The circuit:
Licensing Act). The bureaucratic red tape and cost involved in doing so is widely credited with deterring many UK venue owners from staging live music events, therefore significantly reducing the number of small venues available for live musicians throughout the UK. “This will mean a whole lot of
small venues – not primarily music venues, but many pubs, restaurants and wine bars – are going to be able to put on live music without any hassle,” Musicians’ Union (MU) general secretary John Smith says. “It will form a breeding ground for new acts. There’s a whole litany of acts that have started in smaller venues and I think it’s going to open the doors for many more. The whole industry should benefit from it.” Umbrella trade group UK Music has commissioned an extensive research project to evaluate the impact the Act will have on live music in the UK. Bournemouth University is conducting fieldwork to establish for the first time how many licensed premises are intending to offer customers live music once the Act comes into force. Jo Dipple, chief executive of UK Music, says: “This Act will reverse the damaging effect the Licensing Act had on live musical performances in the UK. Our most successful
The Smoke Faeries play the acclaimed 190-capacity Hebden Bridge Trades Club in Yorkshire (inset)
to this Act – full of music and seedbeds for talent. Tomorrow’s headline acts will grow from these seedbeds which is great for music lovers and for the wider UK economy.”
“This Act will reverse the damaging effect the Licensing Act had on live musical performances in the UK”
Jo Dipple, UK Music
musicians, Joy Division, The Sex Pistols, Rolling Stones, all learnt their trade and earned their livings in small clubs and bars. Reversing overzealous licensing regulations will create new opportunities for British artists. The Rose & Crown in Totteridge Park and the constitution in Camden Town will be – thanks
LION-HEARTED
The White Lion in Streatham is a live music venue and bar run by Music4Children, a charity dedicated to bringing sunshine into the lives of children worldwide. Every gig at the White Lion raises money for Music4Children - ranging from Open Mic nights, comedy, acoustic, rock nights, jam sessions, burlesque, cabaret and more. Music4Children recently broke the
record for the World's Highest Gig for the 40 l PSNLIVE 2012
second time, the first being at 5,545m above sea level on Kalapatthar, Nepal, this time at 6,476m above sea level on Mera Peak, Nepal where Music4Children founder and White Lion manager Oz Bayldon is pictured. These events, along with many
other music gigs, festivals and extreme fundraisers have raised enough money to build an orphanage in Dhulikhel, Nepal, which will eventually house 56 orphans affected by Nepal's civil war.
BEHIND THE CAUSE Another major industry organisation, PRS for Music seriously backed the Live Music Act campaign and continues to champion the cause of live music and small venues in particular. Robert Ashcroft, chief executive, PRS for Music told PSNLive: “It takes hard
work and passion to run a small live music venue. Economic challenges mean the sector has experienced a turbulent few years and many smaller pubs and music venues have closed. “Overall our royalty collections from live music have grown in 2011, after dipping in 2010, but much of this growth has come from large stadium tours and the festival sector. The success of live music depends on small venues where bands and songwriters can learn their craft and play to small audiences before they move on in their musical careers.” The majority of small venues
are to be found within pubs which, owing to the recession and ever-increasing taxes on alcohol sales, are closing down in record numbers. That said, the pub business is far from disappearing and live music helps bring in the punters.
“We see pubs as the cradle for
live music,” says Neil Williams, communications manager at the British Beer & Pub Association. “Pubs are having to become more and more focussed and live music can play a key role.” The association’s chief
executive told PSNLive: “While many pubs have closed, those that are thriving have been working hard to ensure the best possible experience for
THE REAL PICTURE Venue operators and promoters are generally taking a ‘wait and see’ attitude regarding the implementation of the Licensing Act. So, meanwhile, how are things at the coalface? Not so good, according to Oz Bayldon at the White Lion in Streatham, south London which offers live entertainment seven nights a week. “We’re hanging on by the skin of our teeth,” he says. “We were hoping the World’s Highest
“In an increasingly competitive market, you’ve got to get it right” Colin Pattenden, CP Sound
customers. For pubs, music is certainly a vital ingredient. In Britain, we have a music industry that is world renowned. And, while the stars of tomorrow are using the internet to reach their audience in new ways, I still see pubs as a natural home for the promotion of live music, right at the heart of the community – and we must champion this more. “To this end, we have been delighted to work with PRS for Music over the past two years to support the Music Makeover campaign, which has really helped pubs to maximise the potential of their music offering, to the benefit of local musicians and, of course, the venues themselves. I hope this continues.”
Gig triumph would boost trade, but not so far.” (See ‘Lion- hearted’ box.) It’s a different story at the 190-
capacity Hebden Bridge Trades Club in Yorkshire where recent headliners have included, British Sea Power and Inspiral Carpets, with Patti Smith scheduled for September. “We’re having a good year,” says entertainments manager Mal Campbell. “We made the finals of the NME Small Venue of The Year award and the booking of Patti Smith has helped boost our profile. Some of our success may be down to there not being similar sized venues in close proximity. If we were in Leeds or Manchester we’d probably struggle. Bands and artists seem to like playing here and the punters like seeing
www.prosoundnewseurope.com
Picture: Sarah Mason
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44