Matty Healy supports new festival for grassroots venues

Matty Healy supports Seed Sounds Weekender to emphasize the role of small venues in nurturing talent.

Matty Healy highlights the necessity of small stages for music culture

Matty Healy, frontman of The 1975, has expressed his concerns about a potential musical silence in the UK due to the decline of small performance venues. As an ambassador of the upcoming Seed Sounds Weekender, Healy highlights the festival's goal of promoting local pubs and bars where artists often begin their careers. Slated to happen from September 26 to 28, this initiative will feature over 2,000 performances in more than 1,000 venues across the UK. Healy points out that these locations are crucial for music culture, citing that without them, iconic artists like The Smiths and Amy Winehouse may never have emerged. The UK has recently faced a worrying trend, with over 200 venues closing in 2023 and 2024, reinforcing the importance of supporting grassroots spaces for music.

The growing concern surrounding the closure of small venues highlights a critical point in the UK's music landscape. As Matty Healy articulates, these venues serve as the bedrock for upcoming artists and are essential to preserving a vibrant cultural economy. The Seed Sounds Weekender not only aims to showcase emerging talent but also raises awareness of the funding issues plaguing grassroots venues. The recent announcement of an £85 million Creative Foundations Fund by the Government is a step forward, yet many small venues remain ineligible for significant funding. As the music community faces these alarming challenges, initiatives like the Seed Sounds Weekender could be pivotal in reviving interest and support for smaller performance spaces.

Highlights

Supporting local venues is vital for the health of the music industry.