ACROSS the UK, musicians, agents, venue managers, promoters and music lovers are uniting in a campaign to prevent to collapse of the UK live music scene due to the coronavirus pandemic.

As reported in the Bridgwater Mercury, the town’s most popular indie venue, the Cobblestones Pub in Eastover, is at the forefront of a campaign  to prevent the potentially terminal closures of venues as income dries up and audiences and performers are separated maybe forever.

Owner Graham Hodgson, however, is not sitting back and accepting this and has not just set up a crowdfunding scheme to try to save his own business but has joined up with the national ‘#Save Our Venues’ campaign.  

Supporters have been sending ‘Save our Venues’ selfies and now Bridgwater's Labour councillors have also added their weight to the fightback.

Bridgwater town mayor, Cllr Tony Heywood was the first to send his support. His own background is in music promotion and he currently chairs the town’s Cultural Partnership which is heavily affected by the closures which have seen the cancellation of the popular Quayside festival and the new ‘Seed’ community arts project put on hold until lockdown ends.

Cllr Heywood said: “The lockdown has left performers, agents, promoters and technicians without a steady income since the end of March.

"Most of the UK’s live venues are now at risk of closing before the end of the month,which is devastating news.

"Of course, major artists will continue to make money through record sales and streaming during the lockdown, but the vast majority of musicians still rely on extensive tours of smaller venues and festivals to provide their income.”

Bridgwater Town Council's own budget has been hit by the Covid-19 crisis with the cancellation of the carnival and the associated concerts.

Town Council leader Cllr Brian Smedley said: "These have all now been cancelled driving a hole into our projected finances.

"Also, as of this week, our long term plan to take on the ownership of the Bridgwater Arts Centre has come at exactly the time when it shows no sign of re-opening for the foreseeable future.

"So we are in the same boat as other concert bookers, promoters and agents who have seen their usual means of income vanish.”

Cllr Smedley says the Government should deliver a support package to the industry.

Bridgwater Mercury:

Cllr Glen Burrows added: “Venues such as The Cobblestones are the heart of communities like ours.

"They do so much more than put on rock gigs, they’re a social centre, they have poetry nights, film evenings. Places like this are exactly what is worth saving about a community. So governments will need to think about how to prop up live entertainment for at least a few months yet.”