Legendary music venue Moles in Tub closes after 45 years
The legendary Tub venue Moles has closed its doorways for the final time after 45 years.
The venue had performed host to the likes of Ed Sheeran, Blur, Fatboy Slim, The Killers, Radiohead, The Smiths and IDLES because it opened in 1978 and was one of many final surviving venues from Oasis‘ first tour.
Moles introduced it might be shutting with instant impact in an announcement on Fb, by which it cited the price of dwelling disaster and “large lease charges, together with massively elevated prices on all the things from utilities to inventory” as causes for its closure. All future occasions on the venue have been cancelled.
“We’ve weathered many issues through the years, together with a hearth and a pandemic within the final 10 years alone, however this value of dwelling disaster has crippled the grassroots music sector. Though that isn’t the one drawback, it has accentuated it,” the assertion started. “Enormous lease charges, together with massively elevated prices on all the things from utilities to inventory, are all elements. This has been compounded by our prospects additionally feeling the influence of the disaster.
“We aren’t the one grassroots music venue to shut prior to now 12 months. Over 120 different venues have closed as properly, which is over 15% of the sector. Locations that imply as a lot to others as Moles means to us.”
It went on: “In the meantime, the reside sector at area degree and above is having a bumper 12 months with report earnings. Whereas all these venues have closed, 7 new arenas are being constructed that can generate lots of of thousands and thousands a 12 months. There must be a significant shake-up of the reside sector, with the massive gamers supporting the grassroots the place all of it begins to safe that pipeline of expertise. That is one thing that Music Venue Belief has been saying for years; possibly now the business will pay attention.
“We had been one of many final venues remaining from the primary Oasis tour. Of the estimated 366 grassroots venues Ed Sheeran performed earlier than making it large, 150 have closed. This decimation of the sector has to cease now. Until bands have these levels to play, the place will they hone their abilities and turn into these large artists that fill these arenas and stadiums around the globe?
“However venues like Moles are additionally extra than simply expertise incubators; they’re additionally so essential to communities. Individuals meet their future companions in them, they make mates for all times, they uncover their new favourite band and sing their hearts out whereas forgetting their troubles for a couple of hours. And generally they’ll simply be someplace they really feel protected and never alone. The significance of those venues can by no means be overstated. We hope that whoever takes the constructing over will maintain it as a reside music venue as with out it, Tub may have misplaced a lot.”
The assertion concluded by asking supporters to “be a part of us in elevating a glass to the final 45 years of wonderful music, good occasions, mates, and recollections.” It added: “And thanks to everybody who has ever labored right here; we achieved loads, and it couldn’t have been performed with out them. And all of the bands and DJs which have performed, and all of you who got here down, purchased a ticket, and danced and sang, we thanks from the underside of our hearts.
“In the present day, we’re heartbroken, however the good recollections will final ceaselessly, and for that, we are going to at all times be grateful.”
In the present day, we’re heartbroken to announce that Moles, in its present kind, is closing, efficient instantly.
Please learn the complete assertion within the photos above or on our Fb web page attributable to X’s textual content restrict#longliveMoles #45yearsofmoles #gonebutneverforgotten pic.twitter.com/yB6CLWJ9gG
— MolesBath (@MolesBath) December 5, 2023
The Music Venue Belief launched an announcement of personal, by which it described Moles as “a casualty of a music business that’s misplaced contact”.
“GMVs, the lifeblood of creativity, are in disaster! 15% of venues closed, 84 in CRISIS. The Music Venue Belief SCREAMS for business assist! The Pipeline Funding Fund wants EVERY ticket at arenas & stadiums to contribute £1, guaranteeing venues like Moles can nurture future artists.”
CEO Mark Davyd added: “Venues like Moles are going out of enterprise, whereas nurturing artists that generate thousands and thousands.” It is a betrayal of the roots that birthed competition and area headliners.
“France mandates a 3.5% levy on main reside music occasions to assist grassroots. TODAY, we DEMAND the UK authorities do the identical. Until the music business wakes up NOW, laws is the one lifeline.”
🚨Devastating information🚨 @MolesBath , a 45-year beacon of reside music, declares insolvency, PERMANENTLY closing its doorways! Rising prices & the cost-of-living disaster crushed this legendary venue. ALL future occasions CANCELED!
— Music Venue Belief (@musicvenuetrust) December 5, 2023
In a press launch, the MVT added that the closure of Moles spelled significantly unhealthy information for the grassroots sector as a result of it had a status within the organisation as “the most effective cherished and most effectively run venues within the nation”.
The organisation has written to the federal government to plea for additional motion to be taken for structural change to maintain the business afloat. It’s calling for a obligatory levy to be launched – both by the business or by way of authorities laws – on tickets for music occasions above 5,000 capability, which might then be reinvested into grassroots music venues.
Enter Shikari had voluntarily launched an analogous initiative for his or her forthcoming tour in February, the place they donated £1 from each ticket offered to the Music Venue Belief.
If the reside music business will not act in its our greatest pursuits to forestall the closure of areas like @MolesBath then they should be compelled to take action.
I’m calling for instant motion from throughout the political spectrum to introduce a obligatory levy on area and stadium tickets.— Mark Davyd (@markdavyd) December 5, 2023
Certainly, the band’s frontman Rou Reynolds took the chance throughout his keynote speech on the MVT’s Venues Day occasion in October to name for solidarity and progress in securing the way forward for the UK’s grassroots music venues – urging followers and gig areas to “present the Tory authorities and the owner c**ts that our tradition of reside music just isn’t on the market”.
Earlier this 12 months, it was revealed that the UK is about to lose 10 per cent of its grassroots music venues in 2023.
A MVT report from January warned that grassroots gig areas within the UK are “going over a cliff” – shutting off the pipeline of future expertise with out pressing authorities motion and funding from new giant arenas.