Band's music video highlights plight of lost venues

Oxford four-piece Sinews have been asking other musicians what former grassroots venues they miss

An Oxford rock band have highlighted the diminishing number of live music venues in the UK in their latest video.

Four-piece Sinews are promoting their new single I Disappear with a video which includes clips in which they ask other musicians what former grassroots venues they miss.

Singer and guitarist Rich Bell described the closing down of venues as an "epidemic" which was "laying waste to our cultural landscape, but those spaces live on in our memories".

Oxford - which has given prominence to bands such as Ride, Radiohead, Supergrass, Foals, and Glass Animals, has itself seen a number of venues close in recent years, including The Cellar and The Wheatsheaf.

According to the Music Venue Trust's latest annual report, 2024 saw the number of venues across the UK reduce from 835 to 810.

It called this a "significant improvement on the rate of decline" on the previous year when 125 closed down, but that 43.8% of venues reported a loss.

Mr Bell said: "The song's about feeling invisible, and overlooked, and trying to say I'm here, I exist, I take up physical space."

He added: "I put lots of shows on in Oxford and that's been gutted of great venues like The Wheatsheaf, The Cellar, Fusion Arts, and The Port Mahon in just the last couple of years really.

"Those spaces are gone, but the memories of shows I saw there are still really vivid for me, so I thought it would be nice to find out about others' memories of great lost venues."

Up-and-coming acts featured in the video include The None, Objections, Dancer, and Ritual Error.

Proceeds from the single are going towards YWMP, which is setting up a new venue

Proceeds from the single are going towards YWMP, a music educational charity that is setting up a new venue in Little Clarendon Street.

"It feels good that in a small way this will be helping create new space," Mr Bell said.

Sinews released their debut EP Reanimated last year, and followed it up with Choreography in February.

Nightshift music magazine has described the post-hardcore band, whose influences include Fugazi, Drive Like Jehu, Helmet, and Mclusky, as finding the "sweet spot between thoughtful intricacy and musical violence".

The band will launch the single with a headline show at The Library in Oxford later.

Mr Bell also runs Oxford label and gig promoter Divine Schism with Aiden Canaday.

In 2023 they were able to raise £5,000 in just 12 hours from local well-wishers after their PA system and other equipment was stolen.