The Moon, a popular venue among grassroots-level musicians closed down their business last weekend
Local musicians have lost another venue following the shutting down of The Moon last weekend due to rising cost of living and the mounting costs of running a business.
The Moon, a popular venue for grassroots musicians on Womanby Street in Cardiff, announced its closure via an online statement on November 22nd, leaving performers disappointed.
Ashley Kidd, singer and guitarist from the band Halfcut said that it is sad when any music venue is closed down as many have in past few years. “We have had some of our best gigs in The Moon, it’s got a special place in all of our hearts. We were excited to play there in a week’s time but obviously, we can’t play that now.”
He added that The Moon held a special place in the hearts of band and students.
“Every week on average two UK grassroots live music venues close. Sadly it’s now our turn,” the music venue said. “The mounting costs of running a business where survival always runs on a knife edge have proven too difficult for us to continue. We also feel the pressure of business rates and taxes that burn through any small profit we make and leave us barely breaking even on the most popular of nights. Increasing the business rates in Wales on music venues and continuing to charge VAT on ticket sales is going to close more and more music venues in the years to come.”
According to The Moon, although music venues have received grants and funding from Creative Wales and Cardiff Council in recent years, many still need constant support through levies on profitable parts on the industry. Insignificant amounts on huge ticket prices would provide a significant benefit to independent venues around the country.
Bryony Sier, a singer-songwriter and a frequent performer at The Moon said, “I played a few shows there, and it’s always been an incredible experience, the crowd were lovely. I got to speak about things I’ve struggled with in my life, like mental health and my own disability.” She added, “I tend to fist pump after gigs, and the ceiling is quite low at The Moon, I punched the ceiling by accident. It wasn’t my finest moment, but it was a great gig.”
Sier said, “Helping financially only during crisis isn’t going to help sustain live venues anymore… If these venues close, it’s going to impact everybody including the business owners. They’re not just for musicians but also for people living in the communities… music is therapeutic and reaches people in ways words sometimes don’t. More awareness and more musicians speaking out is necessary”
According to Music Venues Trust(MVT), an organisation to help grassroots music venues(GMVs), GMVs require a sustainable funding mechanism and GMVs invested £248 million last year but only generated just half of it through ticket income, resulting in a significant deficit.
“The economic pressures on venues not only results in venue closures or venues deciding not to continue as a live music space. They fundamentally undermine the ability to take risks on programming, forcing out new and emerging artists who need a vital step up in their career,” said MVT.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said, “It is a shame the Moon club is to close despite Creative Wales support over the past few years. We are continuing to work closely with MVT and other stakeholders to ensure this area of the music industry in Wales is being supported in the best way possible.”