After Independent Venue Week in January, and recent passing of new government legislation to protect music venues from the likes of residential developers and noise complaints, it seems music venues are being celebrated more than ever.

Unfortunately, this also follows the closure of a number of much loved grassroots venues, including Manchester’s Roadhouse. Venues which, while small, have played host to everyone from Paolo Nutini to Coldplay.

The Roadhouse closed in May 2015

These closures, and the valiant efforts to prevent anymore, beg the questions why do they need saving, and what exactly can be done to save them?

If we look at figures from UKMusic, using Bristol as an example, we can see exactly where the issue lies.

 Why should we save them?

There’s no doubt all this sparks debate about why these venues are so important and why we should set out to save them.