'Grassroots music makes me feel like I belong'

Monday marks the start of Independent Venue Week, a nationwide celebration of grassroots music spaces at a time when many are grappling with the cost of staying open.

Across Yorkshire, a series of live music events will be held at venues joining the campaign, which is supported by Arts Council England and last year saw 255 sold-out shows.

More than half of small venues in the UK failed to make a profit last year, according to sector charity the Music Venue Trust (MVT), and 30 closed their doors.

But the number of people attending grassroots gigs has risen by 13%, with 21m fans standing in front of stages in 2025.

York-based singer-songwriter Harrison Rimmer returns to The Fulford Arms on Friday as part its schedule for Independent Venue Week.

He says grassroots music "gave me a space where I felt like I belonged".

"In my day-to-day life, I always felt out of place - then I discovered rock, punk and folk music.

"The day I stepped into that venue, not even with a band, but as a punter going to a gig, it gave me a community and I was OK being who I was.

"I could express myself freely and just be me, not worrying about the outside world for as long as the show was, enjoying being present in that moment."

He first started out as a musician in York's open mic scene, with one of his earliest ticketed gigs taking place at the Fulford in 2012, and has now toured as far as Australia, the Netherlands and parts of Asia.

"When I go on stage and play a gig, I never take it for granted, I always think of that version of myself who was starting out and desperate to play," he says.

York band Suspicious Liquid play on Wednesday, and vocalist Vanessa Toyd says independent venues offer more interaction between the audience and performing musicians.

"I really like to go into the crowd, we have a bit where we actually have a suspicious liquid in a goblet and we have the crowd drink it - you definitely wouldn't be able to do that in a less intimate setting."

She will not reveal what the "suspicious" liquid is...

The Hallamshire Hotel, a grassroots space in Sheffield, reopened under new management in 2024.

First opened in 1903 as a regular pub, it became a live music hotspot in the 1980s and 1990s which gave the stage to future stars like Jarvis Cocker and then-emerging band Pulp.

It closed in 2003 and spent two decades as a cocktail and pizza joint called Bloo88.

Events and technical manager Jack Hardwick says it is facing a fresh set of challenges because the way people listen to music has changed.

"When you have access to almost the entirety of recorded music, on Spotify for example, it's easier for music to become something which accessorises your life, rather than something which requires effort to maintain a relationship with."

However, he also says people do not have as much disposable income due to the rising cost of living, making it "harder for them to separate with that money when a night out isn't a 100% guaranteed good time".

"You see that people are going to concerts - stadium and arena gigs - but they won't take the chance on someone new."

But he says it is "vital" that people keep taking those chances.

"Our key cultural export in the UK is music, we do it the best, but without grassroot spaces to nurture new musicians as they learn their art, we're going to massively fall by the wayside.

"It's also important as a community thing, it's easy to stay at home now, but this offers something where people have a shared experience together."

David Brown graced the stages of independent venues as an ensemble singer and jazz musician before taking the plunge and opening his own in 2023.

The Attic in Leeds has capacity for about 200 people.

He says he understands how difficult it can be to find venues willing to host new talent.

"Unless you know you're going to bring in over 100 or 150 people and have a promoter, it's hard to persuade a venue that's up and running to take you on.

"I know this from owning a venue now, they only really make money on the bar and extras - it's all a numbers game."

However, he says he wants to "give a platform" to smaller artists.

"I thought by opening a venue I could give people a chance to perform who maybe wouldn't get to play in other places.

"Some of the most uplifting and rewarding times are looking at everyone and seeing that we've made a space that's welcoming, when the people that come in love it and the performers love it too.

"It's the smiles, the tears, the emotions of people - they're the most important thing."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Soundsorcatch up with the latest episode of Look North.