Latest news with #livemusic
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The 1975 star Matty Healy warns of threat to 'seed' music venues
More than 1,000 pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK will host music events as part of a new nationwide festival backed by The 1975's Matty Healy, who has warned about the talent pipeline drying up."Local venues aren't just where bands cut their teeth, they're the foundation of any real culture," the frontman said in a statement."Without them, you don't get The Smiths, Amy Winehouse, or The 1975. You get silence."The Seed Sounds Weekender will take place in September in small "seed" venues like those where many big names start out. But like much of the UK's nightlife scene, they are facing "unprecedented economic challenges", organisers said. They gave examples of seed venues including the Grapes pub in Sheffield, where the Arctic Monkeys made their debut; Rayner's Hotel in Harrow, north-west London, where Amy Winehouse played her first show; the Buffalo Bar in Cardiff, which hosted an early Adele gig; and The Castle Hotel in Manchester, where The 1975 Muir-Rogers, co-founder of live music platform GigPig, which is organising the festival, said it would be "a moment to unite and celebrate what we think is the most exciting and probably the most vital step on an artist's journey"."The stark reality is that it's a challenging time out there for the hospitality sector, and it's a challenging time as an artist out there," he said. Future Glastonbury headliners More than 370 pubs are expected to close in 2025, according to the British Beer and Pub Association, which blamed high taxes and Connor, head of operations for the Head of Steam pub chain, whose flagship Newcastle venue hosted early shows by The 1975 and the Arctic Monkeys, said live music is "massively important for us" at a challenging time."It actively brings people into our venues, and it helps them stay for longer, get that second or third drink, which is vitally important for all businesses," he grassroots music venues have been vocal about their importance and the risks they face, but pubs and other locations on the first rung of the live music ladder have been underappreciated until now, according to Mr Muir-Rogers."No-one's really pulled it under a banner before. It's never really been called anything."Now it's widely being called seed music and seed venues, which really does paint that picture incredibly well - you plant those first seeds to watch them grow into the Glastonbury headliners of tomorrow."Healy, whose band graduated from playing pubs and clubs in the early 2010s to headlining Glastonbury this year, isn't performing at the new event, but is its statement added: "The erosion of funding for seed and grassroots spaces is part of a wider liberal tendency to strip away the socially democratic infrastructure that actually makes art possible."What's left is a cultural economy where only the privileged can afford to create, and where only immediately profitable art survives."The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn't start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger."The Seed Sounds Weekender will take place from 26-28 News used AI to help write the summary at the top of this article. It was edited by BBC journalists. Find out more.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sing Out Loud Festival Celebrates Music on Florida's Historic Coast
St. Augustine's Month of Music recognizes the artistry of live music performance Sept. 5-28 Sing out Loud Live Wildly Showcase Stage - Melissa Marcerelli Sing Out Loud Backyard Stage at The Amp - SGS Design St. Augustine, FL, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the ninth consecutive year, St. Augustine will host one of the Southeast's biggest music festivals, the Sing Out Loud Festival. Sing Out Loud presents a unique blend of music, featuring local acts alongside national headliners and other musical events. The festival's main event, Live Wildly Showcase is a full weekend of live music from chart-topping performers at Francis Field in Historic Downtown St. Augustine. The lineup on Saturday, Sept. 20 includes Beabadoobee, Vance Joy, Father John Misty, Maren Morris, David Kushner, and Sarah Kinsley. Sunday, Sept. 21 features Hozier, The Teskey Brothers, Rilo Kiley, Gigi Perez, sombr, and Brenn!. The Live Wildly Showcase is a ticketed event, with $10 from every ticket sold going directly to land conservation efforts in St. Johns County, Fl. The heart of the Sing Out Loud Festival is the Sing Out Loud Local Showcases. The showcases feature local singers, songwriters, and musicians performing a diverse range of genres, including indie rock, bluegrass, hip hop, and country. This series of free concerts is hosted on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays throughout the festival at more than a dozen venues throughout St. Augustine. Stay tuned to for performer announcements and schedules. The newly renovated Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is hosting An Evening with Chuck Leavell on Wednesday, Sept. 17. The event includes a special screening of 'The Tree Man,' a documentary exploring Leavell's life and intertwined passion for music, forests, and family, in addition to a live music performance and moderated conversation with Chuck Leavell. This is a ticketed event, with tickets including a $1 charity fee to be donated to conservation efforts. The Music Business Panel on Wednesday, Sept. 24, at the historic Markland House at Flagler College connects aspiring and experienced musicians with industry experts. The distinguished panelists will engage in an in-depth discussion about the current state of the music industry. The panel is free and open to the public; however, an RSVP is required. The St. Augustine Songwriters Festival, running Friday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 28, is a chance for music lovers to hear the stories and inspiration