It’s no secret that the creative arts industries are struggling financially right now. And for all the talk about stratospheric ticket pricing for big artists and festivals, the UK’s grassroots music venues – locations that allow smaller artists to tour and new acts to emerge who will one day play said festivals – are in a pretty dire position. Just look at the Music Venue Trust’s 2025 report, which found that 6,000 jobs had been lost and 30 venues had fully closed over the course of the year.
As our name suggests, The Independent is all about supporting projects that stray from the mainstream. That’s why this summer saw us team up with the Music Venue Trust to relaunch the Main Stage programme for the first time since 2024, allowing us to shine the spotlight on and support the country’s grassroots venues. We’ll be speaking to the people running the show at eight venues spanning the UK, talking to them about the importance of these spaces and what they need to stay afloat.
