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Home Of Metal Symposium at Birmingham City University

Credit: Dom Moore

Music Makers, Music Breakers

It was a day of celebration, a chance to show how far the world of heavy metal music had travelled from humble beginnings right here in Birmingham. A time to reflect and contemplate the future too, and also to discuss the social, educational, political, societal and all other perspectives from which we see music and how we situate it on our lives. It was a full day, but unfortunately, I could only attend the afternoon. The session I sat in on is what I want to focus on here as it is monumentally important to the existence of live music.

We have all heard the news about venues closing but down in Maker in Cornwall, the impending closure of The Random Arms and Energy Rooms, had galvanised a community to fight for the venue’s survival. The speaker today, Lyvinia Elleschild from  the University Of Plymouth, uses a short documentary called ‘Our Growing Silence’ which  demonstrates the importance of grassroots live music venues and the impact of gentrification is having on the local community. This issue is a national issue, and the Music Venue Trust highlights the impact of venue loss throughout the UK. Most coverage of venue loss is focused on urban areas, but this film adds to this by focusing on rural-coastal Cornwall. It is a deepening crisis,  but some progress is being made to try and repair the ruination. 

Narrated by Art Malik, the film looks at the impact on neighbourhoods where there is no focal point, no youth club or studio, rehearsal room and such like for people to create, and enjoy music. It is a slippery slope when there is no platform and binding force to keep people interested and involved. It has been proven in cases where unemployment is the cause of all social ailments like familial breakdown, poverty and isolation. Similarly, music brings people together, it connects, it forms relationships and strengthens and diversifies our outlook. With artists not being able to work, this brings negative and life changing difficulties like mental health issues and suffocation of ideas and imagination. Maker is in a remote part of the country; therefore, the struggles are greater, housing is for the benefit of tourists and second homes for those well- heeled. There is a passion and a fire to make music here but no way of bringing it to the masses. It is of cross generational importance that this community has lost their hub, their meeting point. A community is something that is nurtured, it is beloved, it needs the opportunity to grow and shine, this takes time, but for most small venues the clock is ticking.

Running parallel to these concerns is the ongoing battle with licencing laws, or silencing laws more like, that drain the energy and lust for life to the point beyond exhaustion. 

 The Music Venue Trust is now highlighting the impact of venue closure in nearby Plymouth, which has recently lost several key venues through similar issues, through a Fightback Plymouth Campaign (13th-28th September.)

Following the screening, concerns were raised by conference attendees about the impact that property development and gentrification might have on Digbeth in Birmingham, a vibrant hub of creativity and live music.

The Maker motto is both heart-breaking and enduring,

‘We couldn’t save our venue; you can help others save theirs’.

Music of all kinds, including metal, needs a place to be nurtured and thrive, and grassroots venues provide this, and help foster communities of belonging.

So, get on board my friends, we cannot let our communities be beaten into submission.

Home Of Metal Symposium – 13th September, Birmingham City University

(1) Our Growing Silence Link – https://youtu.be/kW-wjCC83fU
(2) Fightback Plymouth Link – https://www.visitplymouth.co.uk/whats-on/fightback-plymouth-p2752383

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