behind some of the charts greatest hits. This year's songwriters include Rodney Clawson ('Sure Be Cool If You Did,' by Blake Shelton), Brock Berryhill ('Good As You,' by Kane Brown), Emily Landis ('The Good Ones,' by Gabby Barrett), and more. The Songwriters Festival is hosted at some of St. Augustine's popular live music venues including Prohibition Kitchen, Colonial Oak Music Park, and Tradewinds Lounge. The St. Augustine Record Fair returns to The St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Sunday, Sept. 28. Hosted by ToneVendor Records, music aficionados and collectors can find limited-edition vinyls, tour posters, vintage t-shirts, cassette tapes, record players, and other music memorabilia. Additional vendors include on-site screen printing, food trucks, and live entertainment by DJ Papi Disco. The St. Augustine Record Fair is free and family-friendly. Produced by SJC Cultural Events, Inc., which operates St. Augustine Amphitheatre, Ponte Vedra Concert Hall and the nationally recognized Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series, Sing Out Loud's month of music is just a short drive or flight away. Use the helpful trip planner to find flights, lodging, and more activities, and get in the groove with curated Spotify channels featuring music from local performers and headline artists scheduled to perform at the Live Wildly Showcase. Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach: and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. For advance travel information, call 1.800.653.2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at Check us out on social media Instagram @FloridasHistoricCoast; @ViajaStAugustine, and and X @FlHistoricCoast, Attachments Sing out Loud Live Wildly Showcase Stage - Melissa Marcerelli Sing Out Loud Backyard Stage at The Amp - SGS Design CONTACT: Barbara Golden St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau 9046698142 Bgolden@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Why you should swap Prague for the Czech Republic's underrated second city
I can't help but let out an audible sigh of relief as I leave Prague behind, melting into a seat on a RegioJet train speeding southwards. The city I loved twenty years ago has lost its charm for me. And that's not Prague 's fault – it's mine. I wilt in crowded places these days. Staring out of the train window at the forested hillsides, the wagons whizz towards Brno, the Czech Republic 's second city. As the capital of Moravia, one of the large historical Czech land regions, Brno is not short on medieval sites and picturesque pastel coloured buildings. Today the city has a teeming live music scene, thriving art museums and, of course, excellent beer halls. Most importantly, there's not a hen or stag-do in sight – this is a city that's yet to be discovered by the crowds of tourists. These are the sites to see, and where to stay for a slice of city break heaven. Get gothic The pretty city is home to a cache of churches, a cathedral and a rather spooky ossuary. The 600-year-old Church of St. James has a bell tower to ascend, but my tip is to visit the forgotten and recently excavated ossuary holding centuries-old bones of plague, cholera and war victims that are now carefully piled up in four small chapel rooms in the crypt underneath St. James'. It's one of many subterranean spaces to visit in Brno – the former prison under the 13th-century Špilberk Castle, and the labyrinth under the food market are also creepy underground places to cool off from the heat of the summer. Savour the hops Brno is similar to Prague in a number of ways: architecture, language and the same flowing beer culture. Fantastic Czech beers that everyone knows and loves are sold on every corner – but without the drunk groups of sightseers. Overall, Brno is around 10 per cent cheaper than Prague, but you might experience something different during a night out sampling the flavours at Pivni Burza, aka the Beer Exchange, a pub modelled on a stock market. The prices go up and down as the night goes on, so purchase your pints at the right time or risk it and see the stock (beer) price rise. Meander through art museums Exceptional art museums and galleries are dotted around Brno's city centre. The Museum of Applied Arts, hosts a number of shows, one of which, a ceramics and glass exhibition Made by Fire, shows off the country's tradition of artisanal homewares. (These skills are still alive in the city: head to Ya Sama to try crafting with locals). Downstairs at the Museum of Applied Arts there's a robot serving drinks in the cafe, which is both novel and a bit uncanny. Next door in Pražák Palace there's a snazzy show about Czech metro design – font fans rejoice. The contemporary art show stopper is House of the Arts; the current group show Uncertain Domesticities features a yurt installation, a sculpture compiled of wooden furniture, and a photo wall of house cats. Catch some galore Brno is a Unesco Music City, receiving this nod thanks to its gigs and events throughout the year. Brno Music Marathon, held in mid-August, books a selection of world music – including jazz, folk, acoustic and experimental music – from more than ten countries. Outside of its festivals, Brno's live music scene buzzes with energy. From indie and punk bands at Kabinet MUZ to jazz nights at Stará Pekárna and big gigs at Sono Centrum, most genres are covered. You can even perform yourself – head to Music Lab for its Monday jam sessions that occur weekly at 8pm. Entry is 100CZK (£3.50) but every musician who takes part gets 150CZK (£5.30) at the bar. Win, win. Gawk at the functionalist architecture Brno is a gem for architecture nerds; think sleek lines, open spaces and a love affair with function over fluff. The star of the show is undoubtedly Villa Tugendhat. Designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1930, this steel dream is mind bogglingly well preserved. It's also very popular – tickets sell out months in