By Monk
Indie singer-songwriter Sam Fender has donated his entire £25,000 Mercury Prize for his album ‘People Watching’ to the work of the Music Venue Trust.
The Newcastle musician had already raised more than £100,000 for the charity’s work to save grassroots venues, via donating £1 from every ticket sold on his 2024 tour to MVT. That donation supported 38 independent venues across England, Scotland and Wales, saving some of them from potential closure.
Speaking to the BBC about his latest donation, Fender said:
I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played around the North East, and beyond, when I was starting out. These venues are legendary, but they are struggling.
Speaking in response to Fender’s latest magnanimous gesture, the MVT said:
He didn’t have to [do it]. But he did. And it’s making a real difference.
Support like this helps make sure everyone – from any walk of life, in any UK town – has a space to play, listen and belong. Our music venues are where lives and careers get their jumpstart, but access to them relies on them staying open. We’ve lost too many over the last ten years and beyond, but on days like this you can feel the tide starting to change.
Thanks to Sam, his whole team, and everyone who’s gone out and seen him live from day one to now. At some point you went to watch him for the very first time – maybe at a grassroots venue. Imagine if that moment had never happened.