2023 #MusicTouristBoard of Britain/Ireland Report No.1 of 4
Music Tourist Board 2023
January
Music Tourist Board manifesto drafted to multi talent tasking Jean Genie Hayes who is an engaging alternative community leader as well as great ambassador of #musictourism
February
Love Month adding ArtBeat Stars as ambassadors. During Independent Venue Week, Jean Genie's Massive Hugs releases 'Ray Of Hope' (Ferret Forever)
Austin, Texas: 9th anniversary of TheZineUK (documentary of art rock life under the radar) at British Music Embassy, SXSW as good a place as any to step up #MusicTourism for a documentary that proves it's importance. Bands heading Stateside, annually, in March being a prime example of the music tourism calendar with NYC's New Colossus being a key addition.
Pop Of The Tops 2023
BAH! Why do we have to FIGHT for the best things about Britain? Greed and worse is trying to cull Brixton Academy AND Brixton Hill Studios. It's time Music Tourist heritage was protected. So much is owed to Music Venue Trust for all they do.
London Bridge City proved the grassroots music venue circuit pipeline as fact with artists previously caught at Amersham Arms (SE14) playing with Tower Bridge (SE1) as a back drop at The Scoop, Riverside: The Molotovs, Noah and the Loners (the previous month, caught another, Hot Wax at The Great Escape), Nova Twins stormed it at Download and there's an beautiful image with their fan, Elton John, from Glastonbury, too.
Wandsworth
Neko Trust launched their new location with the inaugural GAStonbury event where the cool trio, Carpark played live in the car park. Wait, was that the mayor of Wandsworth on the drums? AWEsome! The next generation of live music professionals have already had a huge boost from this not-for-profit organisation. Hats off to Common Projects for the development initiative.
Croydon
A music heritage trail was launched as part of the 2023 Borough of Culture.
Very much appreciation for everybody that has given the world's first Music Tourist Board the time of day since inception. It's founded in alternative rock and focused on the grassroots circuit - but all genres and locations are invited to network and look after musicians, crew, audiences with recommendations.
January
Music Tourist Board manifesto drafted to multi talent tasking Jean Genie Hayes who is an engaging alternative community leader as well as great ambassador of #musictourism
February
Love Month adding ArtBeat Stars as ambassadors. During Independent Venue Week, Jean Genie's Massive Hugs releases 'Ray Of Hope' (Ferret Forever)
Then 2023 report No.1 of 4 (March to June) is go
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March
Austin, Texas: 9th anniversary of TheZineUK (documentary of art rock life under the radar) at British Music Embassy, SXSW as good a place as any to step up #MusicTourism for a documentary that proves it's importance. Bands heading Stateside, annually, in March being a prime example of the music tourism calendar with NYC's New Colossus being a key addition.
(at the BME, Bumped eyes with music world hero, Mark Davyd of Music Venue Trust, while down the front for Brooke Combe!). This trip also begins the Zeenagers Expo of 2023+2024.
At the month end, Ferret Forever, a venue #FundedByMVT was among much good news. Hows this for being on tenterhooks?
Went out one night for the second round of Sister Midnight funding a community owned venue, celebrated the next that MVT's #OwnOurVenues campaign had succeeded.
If this all appears to be a bit "love letter" to what they do, well, of course it is. Music Tourist Board was started with tongue in cheek at a grassroots venue loving, live rock music club, in 2003. The fact is that no MVT, we'd have NOTHING now after thirteen years of misgovernment. That is only a slight exaggeration.
April
Pop Of The Tops 2023
Twentieth anniversary of the live music club that initiated Music Tourist Board with Alternative Rock Idols month in October 2003 (later to become ArtfulFest month). Music social gathering of allies in TheZineUK's documentary who had travelled from as far as Cardiff to witness Mango In Euphoria, The Outers, Jean Genie's Massive Hugs and the interactive creativity of the newer wave community making new futures. Also clarity, like charity, begins at home. Music Tourist Board came home to #SELondon
Brighton:
May
Brighton:
#TGE23 highlights included the interdependent alt-altEscape stages by Kick Out The Jams (#BrightonMixUp Vol.3 at Arcobaleno) and Fierce Panda/End Of The Trail. Seriously investigate the names that played for them. At time of writing (June) KILL, THE ICON and Big Special are buzzing like saws, for starters.
Very much appreciation for the hospitality at their industry networking socials to Music Venue Trust, Featured Artists Coalition, Transgressive Records and Blackstar Agency for their hospitality at The Great Escape Festival - and some great conversations enabled.
Hackney:
Hackney:
Truth Is The New Gold.
