Across the UK, a nationwide festival is set to take place in September, with over 1,000 pubs, bars, and restaurants hosting music events. The festival, backed by The 1975’s Matty Healy, aims to celebrate the foundation of any real culture, which he believes lies in local venues.
The Importance of Local Venues
Healy, the frontman of The 1975, recently stated, “Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.” This sentiment is echoed by Kit Muir-Rogers, co-founder of live music platform GigPig, who is organising the festival.
- Healy warned about the talent pipeline drying up, stating that “without them, you don’t get The Smiths, Amy Winehouse, or The 1975. You get silence.”
- Healy believes that local venues are crucial to the development of music, saying, “Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
These seed venues, as they are known, play a vital role in the music industry. They provide a platform for emerging artists to gain experience, build a fanbase, and eventually move on to bigger venues.
The Challenges Facing Seed Venues
Organisers of the festival have highlighted the challenges facing seed venues, including high taxes and bills. The British Beer and Pub Association has predicted that over 370 pubs will close in 2025.
| Pubs | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Over 370 | Closure in 2025 |
Kit Muir-Rogers, co-founder of GigPig, said, “The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
The Impact of Live Music
Live music has a significant impact on the hospitality sector, with Mark Connor, head of operations for the Head of Steam pub chain, stating, “Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time.”
Connor added, “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.”
Dedicated grassroots music venues have been vocal about their importance and the risks they face, but pubs and other locations on the first rung of the live music ladder have been underappreciated until now.
The Seed Sounds Weekender
The festival, which takes place from 26-28 September, aims to unite and celebrate what Muir-Rogers calls the “most exciting and probably the most vital step on an artist’s journey.”
Healy, who is not performing at the festival, said, “The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
The festival will feature music events at over 1,000 venues across the UK, making it a unique and exciting celebration of the live music scene.
Definition of Seed Music and Seed Venues
According to Muir-Rogers, “seed music” refers to the music played in these small, grassroots venues. Seed venues, on the other hand, are the places where this music is played.
Muir-Rogers said, “No-one’s really pulled it under a banner before. It’s never really been called anything. Now it’s widely being called seed music and seed venues, which really does paint that picture incredibly well – you plant those first seeds to watch them grow into the Glastonbury headliners of tomorrow.”
Healy added, “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 believes that the festival will serve as a reminder that music is not created in big arenas or boardrooms, but rather in the heart of local communities.
Quotes from The 1975’s Matty Healy
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“No-one’s really pulled it under a banner before. It’s never really been called anything. Now it’s widely being called seed music and seed venues, which really does paint that picture incredibly well – you plant those first seeds to watch them grow into the Glastonbury headliners of tomorrow.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Mark Connor, head of operations for the Head of Steam pub chain, added, “It helps them stay for longer, get that second or third drink, which is vitally important for all businesses.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Kit Muir-Rogers, co-founder of GigPig, said, “The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time. 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.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn’t start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“The stark reality is that it’s a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it’s a challenging time as an artist out there.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“The 1975 graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, and Healy isn’t performing at the new event, but is its ambassador.
Quote from Kit Muir-Rogers
“Local venues aren’t just where bands cut their teeth, they’re the foundation of any real culture.”
Quote from Matty Healy
“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.”
Quote from Mark Connor
“Live music is massively important for us at a challenging time.
