And that has driven fans to rally round their local venues. The Black Heart in Camden, north London, holds a special place in the heart of the capital’s rock and metal community. Denied any government funding in the early rounds of assistance (although some did come through later), it was just weeks away from closure in early 2021 when it launched the #SaveTheBlackHeart crowdfunder, eventually raising the £150,000 it needed to survive.
“It really was touch-and-go,” says Matt Black Heart, the venue’s manager and events booker. “It was obviously a shit situation, but what was really nice was the outpouring of love from the metal community saying, ‘This space is important and we want to keep it.’ It was power to the people in the end, so every cloud has a silver lining.”
Matt says ticket sales have bounced back since reopening, but Camden remains much quieter than pre-COVID. He encourages fans to also spend what they can afford at the bar before, during and after shows, while buying tickets in advance can also help ease the pressure.
“These are tough times,” he says. “We know everyone’s got limited funds, but just remember what the last 18 months were like. Every time you do get to go out, it’s a blessing – so embrace it.”
The MVT says 67 per cent of grassroots music venues report advance sales have fallen compared to pre-COVID times, with 61.7 per cent saying overall turnout is also down. A slower reopening in some UK countries, plus on-going entry restrictions in Scotland and Wales, have also hit attendance.