advance, so book in as soon as you start planning your trip. Just around the corner, Arnold Villa brings a transitional flair where Art Nouveau elegance meets early modernism. And don't miss Villa Stiassni, a 1920s beauty that once hosted visiting royalty. There are free tours on the hour in Czech but most guides will give you a brief version in English if you look puzzled. How to get there Lucie was travelling a guest of ByWay travel who arranged her train travel to Brno – taking the Eurostar to Brussels where she picked up the European Sleeper to Prague. This new night train route departs Brussels three days a week and arrives in Prague the following morning after a cosy night's sleep. From Prague, Brno is a 2 hour train ride heading south. There are also direct trains from Brno to Hamburg, Graz, Budapest & Prague. Alternatively, there are direct flights to Brno from London via Ryanair. Flight time is around 2 hours. Where to stay Hotel Grandezza Luxury Palace This boutique hotel is nestled in Brno's historic Zelnýtrh square, beautifully restored with a stunning hand-painted glass ceiling and marble mosaics in the lobby. Most of the large rooms have views of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul and Špilberk Castle in the distance. Don't miss the homemade desserts at Cosmopolis Café downstairs. Grandhotel Brno This classic, upscale hotel blends history with contemporary comforts. Located in the heart of the city, its stylish rooms allow easy access to the city's attractions. There's great dining in-house at GARDEN, which serves a mix of Czech and international dishes with an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thousands of music fans flock to farm to enjoy Truck Festival
Thousands of music lovers descended on a South Oxfordshire farm over the weekend for Truck Festival. The festival has been held at Hill Farm in Steventon, near Didcot, since 1998 and has been a fixture for music lovers since 1998. This year saw the likes of Kasabian, Courteeners, Nothing But Thieves and Franz Ferdinand grace the stage. It was estimated that around 20,000 people attended Tim Hughes, who attended the festival for this newspaper, said: "It has been amazing. The weather has been great and it has been a really good vibe. "Kasabian was brilliant and the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra was absolutely amazing. They had an opera singer with them. READ MORE: Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground at risk of closure "There has been crowdsurfing and all sorts. The crowd has been loving it." The festival started on Thursday with limited entry for Bloc Party. Kasabian were on Saturday night and Last Dinner Party put on a Gaza live medical aid appeal while on stage. Started by musician brothers Robin and Joe Bennett – of the bands Goldrush and The Dreaming Spires – as a birthday bash for Robin, it has a proud history of pushing back against the commercialism of larger festivals and instead focusing on the music and upcoming talent. Their Veterans and Virgins stage remains a little corner of the old Truck Festival loved by generations of Oxfordshire festival-goers.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
‘Victoria Park, Home County, inseparable': Home County Festival returns after hiatus
Music fans packed into the centre of Victoria Park Saturday as hometown singer Leanne Mayer kicked off the return of the Home County Music and Art Festival (HCMAF). 'Victoria Park, Home County, they're inseparable,' said Bev Camp, known as the 'Dancing Cowboy' and a fixture at local festivals. 'This is the life of the city, even for a day. Look at the people here from all over. Same as Sunfest, it's the best.' The 49th annual HCMAF returned to Victoria Park two years after organizers with the Home County Folk League (HCFL) paused due to financial constraints. Home County Music and Art Festival 2025 Bev Camp, known as the 'Dancing Cowboy' is a fixture at London, Ont. music festivals (Brent Lale/CTV News London) A year ago, they held a small festival at London Brewing Coop. This year they came back downtown with just one stage instead of five. 'It's a testament to Londoners love of Home County,' said Artistic Director Darin Addison about the large afternoon crowd. 'We normally have five stages, going on all at the same time so there's something for everybody. If they don't like what's on one side, they go to another stage. So we had to be very meticulous about who we put on the stage. We want something that's going to appeal to a broader audience. I think we've done a great job with the lineup.' That lineup included Mayer, a contemporary singer-songwriter, as the opening act. Home County Music and Art Festival 2025 Leanne Mayer of London, Ont. opens the 49th annual Home County Music and Art Festival at Victoria Park on Saturday, July 26, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'It's an honour to be included in the lineup, especially in a shortened group,' said Mayer, who last played the festival in 2019. 'I've been lucky to get a lot of support from London. Home County is London's gem. Everybody loves Home County, all the Indie musicians, so it means the world to me to be included.' This year, the HCFL was taking donations at the park and asking patrons to also spend money in their beer garden or with the vendors. Organizers will assess this year's festival and then regroup as they look toward planning next year's event. Home County Music and Art Festival 2025 Hundreds of people packed the lawn at Victoria Park for the 49th annual Home County Music and Art Festival on Saturday, July 26, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'If we get the donations and the turnout, then that's certainly going to be inspiration to bring it back to a three-day festival and next year will be the 50th. The HCFL's new fiscal year begins in September, so they'll start talking about a return to a three-day event. 'We've got 11 months to put it together,' said Addison.
