MUSICIAN Ed Sheeran has praised grassroots venues such as Reading’s famous Purple Turtle bar, saying they are instrumental in building musical careers.
He is backing a new campaign aimed at supporting venues which have been impacted by the lockdown phase of the covid pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
He has teamed with ride-hailing app FREENOW to raise at least £200,000 for the Music Venue Trust. For every taxi ride booked through the app, it will give £1 to this campaign.
The trust aims to protect, secure and improve grassroots venues.
Among those who have benefited has been the Gun Street-based Turtle, which has been a mainstay of many a Reading night out for more than 30 years. It hosts bands, solo artists, DJs and other music makers, making it a hub for fans and artists alike.
FREENOW says it launched the campaign after researching the impact that live music had.
In its survey of southeast music lovers, it found that 55% of respondents said live music had a strong positive impact on their mental health, while two-thirds (66%) preferred smaller venues.
But the South East has the lowest number of live show attendance among the regions polled.
And 68% of those surveyed said the cost of living had negatively impacted the number of gigs they had attended in 2023.
Despite this, nearly half of respondents (48%) were not aware that grassroots music venues were closing.
Ed Sheeran said: “Like so many musicians, I started out playing in grassroots music venues.
“They are such a vital part of the music ecosystem. Without them, I definitely would not have had the chance to hone my craft and become the artist I am today.
“I applaud the Ride for Music campaign and hope it raises loads of money for Music Venue Trust, who work tirelessly to both protect and promote these wonderful spaces.”
Michelle de Maat, head of marketing at FREENOW UK said: “Music has such a positive impact on people’s lives and on their mental wellbeing, so supporting live music and preserving venues is key to making city life more vibrant for all.
“By contributing to the resilience of these vital spaces during such challenging times, we aim to ensure that the stages remain lit, and artists have a place to showcase their talent.
“Ultimately, this supports our users, drivers and all those who rely on these exceptional venues and a thriving nightlife throughout the country.”
The backing of Music Venue Trust was welcomed by the charity’s CEO, Mark Davyd.
He said: “The Ride for Music initiative gives every music fan in the UK an opportunity to play a role in directly supporting grassroots music venues. It’s exactly the type of joined up, creative thinking that we need to tackle the crisis facing our grassroots sector.
“People can make a genuine difference by helping to prevent venue closures, and support artists, crew and staff. FREENOW have made it simple for you to be part of the solution, and help the whole music and nighttime economy.”
This is the second year FREENOW has joined efforts with Music Venue Trust. Last year, the Company underwrote the costs of 120 shows by independent artists in 60 venues across the UK, supporting venues and artists while offering unique experiences to its users.
