The UK’s first socially distanced music venue will open in Newcastle this summer

Biffy Clyro‘s Simon Neil has praise the cultural value of grassroots music venues, warning that the government must remain vigilant to prevent closures across the UK.The frontman also warned that a “generation” of talent will fail to emerge if venues are not available for them to hone their craft in the formative stages of their careers.“If venues disappear, we’re losing a generation, if not more, of talent,” Neil told Music Week.“Be it a hip-hop star or a rock band or an electronic act, that’s

Miles Kane is to lead the acts playing the UK’s first public live series of music events since the coronavirus lockdown began earlier this year.The singer will play Camden Market this Saturday (July 25) to kick off the ‘Camden Unlocked’ series, which will take in eight ticketed, free open-air weekend performances until August 16.A single act will perform on alternating Friday, Saturday or Sunday afternoons, with Kane joined on the line-up by the likes of Newton Faulkner, Shaun Escoffery, Stone

According to Variety, the news was announced by Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden via Twitter. “The U.K.’s performing arts sector is renowned across the world and I am pleased that we are making real progress in getting its doors reopened to the public with social distancing,” Dowden said in a statement.“From August indoor theaters, music venues and performance spaces will safely welcome audiences back across the country,” he said.“Delighted indoor

Theatres, music venues and indoor performance spaces will be allowed to welcome back live audiences from next month, the government has confirmed.Boris Johnson announced the news today as the UK reaches the fourth step in the government's five-stage roadmap.Audiences will be permitted to return from August 1, but must adhere to social distancing measures.Performers will also have to maintain social distancing at all times.The announcement is a major step forward for the arts industry, one of the

coronavirus has had on venues when considering permission for redevelopment, demolition or change of use.It is hoped the move will safeguard venues by preventing them from being bought up and converted into housing or shops.“Our theatres, concert halls and live music performance venues are the envy of the world and are central to our cultural heritage,” Mr Jenrick said.“That’s why we’re investing £1.57 billion to protect Britain’s cultural, arts and heritage institutions, as well as ensuring

coronavirus crisis.The initiative sees the MVT team up with TCB Merchandise and live agent/promoter Neil O’Brien to sell high-quality reproduced wall posters from classic past shows. Various venues across the UK contributed tour posters for artists such as The Killers, Foals, PJ Harvey, Amy Winehouse and Jeff Buckley.Now, the pieces are being showcased at a new gallery at London’s Camden Market.

concerns over the British Government’s recent radical shake-up of UK planning laws, the Music Venue Trust have received confirmation that grassroots venues will not be put at risk.Last Tuesday (June 30), Boris Johnson unveiled his economic recovery plan for the UK after the coronavirus crisis, and confirmed new proposals that will allow developers to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes.Dubbed “project speed”, the proposals will also allow a

The UK’s first dedicated socially distanced arena has announced its first wave of huge acts this summer.

The Libertines, Supergrass and Two Door Cinema Club are among the leading acts for the UK’s first socially distanced music venue this summer.The Virgin Money Unity Arena, which is set to open at Newcastle Racecourse, will allow fans across the North East to enjoy music for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic began.It’s now been confirmed that the venue will open with a full DJ set from Craig Charles on August 14, before Two Door Cinema Club headline on the following day.Taking place

coronavirus crisis – before the government stepped in with a  £1.57billion arts bailout.Last night, the UK government revealed plans for an unprecedented cash injection to help the arts, culture and heritage industries “weather the impact of coronavirus” – providing music venues, independent cinemas, museums, galleries, theatres and heritage sites with emergency grants and loans.After COVID-19 restrictions first forced venues to close, the MVT launched the Save Our Venues campaign with a

A string of iconic Manchester music venues have written to the government demanding a cash injection for the industry before it goes under.The likes of the Deaf Institute, the Albert Hall, Band on the Wall, Yes, Factory 251 and many, many more from across Greater Manchester have co-signed a letter demanding the government provide a £50m package immediately.The cash would prevent mass permanent closures, with around 90pc of venues in the UK warning they might be forced to shut forever as a result

coronavirus crisis, and confirmed new proposals that will allow developers to demolish and rebuild vacant and redundant commercial buildings if they are rebuilt as homes.Dubbed “project speed”, the proposals will also allow a wider range of commercial buildings to switch to housing without a planning application.However, the MVT claims that the regulations are a “replica” of the Permitted Development Rights, which allowed developers to close hundred of venues before the government eventually