Latest news with #MusicVenueTrust
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Sinews music video highlights plight of lost music venues
An Oxford rock band have highlighted the diminishing number of live music venues in the UK in their latest Sinews are promoting their new single I Disappear with a video which includes clips in which they ask other musicians what former grassroots venues they and guitarist Rich Bell described the closing down of venues as an "epidemic" which was "laying waste to our cultural landscape, but those spaces live on in our memories".Oxford - which has given prominence to bands such as Ride, Radiohead, Supergrass, Foals, and Glass Animals, has itself seen a number of venues close in recent years, including The Cellar and The Wheatsheaf. According to the Music Venue Trust's latest annual report, 2024 saw the number of venues across the UK reduce from 835 to called this a "significant improvement on the rate of decline" on the previous year when 125 closed down, but that 43.8% of venues reported a loss. Mr Bell said: "The song's about feeling invisible, and overlooked, and trying to say I'm here, I exist, I take up physical space."He added: "I put lots of shows on in Oxford and that's been gutted of great venues like The Wheatsheaf, The Cellar, Fusion Arts, and The Port Mahon in just the last couple of years really. "Those spaces are gone, but the memories of shows I saw there are still really vivid for me, so I thought it would be nice to find out about others' memories of great lost venues."Up-and-coming acts featured in the video include The None, Objections, Dancer, and Ritual Error. Proceeds from the single are going towards YWMP, a music educational charity that is setting up a new venue in Little Clarendon Street."It feels good that in a small way this will be helping create new space," Mr Bell released their debut EP Reanimated last year, and followed it up with Choreography in music magazine has described the post-hardcore band, whose influences include Fugazi, Drive Like Jehu, Helmet, and Mclusky, as finding the "sweet spot between thoughtful intricacy and musical violence".The band will launch the single with a headline show at The Library in Oxford later. Mr Bell also runs Oxford label and gig promoter Divine Schism with Aiden 2023 they were able to raise £5,000 in just 12 hours from local well-wishers after their PA system and other equipment was stolen. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Coldplay announce support acts for Hull and Wembley concerts
Coldplay have announced the support acts for their concerts in Hull and band are playing two nights at Craven Park in August and 10 performances at Wembley Stadium in late August and early them in Hull will be local artist Chiedu Oraka and Nigerian singer-songwriter Ayra Wembley gigs will see Starr, Beabadoobee, Tems, Elyanna, Chloe Qisha and Gustavo Dudamel and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela all supporting on different nights across the week. Hull-born rapper Oraka performed at last year's Glastonbury festival and has recorded many sessions for national and local BBC radio former teacher began performing at 16 and his music is about his life growing up on a council tickets and everything you need to know Tickets for both sets of concerts sold out quickly after they were released last said that Hull and London would be the only UK and European cities where they would be performing this band said that 10% of the proceeds from the shows would be donated to the Music Venue Trust, which supports grassroots venues and artists in the to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Man runs from Leeds to London to see Sam Fender
There are a number of methods of travelling to a concert, but the chances are, the average music fan hasn't considered an ultra-marathon. That's how Andy Hobson, 34, is planning to reach the London Stadium next Friday. He is running from his hometown of Leeds to London to see Sam Fender in concert. His journey will start outside the Brudenell Social Club on Saturday, and will end on the 6 June in the Olympic Park in east London, where Fender is performing. The 252 mile (407km) journey will be in support of the Music Venue Trust, a charity which acts to protect UK grassroots music venues, and which Andy believes he "owes his life to" during struggles with his mental health. Andy, who works in the emergency services, was not originally planning the marathon fundraiser when he bought tickets to see Fender play in London, as part of his People Watching tour. He said: "I bought the ticket and instantly I thought, I wonder if I can run from Leeds to London?". Andy is using the challenge to raise money for grassroot music venues "to help make a difference to that sector". "I loved going to music venues, especially small independent ones, when I was struggling with my mental health," he said. "On a particular day, when I wasn't feeling too great, I would book a tickets for the most random gig. "I knew I would go into those places and feel a sense of community, so I wanted to create a fundraiser to help make a difference to that sector - which I felt like, at the time I was struggling, I owe my life to it" he said. In addition, Fender is donating £1 from every ticket sale sold for the UK dates to the charity, something which "reinforced" Andy's decision. During the week-long journey, Andy will start and end each leg at a different music venue, including the Leadmill in Sheffield which recently announced it is leaving its current venue. Friends, music and podcasts will power Andy through the challenge, which he plans to break into 10-hour running shifts. He said the financial outlay he has spent on equipment will be another incentive to complete the challenge. "Once I get stuff like the clothing and branding - being a Yorkshire man - it gets me thinking, I have paid for it now - so I have to do the job now. I have got to see it through. "Even in the difficult bits, I will think, I have paid for this top - I have to do it now!" So which Sam Fender songs will provide Andy with inspiration on his journey? "Seventeen Going Under will feel like such a big song. But recently, off his latest album, Nostalgia's Lie has been quite a good song for me. "It feels very relevant to this journey. I'm sort of looking towards my future self, if that makes sense?" Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Why Leeds' independent venues are struggling Indie bar announces closure after 16 years 'I like to think that me running is saving someone's life'
