Smaller music venues to share in £2.2m boost

Hopes funding will help with short-term costs and prevent permanent closures

The north-east’s grassroots music venues have welcomed funding announced by the Scottish Government to limit the financial devastation caused by the coronavirus.

More than £2.2 million has been ringfenced for the country’s smaller music venues, which are described as vital in supporting and nurturing Scotland’s newest talents and music culture more generally.

The money will help venues facing ruin from a lack of custom over the last four months as a result of the lockdown.

Venues face further hardship because of restrictions on live music, meaning although pubs and restaurants can open, bands and DJs will be unable to perform for some time yet.

Derrick Johnston, owner of Dundee’s Make That A Take records, is part of a collective which runs Conroy’s Basement and has put on hundreds of gigs in the city over the past decade.

He said it was too early to say what the government’s action could mean for the independent venues.

“While we obviously welcome any and all moves to support the grassroots music infrastructure throughout the UK and are heartened by the Scottish Government’s pledge of support, it is difficult to make any informed comment based on the minimal information currently available,” he said.

Beverley Whitrick, strategic director at Music Venue Trust, said: “This funding will stabilise venues in the short term and prevent permanent closures, and we can begin to plan towards reopening every venue safely.”

The money is part of a £38m package of support for Scotland’s entrepreneurs.

It will be added to the £10m promised last week by the government to support the arts and cultural sectors.

Ross Calder, entertainment manager at Tunnels and Café Drummond in Aberdeen, said: “Any sort of assistance at this point to help protect grassroots venues is welcomed and much needed.”

He said the understanding was that this is short-term funding to stabilise venues and prevent permanent closures by helping to cover fixed costs such as rent, non-furloughed staff, servicing debts and utilities.

It was understood that Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop “intends to provide further help so that we can eventually reopen every venue safely — something everyone can agree is the main aim here”.

He added: “Hopefully today’s announcement will go some way to safeguarding us and similar venues until we can get back to doing what we love.”

Small venues are said to play a vital part in nurturing new talent.