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Polar Bear takes live music back online

11 July 2020

THE POLAR Bear (cap. 200) in Hull is live streaming weekly performances until mid-August, to showcase artistes and maintain live music at the venue. Taking place every Tuesday and organised in conjunction with promoter Humber Street Sesh (HSS), the shows see artistes perform on the dance-floor area in a living…

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PPL increases support for Momentum fund

10 March 2020

PRS FOUNDATION’S Momentum Music Fund has been renamed PPL Momentum Music Fund, to reflect a closer partnership with recorded music licensing body PPL. The Fund was launched in 2013 and has provided grants of between £5,000 to £15,000 four times a year, to help emerging artistes with costs for touring,…

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Generator’s Mawdsley replaced by Matterson

10 March 2020

NORTH-EAST music development agency Generator has appointed Hannah Matterson as its new CEO, replacing Jim Mawdsley, who is taking up a new role with Newcastle City Council. Matterson has experience in the music, digital and creative economy, having held roles at Sage Gateshead (cap. 1,700) and Sunderland’s bid to become…

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ACE announces more funding for independent venues

14 February 2020

ARTS COUNCIL England (ACE) is planning to pump another £1.5 million into the grassroots music sector until March 2021. This is the second round of funding ACE has allocated to the sector, following the launch of the £1.5 million Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund in May 2019. So far, ACE…

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Smokehouse lighting a fire under Ipswich music scene

14 February 2020

THE IPSWICH music scene has been stagnant for many years due to lack of infrastructure, according to Joe Bailey, manager of The Smokehouse (cap. 88), who says he’s taking a different approach to running the venue. Opened in 2016, The Smokehouse doesn’t just showcase local and emerging talent, it helps…

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Leadmill sharpens focus on emerging artistes

16 January 2020

SHEFFIELD’S VENUE The Leadmill (cap. 900) is celebrating its 40th anniversary with new refurbishments and a programme for breakthrough artistes. Having established a reputation over four decades, The Leadmill seems to have as much pulling power with major artistes as it does with the smaller ones. Rebecca Walker, who has…

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Immersed in Wales

16 January 2020

IMMERSED FESTIVAL, a one-day conference, music festival and showcase for local talent, returns to Cardiff’s Tramshed (cap. 1,000) for a second year. Produced by students at The University of South Wales, the event will take place on 30 January in collaboration with the Music Managers Forum. Among artistes who will…

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Dead Wax brought to life in Digbeth

6 December 2019

A NEW 650-capacity venue focusing on emerging artistes and DJs has opened in Birmingham’s creative quarter of Digbeth. Opened by Brighton’s Laine Pub Co, Dead Wax Digbeth comprises a main bar area (cap. 100) and two live music spaces – upstairs (120) and Duck Bath yard (230). The venue opened…

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Arts Council grant for Paper Dress

6 December 2019

LONDON VENUE Paper Dress Vintage (PDV) is the latest recipient of funding from Arts Council England’s £1.5 million ring-fenced fund for grassroots venues. The vintage boutique and 100-capacity bar, which newly opened in 2015, has been awarded £36,000 to invest into a new D&B PA, a lighting rig and facilities….

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Resonating with artiste aspirations

22 October 2019

GLASGOW-BASED new music festival and conference Resonate has announced the full programme for this year’s event. The third edition, which will take place at the Barras Art & Design Centre on 14 November, will feature keynote speeches by Katie Duffy from Glasgow Life, which manages venues such as the city’s…

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DHP welcomes The Grace to the family

22 October 2019

DHP FAMILY, owner of  Nottingham’s Rock City (cap. 1,900) and London venues such as Oslo (370) and The Garage (600), has rebranded the 150-capacity upstairs venue adjacent to the latter. It has also refurbished the premises below, formerly The General Store, opening the two-floor pair as The Grace presenting acts…

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Rec Rooms celebrates first year

22 October 2019

THE OWNER of West Sussex venue The Rec Rooms (cap. 350) in Horsham says the venue’s year has been a success, particularly in helping new and emerging artistes. Stu Green cites Flight Brigade as one of the best new acts playing the venue, along with Ashton Lane, Emma Stevens, Megan…

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Forty years on track for Winchester star

25 September 2019

THE OWNER of Winchester’s only live music venue, The Railway Inn (cap. 150 and 60)is hoping to persuade artistes such as Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa to return to where they played early shows in their careers. Next year, the venue will celebrate its 40th year of promoting live music…

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Momentum announces more grants

25 September 2019

PRS FOUNDATION, the charitable subsidiary of performance royalty collection society PRS For Music, has announced the next wave of emerging artistes to receive support from its Momentum Music Fund. Girl Ray, I SEE RIVERS and The Orielles are among the 17 artistes who have been selected by industry professionals to…

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Worthing gets new venue

25 September 2019

WORTHING IS about to get a new, purpose-built venue to host concerts, comedy and club nights. Located in the grounds of Soundhouse Studios, The Factory Live (cap. 350) is a partnership between the studios and local event organiser Atom Promotions, which has staged concerts with acts such as 10cc, Grandmaster…

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Jimmy’s twin for Liverpool

27 August 2019

THE TEAM behind Manchester grassroots venue Jimmy’s (cap. 150) has opened a sister venue in Liverpool. Owners and brothers Jimmy and George Craig opened the Bold Street property this month with a hometown show by The Coral. The three-floor building is four times the size of its Manchester counterpart, with…

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Birmingham arenas seek more unsigned artistes

27 August 2019

NEC GROUP venues Arena Birmingham (cap. 15,800) and Resorts World Arena (15,685) are seeking more unsigned acts to play to audiences arriving for concerts. The Unsigned Stage at Arena Birmingham and the Amstel Stage at Resorts World Arena have already have hosted performances bu more than 150 local acts, including…

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BBC Introducing Live announces new panels

27 August 2019

BBC MUSIC Introducing Live has announced a wave of brand workshops for the autumn event at London’s Tobacco Dock. The 31 October–2 November event, which comprises panels, master-classes and networking sessions, will include news features such as  Tell Us How It Is, an open forum in which attendees can discuss…

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Larmer Tree launchpad for winners

20 May 2019

ARTISTES WHO won festival slots at Larmer Tree (cap. 5,000) via its Breakthrough Music Award are already finding wider recognition according to the festival’s Lyndsey Harvey.  Winners of the 2018 event, Arcade Hearts, are now on their first headline tour, while Laura Goldthorp, who scooped the solo artiste award, has…

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Grassroots sector to benefit from £1.5 million Arts Council fund

20 May 2019

CAMPAIGNERS HAVE welcomed the announcement of a £1.5 million Arts Council England (ACE) fund specifically aimed at grassroots music venues and promoters. People working in the sector can apply to the Supporting Grassroots Live Music fund for grants of £1,000-40,000. Money is available to organisations whose main function is hosting…

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