BBC News
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Man runs from Leeds to London to see Sam Fender in concert
There are a number of methods of travelling to a concert, but the chances are, the average music fan hasn't considered an how Andy Hobson, 34, is planning to reach the London Stadium next Friday. He is running from his hometown of Leeds to London to see Sam Fender in journey will start outside the Brudenell Social Club on Saturday, and will end on the 6 June in the Olympic Park in east London, where Fender is 252 mile (407km) journey will be in support of the Music Venue Trust, a charity which acts to protect UK grassroots music venues, and which Andy believes he "owes his life to" during struggles with his mental health. Andy, who works in the emergency services, was not originally planning the marathon fundraiser when he bought tickets to see Fender play in London, as part of his People Watching tour. He said: "I bought the ticket and instantly I thought, I wonder if I can run from Leeds to London?". Andy is using the challenge to raise money for grassroot music venues "to help make a difference to that sector"."I loved going to music venues, especially small independent ones, when I was struggling with my mental health," he said."On a particular day, when I wasn't feeling too great, I would book a tickets for the most random gig."I knew I would go into those places and feel a sense of community, so I wanted to create a fundraiser to help make a difference to that sector - which I felt like, at the time I was struggling, I owe my life to it" he addition, Fender is donating £1 from every ticket sale sold for the UK dates to the charity, something which "reinforced" Andy's decision. During the week-long journey, Andy will start and end each leg at a different music venue, including the Leadmill in Sheffield which recently announced it is leaving its current music and podcasts will power Andy through the challenge, which he plans to break into 10-hour running shifts. He said the financial outlay he has spent on equipment will be another incentive to complete the challenge. "Once I get stuff like the clothing and branding - being a Yorkshire man - it gets me thinking, I have paid for it now - so I have to do the job now. I have got to see it through."Even in the difficult bits, I will think, I have paid for this top - I have to do it now!" So which Sam Fender songs will provide Andy with inspiration on his journey?"Seventeen Going Under will feel like such a big song. But recently, off his latest album, Nostalgia's Lie has been quite a good song for me."It feels very relevant to this journey. I'm sort of looking towards my future self, if that makes sense?" Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Manchester WILL get tallest tower after council approve it second time
Manchester WILL get a new tallest tower after the council approved a 76-storey skyscraper for the second time. Developer Salboy sought the green light for its 246m-tall 'Nobu Manchester' tower last month, with the skyscraper taking its name from the luxury hotel it will house along with 452 apartments. It was set to become Manchester's tallest tower when it secured planning permission on April 10, overtaking Renaker's Plot D tower, which will be 213m tall when construction finishes. READ MORE: Girl, 13, 'topples into reservoir in front of her dad while taking photo' READ MORE: Boy, 13, beaten up by 'five men' with 'bats and weapons' on busy Manchester road But 'changes to access' to the buildings made during the planning process meant a 'perhaps overcautious' Manchester council decided to 'reconsult' neighbours, according to Dave Roscoe, a senior figure in the council's planning department. That meant the application was re-assessed in full on Thursday (May 29). After opening for consultation again, the Music Venue Trust said 'further acoustic testing should be undertaken' on nearby music venue Rebellion, which feared complaints from new residents. 'It is a long-established Mancunian cultural space, being a home for live music since 2013 and hosting in excess of 220 events annually,' a council report prepared before the meeting said of the Trust's objection. Mr Roscoe said at Thursday's town hall meeting both Rebellion and convention centre Manchester Central — which initially opposed the development — would undergo more acoustic testing to assess the effects of noise from the venues would have on Nobu Manchester. Councillors again voted to approve the development. Simon Ismail, Salboy boss, said: 'As the location of not just the tallest tower outside London but a large number of high quality affordable homes, Viadux has the potential to become a symbol of this city's aspirations and confidence in itself. Viadux now promises to shape not only Manchester's skyline for years to come, but the city's sense of identity on the global stage.' A similar situation unfolded with another apartment block nearby, set to be built on Whitworth Street West. The £118M, 44-storey tower is also near Rebellion, and the Music Venue Trust said its 'operators must be actively included, and venue operations appropriately surveyed' the same report added. 'Without consideration of the venue this proposal would have an adverse impact on the cultural organisation's ongoing viability and would result in homes with unacceptable amenity and quality,' it went on. Applications to keep restaurant, performance venue, and bar Diecast open permanently on Store Street, and a new SEND pupils' unit as William Hulme's Grammar School in Whalley Range were also approved.
