News Roundup

Hey folks! It's Saturday again and time for another music news roundup. This week has seen wins for the Music Venue Trust as well as personal wins for some of my best friends, so a roundup which is close to my heart in many ways. 

Firstly, my good friend Max Hunter released his debut single yesterday. It's called 'Hitchhike' and it's available on all streaming platforms. Max has been writing his own music for several years, and produced my first EP which came out back in 2022. 'Hitchhike' really is a smashing first release that I've fallen totally in love with, and Max's voice and style of music which is similar to artists like Declan McKenna and Sam Fender will get you invested too. Releasing music is a rollercoaster, and your support will be valued. You can follow Max on Instagram @maxhntr and the link to 'Hitchhike' is in his bio. You don't want to miss this one. 

Second up, some great news for the ongoing battle to save UK music venues. The Music Venue Trust has purchased it's first venue called The Snug in Atherton, Greater Manchester through the 'Our Own Properties' scheme. This is a way in which fans and performers can buy shares in venues to save them from rising rents which have led to venue closures all across the UK since the start of Covid. In this way, the venue will be able to operate for as long as they stay a grassroots music venue. This scheme is, of course, so important for venues but also for fans of live music as it allows us to protect sacred cultural spaces like our grassroots venues. Hopefully, the 'Our Own Properties' scheme will continue to deliver for venues around the country, keeping them open for future generations to enjoy. 

And, finally, this week I am allowed to tell you all about Access Creative College's Livewire showcase at The Rainbow in Digbeth which is coming up on the 19th October. It will feature six acts from Access Birmingham, which is where I go to college, and while I won't be performing I will absolutely be there to support the marvellous lineup of Elliot, Amey Whitemoor, Fallen Asteroid, The Essentials, Invasive Procedures and Dolphin Clutch. For anyone in the area, the gig is free entry and doors will open at 7, it's a great opportunity to see some rising artists play and I can testify that they're all incredible.