PRS for Music and the BBPA, the UK's leading trade association representing pubs and breweries, have partnered to launch the new initiative Pubs Go Live.
Kicking off today (20 March), the 10-day nationwide campaign intends to celebrate the invaluable role pubs have long played in the UK’s live music industry. The likes of Oasis, Adele and Arctic Monkeys all spent time honing their craft on the UK pub gig circuit in the early stages of their careers.
Among the events that are set to take place over the next 10 days is a special gig from The Lottery Winners, who will perform at the Founder's Hall pub in Manchester on Monday (24 March) to mark the launch of Pubs Go Live and celebrate the release of their new album KOKO.
Speaking about the initiative, frontman Thom Rylance said: ‘Pubs are where live music really lives. Before the arenas and the festivals it starts in the back rooms of boozers, where the crowd is right in front of you and every song has to earn its place. The pub scene is the beating heart of live music. It’s where bands are built, where songs are tested, and where connections are made that last a lifetime. Without it, the whole ecosystem of music falls apart.
‘Live music in pubs is a lifeline. It keeps communities together, gives new artists a start, and reminds everyone why music is meant to be felt, not just heard. Pubs give bands a stage before anyone else will, and they give audiences a chance to be part of something real.’
Among the prominent supporters of the campaign are The Lathums and Kaiser Chiefs, with the latter’s Simon Rix adding: ‘The first gigs we ever went to were in pub venues in Leeds. As is the case for many bands, pub venues were our first circuits, where we grew as artists, learned our craft, and experienced great times. Watching bands like Oasis and Coldplay — who went on to become big names — performing just metres from us made everything seem more achievable and like we were already a part of something. It made us feel that maybe we could do this too! So later on, playing those same venues which were sometimes full, sometimes empty, it always felt like we were on track.
‘Live music in pubs is a lifeline.' - Thom Rylance, The Lottery Winners
‘Pubs are a vital part of any music scene, whether it’s sitting in them plotting the next step, or being on stage performing, or watching gigs trying to find your next favourite band. Without them we lose our footing — they are our roots no matter where we end up.’
Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO of PRS for Music, added: ‘Live music holds a special place in the UK’s cultural landscape and the pub gig, unique to the UK, is a crucial part of that ecosystem. Pubs have long been a vital space for launching and nurturing new talent while bringing people together through the power of performance. Just think of the countless songwriting and performing careers that have started in local pubs — from Sam Fender and IDLES to Maisie Peters and Sam Tompkins, the list goes on.
‘Join us in celebrating this inaugural initiative highlighting the significant cultural and economic contributions of live music in pubs, preserving British culture for future generations.’
The BBPA say that the part played by pubs in the UK’s live music ecosystem is further proof of the sector’s vital cultural significance, making it even more urgent for the government to help the industry. The association is now calling on the government to introduce meaningful business rates reform and phase in new employment costs to allow businesses to plan accordingly.
‘The pub as a live music venue is a unique part of our cultural heritage, with many musicians starting out at their local and fans getting a chance to see an artist up close before they hit the big time,’ Emma McClarkin, CEO of the BBPA, said in a statement. ‘Pubs Go Live is a celebration of this cherished cultural tradition, and pubs up and down the country are joining in.
‘It’s a fact that there’s nothing quite like a pub gig, and it must be preserved at all costs. This is why the government must support pubs, who face a raft of punishing costs and taxes, and introduce meaningful business rate reform so theses grassroots venues can still provide a stage to British musicians for generations to come.’
To accompany the launch of Pubs Go Live, PRS for Music and the BBPA have released their joint findings of the top locations in the UK for pubs which host live music.
Belfast has been named as the pub gig capital of the UK, reflecting the city’s deep-rooted music culture and its UNESCO City of Music status, which was awarded in 2021.
The top 20 list also highlights the likes of Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton, Exeter and Newcastle in terms of their respective rich cultures of live music in pubs. You can see the full list below.
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Nottingham
- Bristol
- Brighton
- Sheffield
- Edinburgh
- Exeter
- Manchester
- Portsmouth
- Liverpool
- South-east London
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- West London
- Glasgow
- Leicester
- Plymouth
- Southampton
- Gloucester
- Tunbridge Wells
Playing live regularly in pubs? Make sure you report all of your live performances to PRS to be in line to receive royalties for your work.
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