekend's wristband ticketed events, as well those that are free-to-attend, visit the Loopfest website.
