Fender gigs raise over £100k for grassroots music venues

ARENA gigs by North East musician Sam Fender have raised more than £100,000 to support grassroots music venues around the UK.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

The Tyneside singer-songwriter is one of a number of stars who have signed up to Liveline Fund set by up the Music Venue Trust and the Save Our Scene organisation. The fund sees a contribution made to small venues from the ticket sales of large-scale concerts in arenas and stadiums.

Fender, Katy Perry, Coldplay and Enter Shikari were among early adopters of the scheme and now money raised by an arena tour at the end of last year has seen grants given to 38 independent venues across England, Scotland and Wales.