In favour of the #SaveOurVenues campaign launched by Music Venue Trust, various UK artists have been posting footage from shows at those venues, Oxford-based Foals being one of them. Lead singer Yannis Philippakis has released a video of his 2018 “MILK” club night, recorded at Bermondsey Social Club in London.

The crowdfunding page that was set up in order to help Bermondsey Social Club out has listed a target of £6,000. With only £100 worth of donations so far, they can use the attention they’re getting from Philippakis’ video. The performance features guests such as Arctic Monkeys producer James Ford as well as Everything Everything drummer Michael Spearman and Andy Acolatse from Little Cub on bass.

 “The idea behind MILK is to have a unique experience that can’t be replicated or rehearsed”, the singer has told NME. “Fresh, rotating groups of great musicians come together and improvise in small intimate venues. The nights are designed to be an edge of your seat musical experiment where you never know who will be performing or what will happen, but the groove is always there, and the vibe is good.”

This is just the first of a few performances that are going to be released on cassettes and vinyl, the 34-year old revealed. “It’s musical freedom plain and simple”, he concluded. And it’s also helping the venue. Bermondsey Social Club’s co-founder Jake Farey explains: “Our venue faces closure, like all music venues. We will soon run out of cash unless we’re able to reopen or get support. Your donations will be used for paying rent as that’s due to start again in June and will keep us going for a few months.” The donations are not only going to help the club to survive, they’re also going to help once the venue is reopened as they can use those donations “for stock and other expenses.”

The footage is a nice little piece for the fans to survive during lockdown, as Foals had to reschedule their UK tour to 2021.