Manchester Grassroots Music Venues To Receive £250K Boost

Manchester City Council has announced today (July 31) that almost £250,000 has been earmarked to support and boost grassroots music venues in the city and help them share the success of the city’s summer of music. The news comes as small venues across the country face a difficult economic climate, with a combination of increasing costs, which includes a rise in business rates, and reducing incomes, leaving them in an uncertain position.

How has the money to boost grassroots music venues in Manchester come about?

Over the course of the summer it has been estimated that Manchester will have attracted 1.3 million music tourists – including 340,000 who saw the Gallagher brothers perform five Oasis homecoming shows at Heaton Park, as part of their Live 25 reunion tour. Other big Manchester gigs by artists and bands such as Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Charlie XCX, Elbow, Fontaines D.C. and Robbie Williams have also helped to boost the local economy, especially the hospitality industry.

Credit: Simon Emmett

These huge events are also generating income for Manchester City Council, either by being hosted in the city’s largest parks – with commercial arrangements for their use – or through the business rates paid by major venues.

As well as reinvesting part of this revenue in parks, the Council is planning to set aside £245,000 to be made available in financial support for Manchester’s grassroots venues. Exact details are yet to be finalised, however the intention is that the scheme will be administered by Music Venue Trust to ensure that the money gets to where it is needed as quickly and effectively as possible.

The Deaf Institute

“Our grassroots venues can share some of the benefit from the success of those big events”

Councillor Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester is a big noise in the music world. This summer all eyes have been on the city as we’ve hosted some huge concerts and seen unprecedented success in our large venues as the EMA MTV Music Awards showed.

“But while the biggest gigs – in the city’s arenas and parks – might dominate the headlines, we know they are only possible because they are part of a wider ecosystem with smaller, grassroots venues providing the launchpads for acts to develop and grow.

“We know that across the country grassroots venues are struggling. That’s why we want to ensure that our grassroots venues can share some of the benefit from the success of those big events.

“We’re blessed in Manchester with an array of great smaller venues. They are there to be enjoyed and I’d encouraged anyone who values them to get out and support them.”

Credit: Night & Day Cafe

“Crucial support for grassroots music venues”

Jay Taylor, Music Venue Trust National Co-ordinator, said: “Music Venue Trust wants to thank and congratulate Manchester City Council for leading on this crucial support for grassroots music venues. It’s inspiring to see Manchester recognise its place as one of the world’s leading music cities, and acknowledge that the fantastic grassroots music venue network in the city is an essential cornerstone of the amazing music being produced by Manchester artists.

“In April, the government reduced business rates relief in England for many grassroots music venues, significantly impacting their long-term sustainability. Manchester City Council has taken the lead with this bold and innovative action and we hope many more cities and towns across the country can join their efforts to secure the future of the UK’s grassroots music venue network.”

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