Tonic Music are once again attending this Venues Day event at Woolwich Works, London.
“If we don’t support live music at this level then the future of music in general is in danger.”
This quote by Sir Paul McCartney seems more poignant than ever when observing the alarmingly high rate of grassroots venue closures across the UK.
Music Venue Trust (MVT) is a registered charity which aims to protect, secure and improve grassroots music venues (GMV) in the UK, one of the many ways they enact this is by hosting Venues Day.
For most music industry patrons, this is a key event in the calendar - offering a full day of panels, workshops and networking opportunities - held for GMV operators to enact discussion, conceptualise solutions and generally come together to support one another in a difficult to navigate industry.
Venues Day's 10th anniversary celebration will commemorate the GMV movement that has grown since 2014 - which continues to provide an opportunity for patrons involved in the GMV sector to come together and consider the problems that persist as well as the progress that has been made in the UK at this point.
Venues Day continues to proudly emphasise the importance of artists at the core of the sector, as that is what everything GMVs do is ultimately for: to inspire and nurture artists, forge connection between them and audiences and create a safe space for experimentation and new work.
As the largest gathering of GMV operators worldwide, Venues Day will provide vital opportunities for networking, information gathering, and debate.
Last year, Tonic Music took the opportunity to host an exhibition stand at Venues Day, which proved to be incredibly valuable as it allowed us to connect with a wide range of industry professionals, raise awareness about our industry-specific mental health services, and foster new relationships within the grassroots music community.
Tonic Music’s involvement with MVT extends beyond Venues Day - previously offering a Peer Support Group in partnership with MVT and Music Minds Matter, exclusively for GMV operators and staff..
Tonic Music will be attending this year’s Venues Day at Woolwich Works, London, participating in the 'Sound Advice' session from 1:30 - 5:00pm.
Hosting an exhibition stand for the second consecutive year, we will be offering information and guidance on our mental health support programmes. Tonic Music has long been committed to improving mental health within the music community, recognising the unique challenges faced by those who engage in the music industry.
This year, our presence at the 'Sound Advice' session highlights our continued dedication to providing essential mental health services and raising awareness about the importance of wellbeing in the sector.
Amongst the event's highlights includes BBC 6 Music DJ, Steve Lamacq, kicking off the event by bringing keynotes of the current industry to the foreground.
Additionally, the 'Knowledge is Power' session is not one to be missed, in which key figures from MVT, including Mark Davyd and Beverley Whitrick will pinpoint and present the latest, key facts and figures relevant to the grassroots music venue sector- a difficult task in an ever-changing fluid industry.
The event also hosts a workshop titled 'This Will Define You', which will focus on helping venues publicly articulate their ethical practices and societal impact, which is crucial for securing funding in today's competitive environment.
The day will conclude with a celebration of MVT’s 10th anniversary, with a special session titled 'I Still Believe', supported by NME; this will be followed by an after-event celebration, with drinks and food provided by event sponsors, Ticketmaster - promoting a more casual way in which music industry patrons can get together, forge relationships and support one another.
Events such as Venues Day provide a crucial platform for bringing attention to mental health in the music sector.
Tonic Music works to make sure that mental health is a priority in conversation and that people in the music industry have access to the resources they require - by participating in Venues Day, Tonic Music is reiterating its dedication to raising mental health awareness, minimising stigma, and offering essential resources to a sector of the economy which commonly encounters mental health issues.
We are excited for our second consecutive year working with MVT at Venues Day, aiming to advance the conversation about mental health and assist independent music venues in enacting the appropriate change to provide more welcoming and supportive spaces for everyone.
