By Roger Tichborne, Founder of the Save London Music Campaign.
Summer feels like it has arrived in our little corner of the worlds greatest city. Even better news is that we have a couple of amazing weekends of live music coming up. On the 19th and 20th, we have the amazing North Finchley Festival. There will be nearly 60 bands playing at six venues in North Finchley. We’ve got an eclectic mix of music with just about every genre of music represented.
The UK Live Music Census was released on Friday, and it’s really packed full of useful information you should know and can use! The Census was conducted by academic researchers who are passionate about music. Here are some of the findings:
After a decade and a half of decline, we are finally starting to see the tide turn in the battle to save Londons live music scene. In 2016 the Mayor of London set up a London Music Board and has also appointed a Night Tzar for music (Amy Lame). A recent report by the board has reported that the tide is turning and for the first time in a decade, the number of grassroots venues has remained stable.
Mark Sutherland has written an excellent article for music week about agent of change legislation/
The news that the government will now support plans to include the “agent of change” principle in planning law was a great victory for UK Music and all the other campaigners who turned up at the recent demonstration in Westminster and have kept the pressure on in recent months.
But, while anything that helps out the beleaguered pubs and clubs that remain the lifeblood of local scenes has to be good news, smaller venues will need more than a sympathetic ear over noise complaints if they’re to survive in the music industry’s bold new future. Such complaints are usually the final straw in a venue’s demise, rarely the first one.
Are you involved in Arts and Live Music in London? If you are this will be of the utmost importance to you. There is a Parliamentary inquiry into how this can be protected and promoted. This article forms three parts. Part 1 – This is the email inviting submissions from interested parties. I received this in my capacity as founder of The Save London Music Campaign. Tomorrow I will publish my submission and on Wednesday a commentary. Please circulate to any interested parties
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We have some very exciting news from The Save London Music Campaign. Whilst last year was primarily one where we were promoting a message, this year, we’ve had a very different focus. We’ve been working on a few projects to bring music back to some iconic places.
Mill Hill Music Festival was started way back in 1995, Since then every other year the Festival has sprung back in to life and expanded over many genres of music.
One of Camdens best loved venues has been forced to close with owners warning of “exceptionally tough” times. The Forge in Delancey Street shut its doors on Friday April 1st, with a final Cuban Jam night. It was previously been the home of the Cafe Delancey restaurant.
Latest News from Music Venues Trust:
It’s Time: Britain Deserves a Grassroots Music Venue Circuit fit for the Artists and Audience of the 21st Century
Music Venue Trust has announced its response to HM Government’s Industrial Strategy Green Paper and Creative Sector Review. You can read all about it and download the full response from our website here: http://musicvenuetrust.com/…/its-time-britain-deserves-wor…/
The Save London Music Campaign is committed to preserving the cultural heritage of London. There are many great pubs and clubs in London doing great things with Live music. If properly managed and run, music can have a massive positive impact on the economic viability of a pub. We have seen dozens of great examples of new management transforming clapped out pubs into thriving and vibrant hubs of local communities.