Gig venues in Manchester and Hull announce permanent closure as government financial support arrives too late
News: 17th July 2020 by Stef Loukes under Live
Sad news indeed as 4 grassroots gig venues confirm they are to close permanently. The parent group of The Deaf Institute and Gorilla in Manchester have announced they will not be able to re-open these live music spaces, and the parent company of The Polar Bear and The Welly in Hull have gone into administration, bringing about the immediate closure of both these venues.
After months of campaigning and warning the government that financial support for the grassroots music sector was required, the Music Venue Trust achieved success and a £1.57bn package was confirmed a couple of weeks ago. However, many fear it has arrived too late to ensure the survival of some businesses, and there are still a lot of questions about how this money will be distributed and when.
Many unsigned and emerging bands have shared their dismay on social media of the closure of these 4 venues, which have paid a prominent role in building their foundations in playing live.
Related Links
https://www.nme.com/news/music/hull-venues-the-welly-and-the-polar-bear-are-set-to-close-2709219
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UK gig venues in Manchester and Hull close
