Sam Fender gives £25,000 Mercury Prize to grassroots music venues

Sam Fender accepting the award in the North East
Sam Fender won the Mercury Prize recently in his hometown

The artist has given the complete sum of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which operates to save the Britain's independent concert spaces.

The star was presented with the prize on mid-October as his latest record his work was chosen as the outstanding release of the last 12 months.

The musician has decided to hand the money over to the MVT, in appreciation of the essential function local spots fulfilled in his early career.

"As an artist would not have achieved what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the performances I performed around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Fender. "These locations are renowned, but they are struggling."

Since the start of 2023, at least 150 of these spaces have shut down – roughly 16% of the whole industry in the UK.

Recently, well-known musicians including the band Pulp, Coldplay, Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all supported the trust in its initiatives to help venues survive, by adding a modest fee to their admission fees, which supports independent venues.

Fender also joined in, generating more than £100,000 on his live tour to assist numerous small stages across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds assisted spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges arising from flooding, fires and bereavements, as well as permit problems, conflicts and neighbor objections.

Additional spaces were granted funding support in improving infrastructure and technical equipment that helped artists and concertgoers.

"The concept that revenue from shows in big venues helps the smaller venues, where it begins for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has commented.

Pulp members in concert
Pulp are one example who contributed their Mercury Prize winnings to charity

Fender is among several artists to contribute his Mercury Prize funds to worthy causes.

Back when the band earned the trophy in 1996 for their album their work, frontman Jarvis Cocker announced that the group would donate their prize money to the non-profit War Child.

That year, artist the artist divided her bounty among a few good causes, including the children's charity and a Sickle Cell organization.

"And I donated a £1,000 to the center, to their gymnastics class, because I did gymnastics when I was a child and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite explained to a publication.

Previously, Ezra Collective gave their funds to the community center that developed their band, in addition to other independent music bodies.

Additionally 1994 winners the group contributed their winnings to a multiple sclerosis charity after a friend was diagnosed the condition.

"Receiving the award was ample," said vocalist the singer. "The money was the bonus but we didn't need the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory affected another person's life."

Last week, the Music Venues Trust revealed it had protected a couple of small stages in south-east England, by transferring them to public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and the second in Bristol were acquired under the community ownership scheme, which is funded by Arts Council England and enthusiasts who purchase "stakes" in the properties.

Kevin Mcfarland
Kevin Mcfarland

A seasoned gambling enthusiast and writer, sharing insights to help players make informed decisions in the online casino world.

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