Music Venue Trust (MVT) have said that grassroots venues in the UK are heading for “disaster” without intervention as more venues face closure – repeating the call for large arenas to invest back into the grassroots.Speaking on a panel about the future of grassroots music at Manchester’s inaugural ‘Beyond The Music‘ conference on Friday (October 13), Mark Davyd, CEO of MVT, said over the last 12 months, “127 music venues of the grassroots type have stopped programming live music or closed down entirely” – something he described as a “fucking disaster” – despite the fact 2023 has been “the best year in history for live music receipts” with the industry making over £765million in 2022.Davyd, who was speaking on a panel alongside representatives from Manchester’s AO Arena, Manchester’s Co-op Live, MIF/Factory International and Rachael Flaszczak, Managing Director of The Snug – a venue that was recently saved by MVT under its new ownership scheme – said “it’s completely unacceptable that our music industry is letting music collapse underneath it while it’s making the maximum amount of money it’s ever made in the history of music.”He continued: “That is ridiculous. It’s totally unacceptable to me.
Manchester Airport calls for HS2 rail in full - and tells government to get 'serious'
28.09.2023 - 14:51 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Manchester Airport has called for the HS2 rail line to be built in full as promised - from London to Manchester.
In a strongly-worded statement issued today as the Government reportedly considers axing the route to Manchester over soaring costs, the incoming chief executive officer of Manchester Airports Group (MAG) said the North has been 'held back for too long by the lack of an integrated transport network'.
Ken O'Toole, who will succeed outgoing CEO Charlie Cornish next week, stressed the vital need for Northern Powerhouse Rail, east-west rail links between Manchester and outlying towns and cities, which relies on HS2 as lines are shared.
READ MORE: 'In the dark' mayor and council leader write to Rishi Sunak over 'massive ramifications' of axing HS2 to Manchester
READ MORE: 'HS2 was designed to unite the North and the South'
Any Government 'serious about rebalancing the economy', he argued, must be 'clear in its support for these transformative schemes'.
Reports suggest Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are considering shelving the high-speed rail route north of Birmingham after delays to other legs were announced.
Phase 1 of HS2 covered London Euston to Birmingham Curzon Street, with intermediate stations at Old Oak Common in the western suburbs of London and at Birmingham Airport.
Phase 2a involved an extension of the line from Fradley in the West Midlands to Crewe in Cheshire, with phase 2b comprising the eastern leg from the West Midlands to the East Midlands and a western leg from Crewe to Manchester.
The eastern leg between Birmingham and Leeds was reduced to a spur line that is due to end in the East Midlands and it was confirmed in March that construction between Birmingham and
Scrapping of HS2 northern link 'could bring Metrolink to Bolton'
Bolton’s link to the rest of Greater Manchester could end up being the unlikely beneficiary of the scrapping of HS2 as plans to bring the Metrolink tram service to the town look on the cards. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak unveiled plans to invest nearly £4billion on improving connectivity in the Northern towns and cities when the HS2 link from Birmingham to Manchester was axed last week.
Labour will launch review into HS2 if elected next year, shadow Chancellor confirms
A review into HS2 will be launched by Labour if the party is elected next year, the shadow Chancellor has said.
Transport secretary 'PROUD' of axing HS2 to Manchester
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he was 'proud' of the decision to cut HS2 to Manchester - and shrugged off criticism from ex-Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and former Chancellor George Osborne. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak used his speech at the Conservative Party conference on Wednesday to confirm he has axed Phases 2a and 2b of the high-speed railway.
Rishi Sunak's denials over HS2 to Manchester 'exposed by his own video'
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recorded a video message saying he was scrapping HS2 to Manchester around three days before he formerly made the announcement, according to reports today.
HS2: Link road between M62 and M60; and Metrolink lines to Heywood, Wigan and Bolton promised by government
A link road between the M62 and M60, new Metrolink lines to Heywood, Wigan and Bolton and billions to fix potholes have been promised by the government.
Rishi Sunak reported to Police Scotland over Nicola Sturgeon joke in speech
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been reported to police after making a joke about former first minister Nicola Sturgeon. Sunak made the comments during his speech at the Conservative party conference in Manchester today.
Rishi Sunak saying ‘a man is a man and a woman is a woman’ branded ‘sickening’ and ‘ridiculous’
The Prime Minister has been accused of ‘stoking a culture war’ after making ‘sickening’ comments about transgender people in his speech to the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester.
Rishi Sunak announces plan to ban smoking for next generation
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a plan to ban smoking for the next generation.
'What a disgrace': Andy Burnham reacts to latest HS2 reports as north looks set to lose out
Andy Burnham has reacted with fury after reports HS2 trains will come to Manchester - but on 'normal tracks'. Sky News tonight reported that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has decided to drastically alter the northern leg of the high-speed rail project to save money, effectively scrapping the high-speed stretch to Manchester.
Brexit activist Steve Bray thrown out of Tory fringe event in Manchester as it descends into chaos
A Conservative Party conference fringe event quickly descended into chaos as an anti-Brexit activist was chucked out following a scuffle. Steve Bray, a campaigner wanting to reverse the UK's withdrawal from the EU, walked into The Bruges Group's meeting as it began.
Second police force investigating claims against Russell Brand
Russell Brand is facing an investigation by a second police force over allegations of stalking and harassment.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt admits he FLEW to Manchester from London - rather than taking the train
Jeremy Hunt has admitted he flew in to Manchester from London ahead of the Conservative Party conference rather than taking the train.
Thousands of protesters to take to streets of Manchester city centre ahead of Conservative Party Conference
Thousands of protesters are to take to the streets of Manchester as the Conservative Party Conference gets underway in the city. The four-day event being held at the Manchester Central convention centre begins on Sunday.
Tory MPs to unveil 'manifesto for the north' including calls for dedicated cabinet minister and 500k new homes
There should be a dedicated cabinet minister for the north a group of Tory MPs have claimed. They are also calling for half a million new homes to be built in the region as part of a 'manifesto for the north' which is to be unveiled at party's conference in Manchester.
Cancelling Manchester's HS2 link would be a 'betrayal', says Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson has said delaying or cutting the HS2 route to Manchester would be a 'betrayal' of the North of England.
'Ring of steel' fencing erected in Manchester city centre as armed police patrol streets ahead of Tory party conference
Security is being tightened in Manchester city centre ahead of the Conservative Party conference, which starts this weekend.
We asked every Greater Manchester Conservative MP about HS2 to Manchester... just ONE replied
The future of HS2 rail to Manchester hangs in the balance, with the north set to lose out once again after being promised so much.
Business leaders spell out exactly how axing HS2 rail to Manchester would hit city region's economy
Business leaders have laid bare the staggering impact axing the northern leg of the HS2 rail line to Manchester would have on the city-region's economy.
Warning to rail passengers as no Avanti trains to run on Saturday
No Avanti West Coast trains will run on Saturday due to continuing strike action on the railways, bosses have announced with a warning to passengers. As a result, commuters are being advised to claim a refund, seek alternative transport or rearrange journeys.