Grassroots music clubs given a £25k lifeline each

A COFFEE house where Sir Elton John played and one of the first clubs to host the Beatles are among 135 grassroots clubs to be handed Government money.

The venues are the first to benefit from the £1.6 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

They include the Troubadour in Earls Court, London, which has hosted not only Sir Elton but Adele, Ed Sheeran, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan. The Jacaranda in Liverpool, where the Beatles regularly rehearsed before playing an early gig, was also among the venues to apply for a grant after the coronavirus lockdown decimated box office receipts.

Yesterday’s announcement comes as the Daily Express leads a crusade to save theatres, cinemas, concert halls and other performing arts venues through our Raise the Curtain campaign.

On average each of the 135 clubs will receive £25,000 from the Government.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden yesterday urged music and arts fans to support the struggling venues by going to shows as they open up again.

He said: “This Government is here for culture, and these grants show we are determined to help our exceptional music industry weather the Covid storm and come back stronger.

“Grassroots music venues are where the magic starts. These emergency grants from our £1.57billion fund will ensure they survive to create the Adeles and Ed Sheerans of the future.”

Other venues to receive a share include Night People in Manchester – home to Northern Soul music – Birmingham’s Sunflower Lounge and The Louisiana in Bristol. Singer-songwriter Andrew Roachford said: “Without grassroots music venues there will be no sustainable live music industry.”