Breathing new life into Manchester's music...

LEGENDARY BAND AND SON OF CITY ICON PUTTING SPOTLIGHT ON VENUES AND FRESH TALENT TO GIVE INDUSTRY MUCH-NEEDED BOOST

- JENNA CAMPBELL

LAST week, a Greater Manchester gig venue was saved in a first-of-its-kind music scheme led by the ‘National Trust of music venues’. 

The Snug in Atherton, an 100-capacity music venue on Market Street, was given permanent protected status by Music Venue Trust, who purchased the freehold as part of the #Ownyourvenues scheme, which has been backed by more than 1,250 people, including Ed Sheeran.

As the first venue to be bought by the organisation under the Music Venue Properties initiative, a project which aims to secure long-term futures for nine of Britain’s most treasured grassroots music venues (GMVs), it was a proud moment for the venue and local community who continue to support it.

It’s also an important milestone for the UK’s grassroot venues, which, post-Covid, and mid-cost-of-living, have been struggling to stay afloat. 

Last month, Music Venue Trust reported that 35 per cent of grassroot venues have closed in the last 20 years – with 15.7pc closing for good in the last 12 months alone.

It’s one of the many issues facing the music industry at present, and this week, issues such as how to support and grow grassroot venues will be discussed and debated at Beyond The Music (BTM), a new global music conference and festival holding its inaugural event here in Manchester. 

Backed by city music legends New Order, the ‘change-making’ event is the brainchild of Oli Wilson, son of music impresario Tony Wilson, and will celebrate the opportunities in the ‘new cultural economy’ and showcase the best new and undiscovered performers from across the globe.