Enter Shikari say “a change of government will definitely help” in saving grassroots venues

nme.com:

Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds has spoken to NME backstage at Download 2024, and told us how the upcoming general election could be vital in the survival of the UK’s grassroots music venues.The frontman caught up with us while at this year’s edition of the Donington Park Festival, shortly before Enter Shikari kicked off their first performance on the Apex Stage (barring the post-COVID pilot edition).The set came following the hugely positive response to their latest album ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’, and ahead of the band’s upcoming run of UK live shows – which will be a much more intimate affair after their recent arena tour.The band have been vocal champions of grassroots gig spaces and the Music Venue Trust.

Last year, various figures from the UK grassroots live music scene told NME about how 2023 was the “worst year for venue closures” – with 125 grassroots venues shutting down.

This caused a loss of 4,000 jobs, with 14,500 events no longer possible and 193,230 opportunities lost to musicians.Last year, in a bid to protect the sector, Enter Shikari made one of the biggest pushes to help support grassroots music spaces so far – introducing a £1 ticket levy to their arena shows, which was then donated to the MVT.

They were one of the leading artists to prove how larger venues could help support its smaller counterparts at no extra cost to fans.