Tom Grennan announced as new Music Venue Trust patron

Grennan has joined Music Venue Trust's artist patrons list today (24 October), which already features names including Sir Paul McCartney, Glass Animals, Nova Twins, IDLES' Joe Talbot, Daniel Avery, Tim Burgess, Savages and many others.

In a new video with Mercury Prize sponsor FREENOW where he revisits The Finsbury, Grennan said, "Grassroots venues are so important because if we didn't have them, we wouldn't have music."

He added, "Music is still alive and this is why venues like this are so important, because if we didn't have venues I wouldn't be about, and I know a lot of others wouldn't be about. There are so many artists, so many genres of music, so many different people that are wanting or needing to be found. You don't need to be glued to your phone to try and find the next big thing because, trust me, the next big things are in venues like this. So, get off your phone, go out and watch and listen to live music, and enjoy it."

Last week Music Venue Trust launched its Pipeline Investment Fund, a new initiative that will give UK grassroots music venues grants of up to £5000.