Music Venue Trust

YouTube video by Music Venue Trust In Conversation with the Venue Support Team for Scotland & Wales - Episode 11

📺 Watch in full, exclusively on our YouTube: youtu.be/9IMdHmKCCC8 - and hit subscribe to catch future episodes.

In this episode of The Last Safe Space: Toni speaks with Stina and Aled about the current pressures, regional strengths, and emerging opportunities shaping grassroots venues across Scotland and Wales, from licensing and planning issues to ethics, accessibility, and community-led support.

He continues to tour tirelessly, sharing his unmistakable voice, songs, and stories with audiences everywhere - so catch him live if you can.

Glenn says; “The grassroots is where it all starts for so many musicians and where local communities can access affordable and exciting live music. We need to protect these venues and nurture the artists so that our great culture can thrive for generations to come.”

Today, we’re proud to announce that Glenn is joining Music Venue Trust as a Patron.

From the early days of playing tiny rooms to performing on the world’s biggest stages, Glenn knows better than most how essential grassroots music venues are in nurturing talent, building communities, and giving artists their first true home.

A defining voice of British songwriting, Glenn Tilbrook has spent decades crafting the sharp, melodic brilliance that made Squeeze one of the UK’s most enduring and influential bands...

Places are limited, and demand is high - so if you’d like to take part, please apply as soon as possible.

#HaveYourSay

📸 : Georgia Penny / Victoria Durand

It’s important to all parties to make sure that a variety of locations and that Welsh language is facilitated in these discussions and we are grateful to Creative Wales for support making sure these venues can be made available for these discussions to take place and that you can play a part.

In partnership with Creative Wales, FOCUS Wales and Cardiff Music City, we are hosting events in the following locations

📍 Carmarthen - 23 November
📍 Bethesda - 25 November

As part of our ongoing work supporting the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s Fan-Led Review of Live Music, we’re excited to announce that the next two events in this nationswide series are coming to Wales.

When that money disappears into touts’ pockets, fans have less to spend on the gigs that keep local rooms open, support emerging artists, and sustain the cultural pipeline.

📸: Greta Baltic

Today’s announcement shows just how damaging inflated resale prices have become, with fans losing hundreds to secondary-market mark-ups.

Fair resale pricing helps fans afford more live shows in their local scene - supporting artists from day one.

Grassroots venues are the foundation of the touring ecosystem.

And it’s only the beginning. More campaigns are coming. More venues will be up for community investment. So keep your eyes peeled. The next venue you save might be your own.

Look, this is a big win. Not just for the venues at risk, but for the future of live music and all of us. When communities own the space, they better control the future. This fundamentally changes what’s possible.

£1.5 million raised. Target hit... and then some.

Huge congratulations to Music Venue Properties, who’ve officially smashed their investment target, raising over £1.5 million to put UK grassroots venues into permanent community ownership.

Every month of delay pushes more venues to the brink, and communities pay the price. The UK can choose to safeguard the pipeline that feeds its world-leading live music economy, but it must choose quickly.

National support for the grassroots sector has never been closer, but progress now depends on those at the arena and stadium end of the industry stepping up.

We don't have to see communities lose treasured venues, there are meaningful solutions and interventions, some of which are tantalisingly close, but time is of the essence.

This was a determined and forward-looking venue, who had their time cut short by issues outside of their control. Miserable proof that this is an hugely challenging time for UK grassroots music venues, even in dynamic places like Manchester City Centre.

Mother Mary's community is devastated, and we all should be.

Despite these accomplishments and perseverance from the venue team alongside support from MVT, the financial challenges being faced by many UK venues have brought this important work to a close.

In a short period of time they realised those goals, building a dedicated community around the venue and recognition by way of a This Is Manchester Awards nomination.

Mother Mary's opened in June 2024, with bold ambitions to augment Manchester's rich grassroots live music scene and a commitment to inclusive, diverse and passionate programming.

Thanks to Sam, his whole team, and everyone who's gone out and seen him live from day one to now. At some point you went to watch him for the very first time - maybe at a grassroots venue. Imagine if that moment had never happened.

Our music venues are where lives and careers get their jumpstart, but access to them relies on them staying open. We've lost too many over the last ten years and beyond, but on days like this you can feel the tide starting to change.

He didn’t have to. But he did. And it’s making a real difference. Support like this helps make sure everyone - from any walk of life, in any UK town - has a space to play, listen, and belong.

Our huge, heartfelt thanks to Sam Fender, who’s donated his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to Music Venue Trust... after already making sure £1 from every ticket on his recent tour went to support grassroots music venues.

…as part of our support for the House Of Commons CMS select committee fan led review of live and electronic music, recorded live in Glasgow, hosted by Arusa Qureshi, featuring Mike Grieve (MD Sub Club / Chair NTIA Scotland), Katie Duffy (Head of arts and Music, Glasgow Life), JJ (Exit), and Finlay.