04 September 2025
Newsdesk
The Music Venue Trust (MVT), a charity supporting UK grassroots music venues (GMVs), has announced that over £100,000 raised from Sam Fender’s arena tour has been distributed to 38 independent venues across England, Scotland, and Wales. The funds, allocated through MVT's Liveline Fund, provide a vital lifeline to the grassroots music ecosystem.
The Liveline Fund was created by MVT and Save Our Scene (SOS) to use contributions from arena and stadium ticket sales to directly support smaller venues, artists, and promoters. Sam Fender, along with artists like Coldplay, Katy Perry, and Enter Shikari, have been early supporters of this initiative, which aims to secure the future of UK grassroots music.
Nineteen of the venues received emergency hardship relief, a crucial package designed to prevent imminent closures due to financial crises, legal disputes, or unpredictable events like floods or fires. This proactive support ensures that viable music spaces remain open and can address issues before they become critical.
An additional 19 venues received over £50,000 in direct improvement grants. These grants enable crucial upgrades to facilities, technical equipment, and infrastructure, which directly benefit artists, staff, and audiences. Venues like London’s Paper Dress Vintage and Manchester’s The White Hotel highlighted the importance of this support in helping them combat rising running costs and maintain a high-quality experience for both artists and patrons.
Commenting on the initiative, Sam Fender said, "It’s brilliant to see that the money raised from the arena tour is making a real difference to so many venues. The idea that money from shows in big venues supports the smaller venues, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just common sense. These places are legendary."
The MVT's CEO, Mark Davyd, praised Fender's contribution, stating that his support has "created a real and lasting impact on the grassroots music ecosystem." This collaboration underscores how large-scale events can directly help sustain the smaller venues that are essential for nurturing the next generation of musical talent.
