Growth in Leeds launches crowdfunder after discovering new premises following closure announcement

Leeds venue Growth has launched a crowdfunder after discovering new premises. This follows their announcement final November that they’re “being pressured” to close down in March this 12 months.

• READ MORE: Growth Leeds: why the UK hardcore scene is preventing to save lots of an important grassroots venue

The venue beforehand stated that its landlord determined to terminate its lease to begin work creating the constructing into flats and retailers.

Nonetheless, in an replace shared yesterday (January 29), the venue seems to be set as an alternative to relocate – and so they’ll want some assist.

“Earlier than Christmas we made a proper supply to tackle a constructing on the perimeter of Leeds Metropolis centre,” they revealed. This new venue – which they word is bigger than their present Millwright Avenue location – might be arrange as a Group Curiosity Firm (CIC) music venue to supply numerous group amenities and initiatives, reminiscent of rehearsal areas, a recording studio, schooling programmes, and F&B choices.

“We’ll shield every little thing we’ve constructed over the past decade together with the scenes and communities that use our areas, the bands and gigs we work with and all of the related companies concerned,” they continued.

“Growth has [been] by means of a pandemic and a price of dwelling disaster and plenty of challenges in recent times – we’ve learnt rather a lot particularly round how our organisation must be extra resilient and the way that appears and works with a contemporary begin.”

The venue has raised £30,000 for the brand new location to date, however they require one other £52,000 to safe the deal.

Growth has since launched an official crowdfunding marketing campaign with a goal purpose of £15,000, with the venue aiming to lift remaining funds by means of unique merchandise and bodily media releases on vinyl and cassette tape. Discover the marketing campaign here.

Growth has been an important a part of Leeds’ different music scene, having helped foster a technology of hardcore bands within the metropolis. “If folks didn’t get to expertise Growth,” Greater Energy guitarist Max Harper informed NME, “it will be very, very unhappy.”

“Leeds would undoubtedly not have the scene that it has with out Growth – possibly the need for different folks to journey to Leeds for exhibits wouldn’t be there as a lot. There are different small venues too, however Growth has been the fixed and the muse, and possibly the inspiration for folks as a result of it’s a really encouraging area.”

Earlier this week, it was reported that 2024 noticed the UK lose one grassroots music venue each two weeks – with almost half making a loss and 200 remaining in a state of emergency because the nation faces a “collapse in touring”.

• READ MORE: 2023 was “worst 12 months for venue closures” whereas “nobody in music trade appears to care”, says MVT

Kate Nash, a Music Venue Belief patron, informed the Homes of Parliament in an effort to focus on the rising points that touring musicians and venues face.

She stated, regardless of being “fairly profitable” with “hundreds and hundreds of followers” and having the ability to “promote out a venue or two”, the apply of planning a tour was now “by no means precisely what you suppose and also you’re at all times going to go over finances.

“The best way touring works proper now could be that you simply’re at all times over-budget, you go into the pink, and fingers crossed you make nothing,” she continued. “You’re hoping you may make it zero and make completely fuck-all. It’s a little bit of a bizarre job, actually.