Venue Watch
'The Jazz Bar is too important to fail' says the couple who saved an Edinburgh institution
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1622_VenueWatch.jpg?w=768)
'The Jazz Bar is too important to fail' says the couple who saved an Edinburgh institution
Having raised the funds to put them on a strong footing, the Jazz Bar will reopen this month in time for the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival and August’s Fringe festival
Letters: Sunak and his cronies who think benefits are unsustainable should stop lining their pockets
![Rishi Sunak](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1617_Letters_Hero.jpg?w=768)
Letters: Sunak and his cronies who think benefits are unsustainable should stop lining their pockets
Grassroots music venues need your help to survive now more than ever. Here's why
![The Nefarious Picaroons play at Fiery Bird in Woking](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Phoenix-Cultural-Centre-hero.jpg?w=768)
Grassroots music venues need your help to survive now more than ever. Here's why
'When I was mentally ill, I could only listen to hard techno': Why is music so important to us?
'When I was mentally ill, I could only listen to hard techno': Why is music so important to us?
'Against the odds': How the Lubber Fiend made Newcastle's music scene exciting again
'Against the odds': How the Lubber Fiend made Newcastle's music scene exciting again
'This is not the end': Experimental arts venue Iklectik fights to survive after shock eviction
![Female experimental musician plays at Iklectik](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Iklectic-hero-Nkisi-credit-Matt-Favero.jpg?w=768)
'This is not the end': Experimental arts venue Iklectik fights to survive after shock eviction
This grassroots venue brings 'astonishing' music and mental wellbeing to rural Wales
![Tivoli grassroots venue north Wales - Martin Kemp onstage pointing at the crowd](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/tivoli-martin-kemp-credit-Swillys-Photography-Service.jpg?w=768)
This grassroots venue brings 'astonishing' music and mental wellbeing to rural Wales
Grassroots venue Off the Cuff is home to UK's biggest youth open mic – and it needs your help
![Band Hardillica have been performing at JOM for 2 years. Drummer Malachi has been performing as a solo drummer at JOM since 2019. His cousin Saffiyah is on vocals. Photo by Rod Main](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/JOM.jpg?w=768)
Grassroots venue Off the Cuff is home to UK's biggest youth open mic – and it needs your help
Big Issue's Venue Watch helps save Woking's only grassroots music venue: 'It's a big win'
![Live band on stage at the rescued grassroots music venue Phoenix Cultural Centre](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Phoenix-Cultural-Centre-hero.jpg?w=768)
Big Issue's Venue Watch helps save Woking's only grassroots music venue: 'It's a big win'
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
'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
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
'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
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'
How tiny music venue The Pit at Newstead revived a former mining community: 'It's a lifeline'
![Tony Wright grinning in front of an excited crowd at The Pit Newstead](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Tony-Wright-and-crowd-Pit-hero.jpg?w=768)
How tiny music venue The Pit at Newstead revived a former mining community: 'It's a lifeline'
Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody crowns Bangor music venue National Lottery Project of the Year
![Gary Lightbody os Snow Patrol presents The Court House with teh trophy for National Lottery Project of the Year](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Court-House-win.jpg?w=768)
Snow Patrol's Gary Lightbody crowns Bangor music venue National Lottery Project of the Year
Folk music venue fights for survival after 'unfair' £99k bill from billionaire landlords
![Folk musicians playing at The Harrison in London](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Harrison-folk.jpg?w=768)
Folk music venue fights for survival after 'unfair' £99k bill from billionaire landlords
Iconic venue where Oasis and Pulp cut their teeth shuts after 45 years: 'We won't be the only ones'
![The Cure playing at Moles in Bath](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/the-cure-28-07-83-photog-unknown-hero.jpg?w=768)
Iconic venue where Oasis and Pulp cut their teeth shuts after 45 years: 'We won't be the only ones'
Urgent campaign to save London music venue Matchstick Piehouse after landlord sends in bailiffs
![A crowd applauds a band on stage at Matchstick Piehouse](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Indigo-Blue-credit-Matchstick-Piehouse-Ltd.jpg?w=768)
Urgent campaign to save London music venue Matchstick Piehouse after landlord sends in bailiffs
This hidden gem Hull music venue counts Paul Heaton, Jarvis Cocker and Idles as friends
![Kaiser Chiefs headline The Adelphi in Hull's 30th birthday party](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/KaiserChiefs-1-credit-Ian-Rook-1.jpg?w=768)
This hidden gem Hull music venue counts Paul Heaton, Jarvis Cocker and Idles as friends
'Meltdown averted for now': Grassroots music venues' relief at Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement
![The Court House in Bangor - grassroots music venues were relieved at the autumn statement](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/court-house-First-Night-14.jpg?w=768)
'Meltdown averted for now': Grassroots music venues' relief at Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement
Shock £300k bill from bankrupt council threatens Woking's only grassroots music venue
![Live band on stage at Fiery Bird grassroots music venue, part of the Phoenix Cultural Centre in Woking - Big Issue Venue Watch](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Fiery-Bird-hero.jpg?w=768)