Passport Back to Our Roots
Artists announced to raise money for (and in!) grassroots live music venues. More t.b.c.
Passport: Back to Our Roots has partnered with Music Venue Trust to raise much needed funds to safeguard the futures of grassroots music venues struggling to survive the COVID-19 crisis.
Faves of TheZineUK team, The Slow Readers Club, join Elbow, Everything Everything and Public Service Broadcasting as the first names announced. They’ll play one-off, intimate shows at Safety-First led dates (to be confirmed) in 2021, once physical distancing is no longer needed.
Like loads of other bands, acts or performers, grassroots music venues were there to give us a stage when we first started out, so to be part of this cause to ensure they survive and thrive makes total sense. It’s the least we can do.
We’re buzzin to be going back to Hebden Bridge Trades Club. Low stage, crammed in crowd, bouncing and sweaty…. proper old school. We can’t wait.” – The Slow Readers Club
Gigging 4REAL! Huge kudos to all who give back to the essential spaces.
Win win! Please donate £5 minimum to the campaign (1) to #SaveOurVenues and (2) for a chance to attend the show of your choice (plus a guest)! Entry is via the prize draw which runs for two weeks from Monday August 17th 2020
via crowdfunder.co.uk/passport-back-to-our-roots.
Elbow will return to Manchester’s Night & Day, three decades after they first performed there. “This is a simple way of looking after the very roots of British music, and will result in some powerful, joyous shows when we can at last see each other again. I’m very proud to be involved.” – Guy Garvey.
Jennifer Smithson of the venue (a recurring location thread of our doc) added; “We are thrilled and honoured to have Elbow returning to Night & Day.”
“Like all artists worth their salt, we came up through smaller rooms and tiny stages, learning our craft as we went. So often these vital venues are run on a shoestring, but what they provide to their community socially and artistically is invaluable.
The Back to Our Roots project is helping grassroots music venues back on their feet after these testing times. We wanted to come to Esquires [in Bedford] as it’s exactly the sort of gig we’d have done ten years ago, but actually never had the opportunity to. It’s our pleasure to be involved.” – Jez, Everything Everything
Small venues feed future heritage. Most are multi tasking community centres, too. TheZineUK (created in the Amersham Arms) bears witness.
“We’re delighted to be taking part in Passport: Back to Our Roots and taking the chance to play at The Amersham Arms. We never actually managed to play there when we started out so it’ll be great to do so, finally, and in support of such a good cause. See some of you there as soon as it’s safe – we can’t wait.” – J.Willgoose, Esq. Public Service Broadcasting
The #saveourvenues campaign:
“…has been very successful so far in raising funds and awareness to support grassroots music venues who have been hit very hard in recent months, but we are not complacent and are under no illusions that there still many challenges to overcome .
There remains lots of work to do to safeguard the future of our venues and Passport: Back to Our Roots is an excellent and timely initiative that will help keep a spotlight on what still needs to be done while raising desperately needed revenue.
Live music will be back and when it is we are going to make sure it comes back with experiences people will never forget.” – Mark Dayvd, Music Venue Trust Founder/CEO
80% of all money raised will go to the Music Venue Trust, who in turn will distribute half oto the host venue and the remainder to their Crisis Fund, benefiting all venues in need of financial support.
The remaining 20% goes to Inner City Music, the charitable organisation that operates Manchester’s multi-award winning, not-for-profit, historic music venue Band on the Wall (which is responsible for the administration of the project and will cover its overheads).
Seeing established artists perform in an intimate setting that holds real significance for them, is at the heart of the Passport: Back to Our Roots campaign. It aims to capture the true essence of the live music experience and the unique bond between artist and audience.
They say:
“It’s incredibly exciting to see artists supporting the grassroots venues that form the foundation of the UK’s live music industry, acknowledging their importance and celebrating the unrivalled experience of watching your favourite bands up close and personal, surrounded by friends and united in appreciation for live music in all its loud and sweaty glory.” (Sally Cook)
“These shows will be awe-inspiring for those fans who are lucky enough to win the prize draw and also a joy for the artists who participate knowing they are helping keep live grassroots venues alive”. (Stephen Budd)
As a collective of artists and allies, TheZineUK team say, Freaking AWEsome (and much appreciation!)