An art exhibition considering the impact of the People, the Place and the Presence of grassroots live music venue The Boileroom will be unveiled to the public at New House Art Space in Guildford from Wednesday 25 September 2024. With a private viewing at 5pm, it will be open to the public from 7pm and will run until Friday 25 October 2024.
The Boileroom was founded in 2006 by Dominique Frazer. She is the manager and owner of The Boileroom Music And Cultural Arts Space in Guildford. Not only leading Guildford’s live music scene, in late 2021, her team took over the derelict New House Art Space in the centre of Guildford. Earmarked to be demolished, the building was refurbished to accommodate 20 artist studios as well as fitted with a new foyer, reception, gallery for rent, and art exhibition / creative workshop space.
New House Art Space is the perfect venue to see an exhibition dedicated to 18 years of the Boileroom in all its glory. In 2023, the 275-capacity venue won ‘Grassroots Champion’ of the year at the Live music industry Venues and Entertainment Awards. When accepting their award, they held a silent protest highlighting to the industry the closure of Moles – live music venue in Bath – and how it symbolised the crisis grassroots venues face.
It has never been easy being a grassroots venue. However, with the effects of the pandemic, Brexit and the cost of living, we are seeing venues close doors at an alarming rate. In 2023, 120 venues closed and, in a report made by the Music Venues Trust (MVT), it was predicted the sector would be at risk of losing 10% of its venues by the end of 2024. Grassroots venues are the life blood of the live industry and it is where industry professionals and bands “cut their teeth” to gain invaluable experience and build loyal fanbases.
It is important to note some of the artists who have previously played at the Boileroom. They highlight the importance of these venues, as a jumping off point for artists like: Ed Sheeran, Foals, The Bronx, First Aid Kit, Lucy Rose, Wolf Alice, Sugarhill Gang, Lee Scratch Perry, You Me At Six, Bastille, The 1975, David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan OBE, Declan McKenna, Tony Christie and The Amazons.
With the themes of this exhibition equally prescient: People, Place and Presence. The impact of these three things within a community are substantial and, from a perspective of a grassroots venue, absolutely fundamental. Grassroots venues need a community to represent, and bring in communities to attend or run events. Without a local venue, you would miss out on localised scenes and sub-cultures giving your area a truly unique sense of self. Imagine the Madchester scene without the Haçienda!
It should be the norm to celebrate venues like The Boileroom!
You can find out more about the exhibition here: Boileroom 2006-2024.
