Like many folk in their mid-40s, I’m massively excited about Oasis touring next summer (Report, 27 August). But there’s sadness too. When Oasis toured for the first time in 1994, 34 grassroots venues across the UK took a chance and booked them. Now, only 11 of those places still exist – the other 23 have closed for good.
It’s a stark reminder of what we’ve lost and what it means for the future of music and communities. Those 23 vanished venues were lifelines. They were places where acts such as Oasis, still rough around the edges, could hone their craft. They were part of the social fabric of their communities, essential gathering places. Their closures reflect growing gentrification, rising rents and a society that’s increasingly willing to sacrifice culture for profit. When these venues disappear, we lose places you could stumble into and witness live music that might change your life. We lose spaces where art and community happens, where people connect.
