Closure of local folk music venue

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 Oct 09 - 09:04 AM

..........recall similar probs in St Helens [just down the road from S/Port] some years back, in which the local council spokesperson declared 'folk music' & associated songs, dance etc to be 'elitist'!!

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: Acorn4
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 06:08 PM

..sorry "history" - it's late at night!

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: Acorn4
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 05:40 PM

In fact Leicester still has a couple of other venues in the Musician and the Criterion which both support local artists, but they are privately owned and the Council seems to take note of nothing that is not "arty-farty" - they are also under a lot of criticism at the moment for acts of "civic vandalism" which seem to have blighted Leicester throughout its histiry.

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: gnu
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 03:46 PM

That sucks big time.

Not the most eloquent commisseration, but niether am I.

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 03:41 PM

At least we still have the Y Theatre in Leicester!

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: Aeola
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 01:04 PM

Clive Pounceby ( the bothy ) possibly knows someone who could have a word!

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 05:15 AM

Write to your local council member to complain about the loss of live music venues. Copy your letter to the Arts Council (http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/)for you region and ask if your local council has had any funding for live music. If so, then your locality most probably is required to make accommodation for it.

Best of luck.

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: Acorn4
Date: 04 Oct 09 - 05:05 AM

Here in Leicester we had a venue called the Phoenix Theatre the cafe bar of which hosted folk/acoustic music on Saturday lunchtimes. The City Council in its infinite wisdom decided on a new purpose built complex in a "cultural quarter", including a new Theatre and cinema, but no provision for live music; the proposal to sell the Phoenix to help finance their new project which has gone millions over budget.

Hopefully, there are one or two bids in the pipeline which may get the Phoenix up and running again but it means that our Saturday lunchtime music has disappeared at least for the time being.

Subject: RE: Closure of local folk music venue
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 10:36 PM

That does sound extreme and off-putting. Have they even suggested nearby alternatives? (I'm cross the pond, so wouldn't know.)

Subject: Closure of local folk music venue
From: GUEST,Jim Moran
Date: 03 Oct 09 - 05:07 PM

I live in Southport, UK and our local art centre is due to close for two and half years ( I bet it turns out to be over three years) for redevelopment. Now in the UK, these nation wide art centres host a lot of folk music events - along with roots music, blues, poetry and theatre productions. Along with the art centre, the adjoining art gallery and town library will also close. There is a move to find alternative accomodation for the library but not for the art centre and library. I think this is crazy. Three years without the facilities currently provided! Now, has anyone out there experienced anything similar to this stupid scheme?