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Matty Healy speaks out on grassroots music venue threats

The 1975 frontman warns of risks to small music venues and supports the Seed Sounds Weekender.

July 28, 2025 at 05:00 PM

The 1975 star Matty Healy warns of threat to 'seed' music venues

The 1975 frontman supports a new festival for small music venues.

Matty Healy highlights risks facing grassroots music venues

Matty Healy, frontman of The 1975, has voiced concerns over the future of the UK's grassroots music venues, which are facing closure due to financial pressures. According to the British Beer and Pub Association, over 370 pubs are expected to shut down in 2025 because of rising taxes and operational costs. Healy supports the Seed Sounds Weekender festival aimed at bringing attention to these smaller venues, which play a crucial role in nurturing new talent. Mark Connor, from the Head of Steam pub chain, emphasized that live music is essential for pubs, as it encourages longer patron stays and boosts sales. Healy argued that diminishing support for grassroots venues reflects a broader trend towards commodification in the arts, where only the affluent can create. The festival is set for late September, underscoring the importance of these venues in the music ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

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370 pubs may close in 2025 due to high costs

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Healy emphasizes the significance of grassroots venues

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Grassroots spaces are vital for emerging artists

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Consolidation in the music industry threatens diversity

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Cultural creation risks being limited to the wealthy

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The Seed Sounds Weekender aims to promote small venues

"The erosion of funding for seed and grassroots spaces is part of a wider liberal tendency to strip away the socially democratic infrastructure that actually makes art possible."

Healy critiques how reductions in funding affect artistic creation and accessibility.

"It actively brings people into our venues, and it helps them stay for longer, get that second or third drink, which is vitally important for all businesses."

Connor explains why live music is essential for pubs' survival during economic challenges.

Healy's remarks shine a light on a critical issue within the music industry. As venues close, the platform for upcoming artists shrinks, potentially leading to a cultural vacuum. Grassroots venues serve as the lifeblood for the music scene, allowing raw talent to flourish. This has implications beyond just music; it reveals a larger socioeconomic concern about access to the arts. If funding and support for these spaces continue to erode, we may witness a homogenization of popular music, favoring profit over creativity. The commitment to festivals like the Seed Sounds Weekender is a rallying point for those who value artistic diversity and inclusivity.