Music
English Teacher on the power of diversity and how grassroots venues keep music from becoming boring
![English Teacher - 2024's Independent Venue Week ambassadors](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/English-Teacher-Hero-credit-Tatiana-Pozuelo.jpg?w=768)
English Teacher on the power of diversity and how grassroots venues keep music from becoming boring
Independent Venue Week 2024: Without grassroots music venues, there'd be no Madonna
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1600_venue-watch_English-Teacher-3.jpeg?w=768)
Independent Venue Week 2024: Without grassroots music venues, there'd be no Madonna
How British composer Karl Jenkins brought the world together
![Karl Jenkins](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1600_Music_Karl-Jenkins-c-Rhys-Frampton05.jpg?w=768)
How British composer Karl Jenkins brought the world together
'No mean feat': How Leeds grassroots venue The Wardrobe defied the odds to celebrate 25 years
![A young man crowdsurfing at The Wardrobe Leeds](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The-Wardrobe-hero-Cassia-@maggsvisuals-32.jpg?w=768)
'No mean feat': How Leeds grassroots venue The Wardrobe defied the odds to celebrate 25 years
At least two grassroots music venues closing each week
![Fatboy Slim cheers at excited audience in grassroots music venue the Adelphi](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fatboy-live-Adelphi.jpg?w=768)
At least two grassroots music venues closing each week
This is everything to look out for in the world of jazz in 2024
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1599-Music.jpg?w=768)
This is everything to look out for in the world of jazz in 2024
LeAnn Rimes on powerful women, making mistakes and giving voice to her late gay uncle
![LeAnn Rimes](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1598_LeAnn-RImes_201012_NS_LeAnnRimes_1691R2.jpg?w=768)
LeAnn Rimes on powerful women, making mistakes and giving voice to her late gay uncle
Why English National Opera relocating to Manchester will be more complicated than it looks
![ENO Ally Pally](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1541-Music_ENO.jpg?w=768)
Why English National Opera relocating to Manchester will be more complicated than it looks
Save Luna: London venue fights to survive in face of crippling costs and founder's tragic passing
![A female punk singer plays to an impassioned crowd at London grassroots venue Luna](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Luna-hero.jpg?w=768)
Save Luna: London venue fights to survive in face of crippling costs and founder's tragic passing
Reading Robert Smith's diary made me fall in love with The Cure
![Robert Smith of The Cure](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1598_BOoks_GettyImages-1077403276.jpg?w=768)
Reading Robert Smith's diary made me fall in love with The Cure
Morton Feldman at the Tate Modern – an elegy for pioneering artist Philip Guston
![Morton Feldman's music being performed at the Tate Modern](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1597_Music_Tate-Lates-Nov-2023-Tate-Modern-©-Sophie-Shaw-11.jpg?w=768)
Morton Feldman at the Tate Modern – an elegy for pioneering artist Philip Guston
The Coral co-founder Bill Ryder-Jones on beauty, sorrow and psychedelic new album Iechyd Da
![Bill Ryder Jones](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1598_Music_Bill-Ryder-Jones-IMG_Marieke-Macklon.jpg?w=768)
The Coral co-founder Bill Ryder-Jones on beauty, sorrow and psychedelic new album Iechyd Da
'You can have a life-changing experience for the price of pizza': Why Sneaky Pete's is vital to Scottish music
![A packed crowd enjoying Fatherson playing at Sneaky Pete's](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HERO-Fatherson-Sneaky-Petes-credit-Cameron-Brisbane.jpg?w=768)
'You can have a life-changing experience for the price of pizza': Why Sneaky Pete's is vital to Scottish music
2023 was brutal for UK music venues with at least one closing per week. We must fight to save them
![Idles singer Joe Talbot performs at grassroots music venue Moles](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/HERO-idles03-on-26-03-16-soul-media.jpg?w=768)
2023 was brutal for UK music venues with at least one closing per week. We must fight to save them
Jason Donovan on how Kylie inspired his pop career and Joseph opened the door to the stage
![Jason Donovan smiling](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jason-Donovan-HERO-Steve-Schofield-2023.jpg?w=768)
Jason Donovan on how Kylie inspired his pop career and Joseph opened the door to the stage
Rick Astley: 'Too much power in the hands of very rich individuals doesn't feel right'
![Rick Astley](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1595_Rick-Astley_-2-Credit-Austin-Hargrave.jpg?w=768)
Rick Astley: 'Too much power in the hands of very rich individuals doesn't feel right'
I was lost, uncomfortable in my own skin and using drugs to escape – until music saved my life
![Kxllswxtch](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Photo-Sep-11-2023-4-10-06-AM-scaled-e1702899294848.jpg?w=768)
I was lost, uncomfortable in my own skin and using drugs to escape – until music saved my life
Five Star's Deniece Pearson: 'I kissed Smokey Robinson's lips off'
![Deniece Pearson Five Star in a bright feather outfit](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Deniece-Pearson-HERO-2.jpg?w=768)
Five Star's Deniece Pearson: 'I kissed Smokey Robinson's lips off'
The unusual story of how one Lancashire venue rose like a phoenix: 'It's a place for everybody'
![Two women on guitars - Hot Wax play Sunbird Records in Darwen](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Sunbird-hero.jpg?w=768)
The unusual story of how one Lancashire venue rose like a phoenix: 'It's a place for everybody'
Aled Jones: 'My parents gave up so much to let me follow my dreams'
![Aled Jones](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1594_Aled-Jones_G5TD21.jpg?w=768)