Savages' Jehnny Beth advocates increased funding for small UK venues

Fronting one of the UK’s most revered live acts of the moment, Savages singer Jehnny Beth should know a thing or two about the state of the country’s live music industry. Now she’s taken to her Tumblr account to criticise the standards of small venues in the UK, while calling for change.

In the post, the London-based post-punk musician says that although “there are many great small rooms in this country who do great work with limited resources, and they should be applauded and supported”, overall ”production and customer service standards of small venues in the UK have the world’s worst reputation among touring musicians”.

“We secretly call it the TOILET TOUR,” she adds.

Citing Henry Rollins, Warp Records’ Nick Talbot tour manager Andy Inglis as some of the people who have reiterated her viewpoint in the past, Beth continues that money from the extremely wealthy minority in the music business ”could be used in small independent venues to improve the experience of either artists and/or audiences, through the building of a new stage, purchase of a sound desk, lighting, a sofa and fridge for backstage, microphones, the construction of a backstage area for artists.”

“The music industry can definitely affect a change. Labels, managers, big promoters, booking agents, artists and bigger live venues can group together, reinvest their money, and start to repair the UK’s reputation in live music.”

Read the full article here. Savages’ debut album, Silence Yourself was recently nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize.

[via NME, Photo by Burak Cingi]