The show follows nearly two years of the Music For The Many campaign to promote, protect and ensure the sustainable future of grassroots music venues, and followed the launch of our new petition demanding the government implements a small ticket levy on large arena and stadium shows in order to build a viable future for British music.
According to the Music Venue Trust, the UK has lost one grassroots music venue a week in recent years. In 2023, 15% of all British grassroots music venues closed their doors permanently, unable to survive the difficult landscape left by years of government inaction on the sector and the destruction caused by austerity.
The Music For The Many campaign has hosted gigs across London, Brighton, Sheffield, Manchester, Glasgow and Margate among others, and has worked with artists such as Lambrini Girls, Lynks, SNAYX, Zand, Delilah Bon, DITZ, The Oozes, Grove, Hot Wax, Gender Crisis and many more as we build a coalition of communities to fight for the future of British music.
The IVW25 show kicked off with an amazing performance from the Cardiff/Colchester based Generation Feral, delivering a powerful set of socially-conscious melodies and engaging stage presence. From the cost of living crisis to the demise of the Mega Bus, Generation Feral successfully tapped into the simmering anger felt by so many at the decimation of our public services and the damage caused by corporate greed.
Reflecting on the pain felt by so many during the cost of living crisis, she sang "Is it warm in the House of Lords? Because I'm so f*****g cold..."
A breathtaking lyric in a powerful set performed entirely solo using only a keyboard, ukulele and loop pedal.
Generation Feral's set was followed by a fast-paced, high-energy performance from new punk pioneers The Menstrual Cramps, who delivered brilliant performances from their back catalogue such as 'Body Politics', 'Class War' and a touching rendition of their song 'JC Our Saviour', dedicated to Jeremy Corbyn himself.
Peace & Justice Project had also previously collaborated with The Menstrual Cramps on our successful Art Against The Arms Trade campaign to demand UK music festivals drop Barclays bank and other financiers of war as official sponsors, particularly in the wake of the genocide in Gaza, alongside the Bands Boycott Barclays campaign organised by musicians and grassroots activists.
Music For The Many continues to stand up for grassroots music venues and will continue to do so until their sustainable future is secured with a ticket levy on corporate sponsors.