Leeds venue Growth has launched a crowdfunder after discovering new premises. This follows their announcement final November that they’re “being pressured” to close down in March this yr.
- READ MORE: Growth Leeds: why the UK hardcore scene is combating to save lots of a significant grassroots venue
The venue beforehand stated that its landlord determined to terminate its lease to begin work growing the constructing into flats and outlets.
Nevertheless, in an replace shared yesterday (January 29), the venue seems to be set as a substitute to relocate – and so they’ll want some assist.
“Earlier than Christmas we made a proper supply to tackle a constructing on the perimeter of Leeds Metropolis centre,” they revealed. This new venue – which they word is bigger than their present Millwright Avenue location – can be arrange as a Neighborhood Curiosity Firm (CIC) music venue to supply numerous group amenities and initiatives, comparable to rehearsal areas, a recording studio, schooling programmes, and F&B choices.
“We are going to shield the whole lot we’ve constructed during the last decade together with the scenes and communities that use our areas, the bands and gigs we work with and all of the related companies concerned,” they continued.
“Growth has [been] by means of a pandemic and a value of residing disaster and lots of challenges in recent times – we’ve learnt lots particularly round how our organisation must be extra resilient and the way that appears and works with a recent begin.”
The venue has raised £30,000 for the brand new location up to now, however they require one other £52,000 to safe the deal.
Growth has since launched an official crowdfunding marketing campaign with a goal purpose of £15,000, with the venue aiming to boost remaining funds by means of unique merchandise and bodily media releases on vinyl and cassette tape. Discover the marketing campaign right here.
Growth has been a significant a part of Leeds’ various music scene, having helped foster a era of hardcore bands within the metropolis. “If individuals didn’t get to expertise Growth,” Larger Energy guitarist Max Harper instructed NME, “it might be very, very unhappy.”
“Leeds would undoubtedly not have the scene that it has with out Growth – perhaps the need for different individuals to journey to Leeds for exhibits wouldn’t be there as a lot. There are different small venues too, however Growth has been the fixed and the inspiration, and possibly the inspiration for individuals as a result of it’s a really encouraging house.”
Earlier this week, it was reported that 2024 noticed the UK lose one grassroots music venue each two weeks – with almost half making a loss and 200 remaining in a state of emergency because the nation faces a “collapse in touring”.
- READ MORE: 2023 was “worst yr for venue closures” whereas “nobody in music business appears to care”, says MVT
Kate Nash, a Music Venue Belief patron, instructed the Homes of Parliament in an effort to spotlight the rising points that touring musicians and venues face.
She stated, regardless of being “fairly profitable” with “1000’s and 1000’s of followers” and having the ability to “promote out a venue or two”, the follow of planning a tour was now “by no means precisely what you assume and also you’re at all times going to go over funds.
“The best way touring works proper now’s that you just’re at all times over-budget, you go into the crimson, and fingers crossed you make nothing,” she continued. “You’re hoping you may make it zero and make completely fuck-all. It’s a little bit of a bizarre job, actually.
