Long-time Music Venue Trust (MVT) patron and Chairman of LIVE, Steve Lamacq has been confirmed to deliver this year’s keynote welcome address at Music Venue Trust’s 10th annual Venues Day event. Radio presenter/DJ and music journalist, Lamacq is a staunch supporter of the grassroots music venues (GMV) sector and, for decades, has played an integral hosting role at Venues Day in previous years.

Celebrating a decade of the grassroots music venue movement, MVT will be hosting the largest gathering of people who run grassroots music venues (GMV) in the world. The event will offer an opportunity to reflect on progress made in the UK and the challenges still being faced by the sector.

This year’s Venues Day theme will centre around the importance of the artists and the role GMVs play in inspiring, nurturing and connecting them with audiences while offering them an opportunity to experiment and develop new ideas. As ever, Venues Day will also offer networking opportunities, the chance to share experiences and information and a platform to discuss important issues.

The event represents the single biggest opportunity to engage directly and in person with the GMV sector as it is designed specifically for members of the Music Venues Alliance, providing attendees with workshops, discussions, presentations and networking that offer practical support to the people who run these vital venues and connect them with services that can help them.

A series of panels exploring the common goals of artists and venues has now been confirmed with speakers including: Sam Duckworth (Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly), Lily Meff (The Meffs), Kwame Kwaten (Ferocious Talent), Stina Tweeddale (Honeyblood), Nathan Clark (Brudenell Social Club), Rhoda Dakar, Tom Gray (The Ivors) and Jane Beese among others.

Music Venue Trust represents over 800 UK grassroots music venues, has held this one day event for the sector since 2014, with delegates representing venues, promoters, agents, artists, government departments, funding bodies and a wide range of ancillary service providers.

Bev Whitrick, Chief Operating Officer at Music Venue Trust said, “The landscape for GMVs in 2024 is still challenging. 10 years of work has not solved everything, but this annual opportunity to bring our community together to update on progress, offer support, forge new connections and celebrate the wins is needed now more than ever. Venues Day 2024 is THE event for the GMV sector and everyone who has a stake in it.”

Hundreds of delegates from across the UK’s grassroots music venue sector, representing venues throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have already booked their places at the event.

Longtime supporters of MVT and headline sponsors Ticketmaster, Fred Perry and Jack Daniels have also allowed Venues Day 2024 to offer subsidised delegate passes and travel bursaries to ensure that venue representatives from across the UK can attend.

Thanks also to the generosity of Ticketmaster Venues Day 2024 will end with a fully catered after-party for delegates and special guests who have been instrumental in MVT’s work over the past 10 years.

Taking place at Woolwich Works in London on Tuesday 8th October 2024, there are a limited number of remaining tickets for Venues Day 2024. Priced at £168, they can be booked here.