Live Music Near You as Glastonbury Takes a Break
Pop artist Becky Hill is set to perform at the 250-capacity Marrs Bar in her hometown of Worcester as part of the Everywhere At Once festival, offering a local alternative to the usual Glastonbury experience.
With Glastonbury Festival on hiatus this year, the summer music calendar has a notable gap. While the BBC is addressing this by streaming classic performances on , including Radiohead's 1997 set and Olivia Rodrigo's recent show, there is also a vibrant live music scene happening across the UK.
More than 2,000 artists, such as Becky Hill, Rizzle Kicks, Inspiral Carpets, Divine Comedy, and The Lathums, are performing at various local venues nationwide to celebrate grassroots music.
Exclusive Performances and Intimate Venues
Fatboy Slim will deliver a special DJ set at The Pipeline in Brighton, a venue with a capacity of just 60 people, while grime artist D Double E will perform at Nottingham's Brickworks warehouse. Becky Hill will preview tracks from her upcoming album, Rebecca, at the iconic Marrs Bar.
The festival, titled "Everywhere At Once," is organized by the Music Venue Trust, aiming to emphasize the importance of small, local venues amid significant challenges.
Challenges Facing Grassroots Venues
Since the pandemic, 37% of the UK's clubs have closed, with many remaining venues operating precariously. Over half of these venues did not turn a profit last year, and increased national insurance and business rates have led to the loss of approximately 6,000 jobs.
"We're losing three nightclubs a month," says Tinie Tempah, who will perform in Newcastle, Norwich, and Southampton during the festival.
"And I get it, you know? Since the pandemic, people are going out less, drinking less. Lifestyles definitely changed.
"But, as an artist, I also think about the music scenes that came from those venues. Whether it's the Bristol clubs that nurtured trip-hop, or the London underground clubs where grime emerged.
"If we lose those spaces, I just worry what happens."
Fans will get a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with Tinie Tempah, who's more accustomed to performing in arenas and at large festivals.
Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze shares similar concerns, reflecting on his early career playing small, energetic gigs with Jools Holland in 1970s London.
"That was really where we cut our teeth and learned how to be with an audience that loved you... Or with an audience that weren't interested in you at all and just wanted entertainment," he says.
"We were lucky to have had that opportunity so young."
The Importance of Small Venues for Artists
Tinie Tempah emphasizes the role of these venues as essential testing grounds for artists.
"These venues are where you get booed the first time, and where you get cheered for the first time.
"It's where you get humbled, thinking you've sold out a show, and there's only 20 people there.
"It's also where you build your most loyal fan base, to be honest. Two decades into my career, the day one fans always hark back to a rave, or a party where they saw you at the very beginning."
London venues face particular difficulties due to rising costs, strict noise regulations, and early curfews. Sacha Lord, founder of the Warehouse Project and former nightlife adviser in Manchester, recently highlighted concerns about local authorities in the capital.
"Some local authorities in the capital seem obsessed with limiting hours, limiting outdoor seating and limiting people having fun," Lord told .
Glenn Tilbrook will support the festival with a performance aboard the floating arts centre Theatreship in London's Canary Wharf, one of over 50 concerts taking place within the M25 during Everywhere At Once.
Even artists unable to perform are contributing. Harry Styles is donating £1 from every ticket sold during his 12-night Wembley Stadium residency to the Music Venue Trust, raising over £900,000.
Harry Styles is also supporting the festival - even though he's busy playing Wembley Stadium all weekend.
Support from Established Artists and the Music Community
Rock band Wolf Alice, who have made similar contributions on their recent tour, stress the importance of small venues in their development.
"Small venues were a huge, formative part of our journey. We wouldn't have existed without them," says singer Ellie Rowsell.
"And it's not just about the venues," adds guitarist Joff Oddie. "You've got to look at how tough it is for young artists to start out and go on the road.
"We did so much of that on good favours, sleeping on people's floors and stuff like that.
"We couldn't afford to do that 15 years ago, but the way the economy is now, I don't know how anybody does it anymore."
Wolf Alice are longtime supporters of the Music Venue Trust, often returning to small venues like Kilkenny's SET Theatre and donating money to the grassroots scene.
Initiatives Supporting Grassroots Music
Recognizing these challenges, various initiatives have emerged across the UK to support new music. In Halifax, proceeds from shows at The Piece Hall, an outdoor venue with a capacity of up to 6,000, help subsidize five smaller venues.
Liverpool City Council offers grants up to £3,000 to venues with capacities under 30. In London, the O2 and Royal Albert Hall donate portions of ticket sales to the Music Venue Trust.
There are calls for the government to introduce a £1 levy on all arena and stadium gigs to support small venues, but ministers currently favor a voluntary scheme, with major promoters like Live Nation opting out.
Additionally, nightclubs and grassroots spaces were excluded from the business rates relief scheme in February, despite a 56% increase in their rateable value since 2017.
Glenn Tilbrook advocates for legislative changes to protect venues.
"I think there needs to be legislation [to protect venues], even if it's just a cut in VAT," he argues.
"If there's no provision for low-key or cheaper entertainment, then those places will disappear."
Festival Details and Further Information
The Everywhere At Once Festival, supported by the National Lottery, runs from 26 to 28 June.
For information on shows near you, visit the Everywherefest website.
