Shader have bright idea to support venues campaign
A STAFFORDSHIRE Moorladns band is calling for music lovers to donate money to save the 30 grassroots venues at risk of closure.
Shader have recorded a cover of Simple Minds’ Don’t You (Forget About Me) in isolation, to raise awareness of campaigns supporting music venues.
The single – released this Friday – is set to raise the profile of the Wemakeevents and Save Our Venues campaigns, with proceeds from the single going towards the cause.
Wemakeevents is an international movement to highlight that the live events sector urgently needs support from local governments to survive the Covid-19 crisis, whilst Save Our Venues is a campaign by the Music Venues Trust.
During the pandemic, Music Venues Trust released a list of 30 UK venues most at risk of closure through not receiving government grants – including Manchester’s POP, Hyde, and The Venue, in Derby.
Shader frontman Stu Whiston, from Leek, said: “Venues have been closed for nine months; many have had no support.
“There’s an army of highly skilled crew roadies, sound and light technicians and bar staff who have had no work and no real support for that period.
“They need support. Anyone into music, bands and gigs should know this is critical and we can’t afford to lose these venues, which provide a starting point for new bands, or the skilled professionals that make gigs happen.”
The release has received support from Steve Schiff, who co-wrote the song with Keith Forsey as part of their soundtrack for the classic 11980s movie The Breakfast Club.
Stu is a big fan of the movie, and wanted to use the song as an ‘isolation cover’, with 2020 marking the 35th anniversary of it reaching number one in the US.