London's grassroots music venues are in crisis – how do we save them?
Sticky floors, precariously thin plastic pint glasses, and decidedly DIY stage sets; London's smallest venues have a unique, loveable charm. Though they're world away from the capital's flashiest stadium shows, appearances can be deceiving – London's independent venues form a vital part of the UK music scene, transforming once-neglected old boozers and low-ceilinged basements into incubators for the next wave of music talent.
From Brixton's cult spot The Windmill – birthplace of The Last Dinner Party, The Big Moon, Black Country, New Road, Goat Girl, Squid, black midi, and countless others – to the glimmering gold ceilings of Hackney's Moth Club, these small stages are the places where punters can catch a first glimpse of tomorrow's festival headliners, right at the start of their careers.
It's where almost everybody starts out – from a baby-faced Ed Sheeran playing a very early gig at Nunhead's The Ivy House to Lorde performing at the now-closed Madame Jojo's as she teetered on the brink of global fame, these smaller independent venues form a crucial part of the creative ecosystem.
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