Leeds-based band English Teacher calls for grassroots venues support

English Teacher recently performed on Later... with Jools Holland

A band who performed on Later... with Jools Holland said they probably would not have had the chance without the support of grassroots venues.

Leeds-based four-piece English Teacher said playing local venues like the Brudenell helped them to get noticed.

It comes after The Music Venue Trust (MVT) charity published an open letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt urging him to extend business rates relief.

It says the grassroots music sector is in the middle of "a full-blown crisis".

The band's singer Lily Fontaine said performing at smaller venues helped her to build her confidence and "made me realise that it was a potential career path".

"It's like the most important part of it," she said.

The band's guitarist Lewis Whiting also started out playing open mic nights at small independent venues.

"You need to have those small local spaces to play gigs to get moving," he said.

Lily Fontaine and Lewis Whiting said performing at grassroots venues had helped them to get noticed

Commenting on the opportunity to perform on Later... with Jools Holland, Whiting said: "Where do you go after that?", adding that if it had not been for grassroots venues it probably would never have happened.

"I think we owe a lot to the local Leeds music scene which wouldn't be such a strong community if there wasn't those spaces," he added.

According to the MVT, some 125 venues have stopped hosting live music in the past 12 months, 15.7% of all such spaces in the UK.

That represents the loss of 4,000 jobs, 14,250 events, 193,230 performance opportunities, £9m of income for musicians, and £59m in lost direct economic activity, the charity said.

In an open letter, the MVP urged the chancellor to extend the existing 75% business rate relief beyond April 2024 when he delivers his Autumn Statement in the House of Commons next Wednesday.

Nathan Clark, who runs the Brudenell, wants to see more help for grassroots venues

Nathan Clark, who runs the Brudenell, said: "The simple impact would mean immediate closures of various venues."

He said: "With the ongoing utility costs, insurance rises and other things it would mean your overall costs would go up beyond what you could take in at a time when disposable income is really quite tight."

Beyond business rates, he said there also needed to be a "deep dive" look into VAT reduction or a cultural tax break for places like grassroots music venues.

The BBC has asked the Treasury for a response.