Cross-breeding Cyberpunx, Feral Five evoked Duran Duran x Rum Runner club vibes with a glam-twisted space age show and Kat Walk as they premiered their recently released debut album, 'Truth Is The New Gold' with interactive visuals by Jonathan Hogg, a live set by Ms. Mohammed, artwork being signed by Malcolm Garrett, staging assistance from Anita Maj, head of Li'l Minx Records and stage style by ctrl.alt.prive
Some of us wore Tatty Devine who created limited edition Feral Five jewellery, some wore Moondrix by Joe Moon. All of us - artists, allies, audience - travelled from all over and outside London to be there, a real community.
As the crowd live tweeted their #FeralTruth, music's tech space-vixen, singer/guitarist, Kat Five sang the words as they appeared on screen. Feral Five are a travelling circus of the arts and great Music Tourism ambassadors.
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| New Cross Inn used to have a boutique/stage which Music Tourist Board was part of. Ooh, Tatty Devine! (Also the rainbow star arch in Greenwich) This venue was the Rocklands Party HQ of 2007 ("24 Hour Concrete Glastonbury" - Artrocker). In 2008-2010 Kate & Tristan & Caffy created the monthly RAR! live music and DJ events (Pendulum, Kae Tempest, Tinie Tempah etc). Later, Tristan then created the award winning art & cocktails favourite, Little Nan's Bar. Now situated next to Deptford Train Station. |
June
More #MusicTourism ambassadors in South London
Brixton
More #MusicTourism ambassadors in South London
Brixton
BAH! Why do we have to FIGHT for the best things about Britain? Greed and worse is trying to cull Brixton Academy AND Brixton Hill Studios. It's time Music Tourist heritage was protected. So much is owed to Music Venue Trust for all they do.
On the positive side, some mainstream music press for the importance of the grassroots circuit which is basically a finishing school for the newer wave of industious. CV? Passion, a hard work ethic, instinct, loyalty, empathy and a sense of humour don't go amiss. Shout out for Brixton Windmill in NME
Southwark
Southwark
London Bridge City proved the grassroots music venue circuit pipeline as fact with artists previously caught at Amersham Arms (SE14) playing with Tower Bridge (SE1) as a back drop at The Scoop, Riverside: The Molotovs, Noah and the Loners (the previous month, caught another, Hot Wax at The Great Escape), Nova Twins stormed it at Download and there's an beautiful image with their fan, Elton John, from Glastonbury, too.
Wandsworth
Neko Trust launched their new location with the inaugural GAStonbury event where the cool trio, Carpark played live in the car park. Wait, was that the mayor of Wandsworth on the drums? AWEsome! The next generation of live music professionals have already had a huge boost from this not-for-profit organisation. Hats off to Common Projects for the development initiative.
Croydon
A music heritage trail was launched as part of the 2023 Borough of Culture.
The location of Cro Cro Land, Brit School and so much more was infused with 'Recognition' by Talawa Theatre company "...paralleling the stories of two classical musicians from different eras – the composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Song, a young black woman who’s studying music, it’s a must-see for all who enjoy the arts.! (Croydonist).
Recommended by community active artists, Jean Genie & Jonny Hayes (who play live as Jean Genie's Massive Hugs) who also created the short film 'Samuel Coleridge-Taylor - SearchFor The Blue Note'.
More #MusicTourism reflection in the North of England
With both Arctic Monkeys and Sam Fender making an impression on the local economy which is one of the things that live music, at all levels, does.
Annual Festival season is well and truly GO with Isle Of Wight (Channel Islands) and Glastonbury (West of England) amidst a wealth of Summer attractions.
With beaches and rivers off the table, currently - there's only SO much shit and poison that people can swim in - love and peace are still the thing at festivals, even with how corporate some have had to become.
Co-ordinated public transport is key for future environment improvements.
National Express are also savvy with early hours of the morning coaches from various cities around the country. Based in London, I know that I can get 1, 2 or 3am etc public transport home from places like Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and Leicester. I will double check that fact, because much of that travel was pre-pandemic. Oxford Tube is still going though, that's a favourite 24 hour tour bus.
Festival Season continues unabated.
Best wishes for a really wonderful time wherever you go, artists and audiences alike!
Empathy with the cost of greed crisis if yer a bit skint. Hopefully you can find small, independent events for delicious and diverse treats at a more personal (and affordable) range. Many are scouted and booked with a passion. |Later this year, see Loud Women Fest, God Is In The TV (September) and there will be more ArtfulFest recommendations in October.
Virtually want to give all the above a Music Tourism recommendation. The grassroots and DIY sector power and flavour the future but also the present education, economy, social collusion, creativity and good reputation. Music Tourist Board was born art punk cheeky but has added a more serious consultancy over the years as the world comes on board.
