in London, small concert halls suffer inflation

Grassroot venues, small British concert halls, are victims of inflation.

The Beatles, Amy Winehouse or Oasis might never have emerged without them. After Covid, “Grassroot venues”, small British concert halls, are bearing the brunt of inflation and the cost of living crisis. 38% of them are experiencing financial difficulties.

In London, in an old cinema from the 1930s, a small, slender figure goes up and down stairs, pushes open doors. It is a labyrinth that holds no secrets for Auro Foxcroft. With long hair and a red jacket, he runs a bit of EartH Hackney venue, several rooms, including the one where he ends up stopping. One of the artists of the day does the sound check before his performance : “We have two sold-out shows tonight. There’s a long line outside. Everything seems great, but actually we’re struggling to pay the bills, to schedule shows and it can’t continue like this.”

Customers consume less

What he describes is a system on its last legs. He receives money from concert promoters, just enough to pay his employees’ salaries. Then, it is with the bar that he is supposed to fill his coffers. Everything costs more and customers consume less because their budgets are also tighter. 60 places in the basement : this is the performance hall of the Harrison pub, not far from St. Pancras station. That evening, four violinists including Maisie : “I created a new group two years ago and we were looking for a place to do our first concert. Small venues like that are good for testing new concepts. And this weekend, we’re going to record our first album.”

That’s exactly what Paul Michelmore wants, but the Harrison boss is at his wit’s end. There was Covid. Now, inflation. And above all, justice forces him to pay his entire rent during the pandemic, when pubs had to remain closed : almost 100 000 pounds sterling to find in a few months. “Every day for four years, I’ve tried to keep the family, keep the team, stay open. I beg, I borrow. It’s every day and it’s exhausting”confides the owner of the room.

Like many of his peers, Paul breaks down. The Ministry of Culture studies the possibility of a tax : one pound sterling per ticket sold in theaters capable of accommodating several tens of thousands of spectators. Tax then paid to small farmers.