Elbow, Everything Everything & more to play ultra-intimate Passport: Back to Our Roots gigs
Raising money for grassroots venues
Last updated 10th Aug 2020
Elbow, Everything Everything, Public Service Broadcasting and The Slow Readers Club are the first four acts confirmed for an intimate fundraising gig series called Passport: Back to Our Roots.
Set to take place on yet-to-be-announced dates in 2021 when it’s safe to perform without social distancing, the Passport: Back to Our Roots concerts are being held to raise vital funds for grassroots music venues at risk of closure because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Bury’s prodigal sons Elbow will play the 250-capacity Night & Day Café in Manchester more than two decades on from their first appearance at the venue, while Everything Everything will bring their unique sounds to the 200-capacity Esquires in Bedford.
Audio-visual sensations Public Service Broadcasting are confirmed to play at The Amersham Arms in New Cross, London (300 capacity), while The Slow Readers Club will be playing at Hebden Bridge Trades Club (200 capacity) in West Yorkshire.
Entry to these four ultra-intimate Passport: Back to Our Roots shows is via a prize draw only that runs for two weeks only from Monday 17th August 2020 RIGHT HERE. To enter, fans can make a minimum pledge of £5 and winners will be able to attend a show of their choice alongside a plus one.
Enter the Passport: Back to Our Roots prize draw
The Passport: Back to Our Roots concert series has been co-founded by Sally Cook, Director of Operations at Band on the Wall, and Stephen Budd, creator of War Child’s Passport: Back to the Bars and Passport: to BRITs Week series.
They have partnered with the Music Venue Trust, who are doing incredible work trying to save many grassroots venues in dire financial straits because of the closures enforced due to the Covid-19 crisis.
80% of the proceeds raised from the prize draw will go to the Music Venue Trust and the money will duly be distributed between venues struggling to stay afloat. The remaining 20% will go to the charitable organisation Inner City Music, which is responsible for the administration of the Passport: Back to Our Roots series and will cover its overheads.
Ever-genial Elbow frontman Guy Garvey comments: “This is a simple way of looking after the very roots of British music, and will result in some powerful, joyous shows when we can at last see each other again. I’m very proud to be involved.”
Everything Everything bassist and keyboardist Jeremy Pritchard enthuses: “Like all artists worth their salt, we came up through smaller rooms and tiny stages, learning our craft as we went. So often these vital venues are run on a shoestring, but what they provide to their community socially and artistically is invaluable.
“The Back to Our Roots project is helping grassroots music venues back on their feet after these testing times. We wanted to come to Esquires in Bedford as it’s exactly the sort of gig we’d have done ten years ago, but actually never had the opportunity to. It’s our pleasure to be involved.”
J. Willgoose, Esq of Public Service Broadcasting fame adds: “We’re delighted to be taking part in Passport: Back to Our Roots and taking the chance to play at The Amersham Arms. We never actually managed to play there when we started out so it’ll be great to do so, finally, and in support of such a good cause. See some of you there as soon as it’s safe - we can’t wait.”
The Slow Readers Club said in a joint statement: “Like loads of other bands, acts or performers, grassroots music venues were there to give us a stage when we first started out so to be part of this cause to ensure they survive and thrive makes total sense. It’s the least we can do. We’re buzzin to be going back to Hebden Bridge Trades Club. Low stage, crammed in crowd, bouncing and sweaty.... proper old school. We can’t wait.”
Mark Dayvd, Founder and CEO of Music Venue Trust said: “Our #saveourvenues campaign has been very successful so far in raising funds and awareness to support grassroots music venues who have been hit very hard in recent months, but we are not complacent and are under no illusions that there still many challenges to overcome .
“There remains lots of work to do to safeguard the future of our venues and Passport: Back to Our Roots is an excellent and timely initiative that will help keep a spotlight on what still needs to be done while raising desperately needed revenue. Live music will be back and when it is we are going to make sure it comes back with experiences people will never forget.”
After the initial success of the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign, the Music Venue Trust launched round two last week, calling on the government to back crew members as well as musicians and any individuals who work to make live music happen.