Oh Wonder, Benin City, ShaoDow and Rews have all declared their support for Music Venue Trust in securing and improving the UK’s grassroots music venues by become artist patrons of the organisation.
As the latest Music Venue Trust patrons, they follow Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice and Jeremy Pritchard of Everything Everything in becoming trustees of the charity.
Many of these artists still play regularly on the grassroots circuit and recognise the importance of smaller UK venues in launching the careers of emerging artists by nurturing local talent and giving a platform for artists to develop.
Created in 2014, Music Venue Trust exists to protect these venues and maintain an environment in which new artists can perform and establish themselves in the industry.
Anthony and Josephine from Oh Wonder said: ‘We both started playing live music at local venues from the age of 15, and the UK's grassroots venues have been essential to our journey. We toured relentlessly around the UK in the back of cars and vans for ten years before Oh Wonder, and these small venues helped give us a voice and an invaluable opportunity to experiment, learn and develop into the artists that we are today.
‘Without them there would be no playground for young musicians and developing artists who need a stage to get their foot in the door of the music world. These venues need to live on and keep their doors open to up and coming talent across the UK.’
Up and coming London trio Benin City, whose latest release All Smoke, No Fire explores the challenges facing these venues, said: ‘These venues gave us the space to grow and flourish and harness our sound. You cannot put a price on that level of variety, opportunity and creativity that London's grassroots music venues provide, to musicians and audiences in the city and beyond.’
As the latest Music Venue Trust patrons, they follow Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice and Jeremy Pritchard of Everything Everything in becoming trustees of the charity.
Many of these artists still play regularly on the grassroots circuit and recognise the importance of smaller UK venues in launching the careers of emerging artists by nurturing local talent and giving a platform for artists to develop.
Created in 2014, Music Venue Trust exists to protect these venues and maintain an environment in which new artists can perform and establish themselves in the industry.
Anthony and Josephine from Oh Wonder said: ‘We both started playing live music at local venues from the age of 15, and the UK's grassroots venues have been essential to our journey. We toured relentlessly around the UK in the back of cars and vans for ten years before Oh Wonder, and these small venues helped give us a voice and an invaluable opportunity to experiment, learn and develop into the artists that we are today.
‘Without them there would be no playground for young musicians and developing artists who need a stage to get their foot in the door of the music world. These venues need to live on and keep their doors open to up and coming talent across the UK.’
Up and coming London trio Benin City, whose latest release All Smoke, No Fire explores the challenges facing these venues, said: ‘These venues gave us the space to grow and flourish and harness our sound. You cannot put a price on that level of variety, opportunity and creativity that London's grassroots music venues provide, to musicians and audiences in the city and beyond.’
