New figures from the Music Venue Trust reveal that increasingly bands are skipping towns and cities on tours and the touring circuit is getting smaller as a result. According to the industry body, artists are playing just 11 shows on an average tour on the grassroots circuit this year, compared with 22 in 1994.
The stats are backed up by industry stakeholders, promoters and artists alike. Sam Duckworth, who is probably best known as Noughties singer songwriter Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, works for the MVT and described the situation as a “spiralling crisis” for all but the biggest artists and promoters.
