The end of live music in Monmouth?

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Live jazz at The Queens Head in Monmouth is under threat. We have received the attached email which I feel also epitomises the economic problems facing the British jazz scene as a whole.

Message from Music in Monmouth

The end of live music in Monmouth

Well, not quite but could easily be .....

Obviously everyone has been receiving the regular emails from the Queen’s Head stressing that the programme of live music presented on Wednesdays and Sundays can only exist if the public support them.

As the committee of Music in Monmouth we feel we need to add weight to the dire situation that is now facing us all. This is a lengthy email but please stick with it - we would hope it’s in most people’s interests.

The situation:

A brief resume is that Neill at the Queen’s has provided (for the past six years) the guaranteed fee for bands on Wednesday and Sundays, and contributed food and drinks to the musicians on Thursdays (essentially he has supported about 150 gigs a year - available to everyone and all of it live - no cover bands, no backing tapes). Music in Monmouth, an Independant Community Arts group, does the programming, adds financial guarantees to some of the gigs, adds major financial support for certain national and international touring bands, provides other support such as lighting, recording, occasional food, etc. and publicity through press, social networks and leaflets/posters. The ‘jug’ that goes around has always gone directly to the musicians as a sort of voluntary ‘ticket price’ and had no benefit to the pub. The Thursday ‘jug’ goes directly to Music in Monmouth.

As a result of this The Queen’s Head and Music in Monmouth have managed to create one of the most respected gigs in South Wales and most of the players give their services for well below their normal rate as they believe in what we’re doing here. The cultural impact on Monmouth is extremely positive and some of the supporters regularly travel huge distances as there is nothing comparable where they are (e.g. Builth Wells, Kidderminster, Blackwood, Bristol, Gloucester, Oxford and beyond).

The problem:

However the situation we face in these austere times is extreme. The Queen’s financial contribution comes from a return on ‘over the counter’ sales. Throughout autumn attendance for music has been noticeably and progressively smaller, arriving later, and proportionally drinking less. The situation this year however has been desparate. Many times there have been fewer than five people at the start of a gig and the wet sales have diminished dramatically. By means of example, for those of us that enjoyed the ‘John Law Trio’, without doubt the most packed evening of the year so far, the profit on bar takings that evening would not have covered the band had we not had additional funding guarantees - hardly anyone drank anything.

As a result of this year’s low attendance and returns, Music in Monmouth have spent all their reserves trying to preserve the gig - there is simply no more money left to provide this high quality event on the current basis, and the pub cannot keep making a loss on live music nights.

Unfortunately we feel unable to take any more bookings until things improve, but we will attempt to fulfill our existing programme.

The solution:

Obviously urging everyone to drink themselves stupid isn’t the solution, however we would encourage everyone to take ownership of this valuable activity. What we all can do is:

1) Get more people to come along with you. It’s a fine cultural evening out at very low cost - the more people in there, the better it is for atmosphere, the more sales are made, and the musicians play better.

2) Spread the word - get people to try it even in your absence.

3) Become sponsors - Music in Monmouth does receive cash from several benefactors, including monthly standing order, which goes wholly back into live music events in Monmouthshire.  A standing order however small…or large… would help to ensure the continuation of live music.

4) Think up other strategies and come and talk to us about them.

Immediately…

5) What we have decided to do as a last resort is use the ‘jug’ as more of a voluntary contribution to the ‘event’ rather than just a musicians’ contribution. What this will do is provide a guarantee for the pub’s fee, rather than forcing it to take the losses. So please see your contribution to the jug as an important input into sustaining this gig. It’s always been voluntary but pounds not pence is the only way this is going to survive.

The Alternative:

We notice the Wurzels are playing at the Blake Theatre soon. A fun night out we’re sure but what are you going to get?  Two hit singles of theirs from 30 years ago, and a bunch of songs that their peers have been banging out exactly the same, night after night. Tickets cost £17.50, and there is a very expensive bar if you want a drink in the interval ... and you may get to do this once or twice a quarter.

Please be part of a live audience that keeps music alive.

Lyndon Owen, Caractactus Downes

Music in Monmouth Community Arts Group

Ian says;

I feel great sympathy with Lyndon and Caractacus who are both accomplished musicians in their own right. I also feel rather guilty at not attending the venue more often, I have regular long standing sporting commitments (I’m still trundling round the five a side pitch and at my age feel very fortunate to be able to do so!) on Sunday and Wednesday evenings, the very nights these events are usually held. I do at least list the events on The Jazzmann and hope that this has a beneficial effect, however small.

I would ask the people of Monmouth and surrounding areas who may be reading this to give the venue their support. It can’t rely on people like myself or others mentioned in the email travelling long distances. At the end of the day success depends on the local indigenous population so please do what you can. I know it’s difficult, my home town of Leominster struggles fo find enough support for cultural events yet Presteigne, smaller than either Monmouth or Leominster, has a thriving arts scene. It can be done but it needs LOCAL commitment and support.     

More worryingly I’m sure that this is a situation that is being mirrored across the country as the recession takes hold.Even I think twice about travelling to gigs with fuel prices as they are and as Lyndon and Caractacus point out drinking in pubs is also fast becoming an expensive luxury.

However it’s all about the music. With specific reference to The Queens-and I don’t want to offend anyone here-I’ve never found it a particularly good place to listen to music due to the general pub hubbub.In the past not everyone has been there to listen to the music. I’ve had some memorable nights there including gigs by Partisans, the Jones O’Connor Group and Heavy Quartet, amplified bands able to cut through the chatter but I remember Nat Birchall suffering from the inattentiveness of some of those present. Others I have spoken to at other South Wales venues have felt the same so perhaps a modest admittance charge-£5.00 say-would weed out the timewasters and attract more serious listeners. This may even bring in more money than “the jug”-controversial I know but worth a try perhaps, I’m trying to be constructive here. If local support remains unforthcoming this may attract a greater number of “travellers”.

It will be a shame if jazz is lost in a comparativelty rural area such as Monmouth. Jazz is remarkably resilient and will survive the recession but it will be a crying shame if it becomes confined to our large cities. If you’re in a position to help jazz or any other live music in Monmouth or any other comparable small town or venue do please offer any support that you can. As the government likes to tell us “we’re all in this together”.

Good luck Lyndon and Caractacus in your bid to keep music in Monmouth alive.

Readers’ thoughts, comments and ideas will be extremely welcome.