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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Mumford & Sons: The UK's live music scene needs 'sweat on the walls' | Mumford & Sons: The UK's live music scene needs 'sweat on the walls' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| "This place was no man's land when I was growing up." | "This place was no man's land when I was growing up." |
| Dressed in a hard hat and hi-vis jacket, Mumford & Sons' Ben Lovett is stood in front of what will soon be his new venue, Lafayette, in north London. | Dressed in a hard hat and hi-vis jacket, Mumford & Sons' Ben Lovett is stood in front of what will soon be his new venue, Lafayette, in north London. |
| "It'll be done in six weeks," he laughs as a pneumatic drill interrupts him. | "It'll be done in six weeks," he laughs as a pneumatic drill interrupts him. |
| A building site might not seem the natural habit for a former Glastonbury headliner, but it's all part of the "deep responsibility" that he says lies behind his involvement in the UK's live music scene. | A building site might not seem the natural habit for a former Glastonbury headliner, but it's all part of the "deep responsibility" that he says lies behind his involvement in the UK's live music scene. |
| Not everyone can pick a plot of land in King's Cross, build a venue from scratch and attract the buzz that comes with the involvement of one of the world's biggest bands. | Not everyone can pick a plot of land in King's Cross, build a venue from scratch and attract the buzz that comes with the involvement of one of the world's biggest bands. |
| But for Ben, who also launched London's Omeara in 2016, getting to this point "has been a lifetime of work". | |
| "Spending my life around independent music meant it felt like a natural progression to dive into venues... | "Spending my life around independent music meant it felt like a natural progression to dive into venues... |
| "I'm not doing this because it's a laugh or to make money. I genuinely believe in the ecosystem of this industry. | "I'm not doing this because it's a laugh or to make money. I genuinely believe in the ecosystem of this industry. |
| "Even when no one knew who Mumford & Sons were and we were playing in pubs, I cared just as much." | "Even when no one knew who Mumford & Sons were and we were playing in pubs, I cared just as much." |
| Ben, who has done much more than just lend his name to Lafayette, says venues like this are "vital" for the next generation. | Ben, who has done much more than just lend his name to Lafayette, says venues like this are "vital" for the next generation. |
| "There was a great regular event we played years ago in the back room of a London pub. | "There was a great regular event we played years ago in the back room of a London pub. |
| "I remember one night it was Adele, Jamie T, Florence [Welch] and us playing to a room of about 200 people. | "I remember one night it was Adele, Jamie T, Florence [Welch] and us playing to a room of about 200 people. |
| "There will be acts playing here that will go on to headline Glastonbury." | "There will be acts playing here that will go on to headline Glastonbury." |
| 'You don't have to be from Mumford & Sons' | 'You don't have to be from Mumford & Sons' |
| Lafyette will join the hundreds of venues across the UK offering stages to future headliners. | Lafyette will join the hundreds of venues across the UK offering stages to future headliners. |
| Many of those spaces have struggled recently though. | Many of those spaces have struggled recently though. |
| "There's been venues that, just this last week, have announced they're closing," says Chloe Ward, Independent Venue Week's UK director. | "There's been venues that, just this last week, have announced they're closing," says Chloe Ward, Independent Venue Week's UK director. |
| The event, which runs in the last week of January, was started "as a celebration of venues and the people that own and run them". | The event, which runs in the last week of January, was started "as a celebration of venues and the people that own and run them". |
| Five venues which have been open for less than a year are taking part this year, but it follows industry body UK Music estimating that 35% of the country's venues have closed down in the last decade. | Five venues which have been open for less than a year are taking part this year, but it follows industry body UK Music estimating that 35% of the country's venues have closed down in the last decade. |
| "It's not that we're ignorant of those closures," says Chloe "but new venues are coming through." | "It's not that we're ignorant of those closures," says Chloe "but new venues are coming through." |
| The rate of closure in recent years has slowed with the introduction of laws to help venues stay open and defend themselves from new developments. | The rate of closure in recent years has slowed with the introduction of laws to help venues stay open and defend themselves from new developments. |
| The government has also just announced a 50% reduction in business rates for small and medium-sized "grassroots music venues". | The government has also just announced a 50% reduction in business rates for small and medium-sized "grassroots music venues". |
| Chloe adds: "We see a lot of support from established artists for those venues but you don't have to be Ben from Mumford & Sons to build and maintain a venue. | Chloe adds: "We see a lot of support from established artists for those venues but you don't have to be Ben from Mumford & Sons to build and maintain a venue. |
| "There are people in local communities willing to give their time because they appreciate these spaces. There's a lot to be said for the history of venues and keeping them going." | "There are people in local communities willing to give their time because they appreciate these spaces. There's a lot to be said for the history of venues and keeping them going." |
| Ben agrees that an all-hands-on-deck approach is key. | Ben agrees that an all-hands-on-deck approach is key. |
| "I can't remember the last time a week went past without being on the phone with someone who either owns venues or is trying to support one... This is a team effort, honestly." | "I can't remember the last time a week went past without being on the phone with someone who either owns venues or is trying to support one... This is a team effort, honestly." |
| 'We need sweat on the walls' | 'We need sweat on the walls' |
| Something that Ben feels the UK scene could build on is nurturing new spaces when they emerge. | Something that Ben feels the UK scene could build on is nurturing new spaces when they emerge. |
| "What we don't have here, which some venues like the 100 Club do, is that Eric Clapton sweat on the walls - legendary stories of people that have played here," he says, while showing Newsbeat around what will be Lafayette's toilets. | |
| Despite acknowledging "there isn't a perfect way" to open a new space, Ben says he has "an epic 2,000-word note" filled with plans to help his new opening make a big impact around the world. | Despite acknowledging "there isn't a perfect way" to open a new space, Ben says he has "an epic 2,000-word note" filled with plans to help his new opening make a big impact around the world. |
| "When an artist growing up in Venice Beach, LA, says 'If I get to London and play somewhere like Lafayette' that would be cool." | "When an artist growing up in Venice Beach, LA, says 'If I get to London and play somewhere like Lafayette' that would be cool." |
| "As long as everyone remembers we're all aiming towards the same goal - to have more venues to see bands that you get to know and love - then we're going to be okay. | "As long as everyone remembers we're all aiming towards the same goal - to have more venues to see bands that you get to know and love - then we're going to be okay. |
| "We rely on the fact that people want to check out bands, that underpins the entire thing." | "We rely on the fact that people want to check out bands, that underpins the entire thing." |
| Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. | Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. |
| Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. | Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here. |