Welsh electronic pop artist and producer Kelly Lee Owens has spoken out about the demise of the UK club scene and its disastrous impact on emerging artists in the latest episode of Sidetracked with Annie and Nick – a BBC Sounds podcast hosted by radio DJ pioneers Annie Macmanus and Nick Grimshaw. Airing February 20, the episode touched upon recent statistics from a report by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), suggesting that with the current rate of ten nightclubs closing every month, the UK clubbing scene could be extinct by 2029.
Thank you for having me @BBCSounds !https://t.co/xvLCh0CqoK pic.twitter.com/l2Mm9CgVQ8
— Kelly Lee Owens (@kellyleeowens) February 21, 2025
Grimshaw started off the important conversation, remarking, “What’s worrying is that you’re getting all these great stats that [the industry is] growing…but then you’re also hearing of clubs closing.” He continues: “So, it’s interesting that it is growing, but then the venues aren’t there or the smaller venues aren’t there.”
Owens agreed, noting that while the threat to well-known venues such as Fabric serves as a “wake-up call,” it’s the “smaller venues” that often go unnoticed and are overlooked when they vanish.
The ‘Love You Got’ singer reflected on her new-found working relationship with Depeche Mode (for whom she joined as the support act for their 2023 ‘Memento Mori’ world tour), and how they have influenced her stance. “I always think of Depeche Mode, they were on the tube with their synths coming to these small venues,” she voiced. “I always think like without small venues, you wouldn’t have Depeche Mode, which is a world like not really worth living in!”
In an ending statement, Owens concluded: “So I think there’s a responsibility when it comes to everyone – from the booking agents to ticketing companies – they need to be investing back into these venues so that the up-and-coming people have a place to be. It’s ultimately like a symbiotic relationship and we need to start viewing it in that way.”
Elsewhere, Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, contributed to the topic, warming, “We are witnessing the systematic dismantling of the night-time economy. Our industry is not just about entertainment; it’s about identity, community, and the economy. Losing our clubs means losing jobs, cultures, and a vital part of the UK’s social fabric.” Without immediate intervention, he made claim that the UK nightclubbing scene by then end of the decade.
Kelly Lee Owens owes much of her rise to prominence to small venues that are reportedly on the verge of disappearing; born in North Wales, the 36-year old former auxiliary nurse began her career in music in 2009, showcasing her ‘techno pop’ style across London’s iconic grassroots venues. Owens released her eponymous debut album in 2017, and has since gone onto collaborate with other female artists at the forefront of the alternative scene, including St. Vincent and Björk. Recently, she launched her fourth studio album ‘Dreamstate’ in 2024 and is set to embark on her European tour from March 3, hitting locations such as Manchester, Glasgow, Leeds, Cardiff, Bristol and London.
Listen to the latest episode of Sidetracked with Annie and Nick, featuring Kelly Lee Owens here.
