{"id":47184,"date":"2018-12-13T12:02:02","date_gmt":"2018-12-13T12:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jomec.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=47184"},"modified":"2018-12-13T12:02:02","modified_gmt":"2018-12-13T12:02:02","slug":"inpoverty-grassroots-venues-and-their-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2018\/12\/13\/inpoverty-grassroots-venues-and-their-future\/","title":{"rendered":"#InPoverty: Where can we find new music if grassroots venues are gone?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Small venues have been a staple for live music in the city, but their closure could be problematic for up-and-coming bands<\/b><\/h3>\n
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A small van full of instruments and very tired people rolls up to a small venue after a long journey. The band exit the van, unsure if anyone would be be in this venue to see them perform their own music. This band have only been performing for a few months together, and were extremely lucky to be able to get this gig, even though this is a non-ticketed event and some of the profits coming from the bar at this venue. Many bands start off in small venues when they start to play and showcase their music. But venues that assist these bands could be at risk due to massive closures across the country.<\/span><\/p>\n

A live music venue census taken at the beginning of 2018 showed that out of the 200 live venues that held a capacity of approx.350 people, 29% of those venues had experienced property development problems, which provoked noise complaints. This has happened as recently as Dec 2018 with the announcement that popular indie music venue, Gwdihw, would close its doors at the beginning of 2019 due to the landlords not renewing the venue\u2019s lease. <\/span><\/p>\n

UK Music, the organisation that represents the music industry in Britain, stated that in the last decade, 35% of venues across the United Kingdom have now closed. <\/span>Well known Welsh bands like Bullet For My Valentine would have started at these venues, with BFMV bassist Jamie <\/span>Mathias starting out working at the bar in FUEL Rock Club, another grassroots club on Womanby Street.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grassroots bands have been a helping hand in being the launchpad for upcoming bands for them to start off somewhere. More often than not, the conversions of city centre buildings into of housing, and the subsequent noise complaints from the residents force the council\u2019s hand in their demolishment. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Experiences from those in the business<\/b><\/h4>\n

Adam Roffey is a bassist in the alternative rock band, Press To MECO. He says about the band\u2019s beginnings playing in grassroots venues, including FUEL Rock Club, stating, \u201cGrassroots venues are important to any musician starting out on their career in a band. They are where you hone your skills as a musician, writer and a performer.<\/span><\/p>\n

I feel wherever you get to as a musician you will always look back and remember those times with fond memories\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI feel wherever you get to as a musician you will always look back and remember those times with fond memories\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n

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Angie Evans is the co-owner and director of FUEL Rock Club on Womanby Street. This venue hosts small local bands, club nights, and cover bands. She does hope for a positive future for the club, saying, \u201c<\/span>It\u2019s really difficult to do, and to stay on Womanby Street, which is a great vibe, and I hope that we continue to help the young bands, fulfil their ambitions and their dreams, and then come back to us and say \u201cThanks so much for that gig where we had two people and it was crap, and you actually gave us some food and we were starving\u201d. This sort of vibe. That\u2019s what we do it for, and I hope everyone continues to really love it.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

She continues, \u201cThe rock and metal community here in Cardiff is small, it\u2019s definitely a niche market I would say, and it makes it hard for us to survive, and that\u2019s why I think a lot of clubs have failed, but we try and stick to our roots here, and keep it going, and we just about manage it which is great.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Angie mentions the Music Venue Trust, an organisation that works closely with grassroots venues. She says, \u201cThe Music Venue Trust provides us with help and assistance. We\u2019ve had noise complaints, and things like that, and they\u2019ve given us lots of help with that, free of charge legal advice and things like that. They\u2019re on a crusade at the moment to help grassroots venues across the country in terms of government\u2019s financial assistance, which is fantastic\u201d. Patrons of the charity include the bands Madness, Enter Shikari, and also solo performers like KT Tunstall and Sir Paul McCartney. <\/span><\/p>\n