Fatboy Slim has said grassroots venues are “where music scenes really begin” as it was announced he will join the line-up of a nationwide festival supporting small spaces for live music.
More than 2,000 artists from a range of musical genres will perform across more than 400 grassroots venues nationwide as part of the Everywhere At Once festival.
Many will return to the venue where they got their start.
Former X Factor star Spraggan will play at The Sub Rooms in Stroud, Gloucestershire, while Britpop band Gene will perform shows at small venues in Southampton, Newport and Lancaster.
DJ and producer D Double E will play a show at The Brickworks in Nottingham, MC P Money will perform at Suki10c in Birmingham, and Manchester band Westside Cowboy will play a hometown show at Manchester’s Low Four.
Squeeze singer Glenn Tilbrook will perform on the Theatreship, a non-profit performing arts space on board a historic ship in the old docks of Canary Wharf in London.
The nationwide festival will take place on what would have been the Glastonbury Festival weekend of June 26 to 28.
Details of Fatboy Slim’s show, and how to get tickets, will be announced in the run up to the festival weekend.
He said: “I’ve been lucky enough to play huge stages all over the world, but grassroots venues are where it all started for me and where music scenes really begin, where artists learn their craft, where communities form, and where people come together purely for the love of it.
“Without grassroots venues, independent promoters and local crowds taking a chance on something new, none of this exists.
“These spaces are vital for culture and for local communities, so if there’s anything I can do to help shine a light on them and help keep that spirit alive, I’m more than happy to be involved.
“And if you care about music, go out and support your local venues, buy a ticket, discover somebody new, and be part of keeping those scenes alive.”
Squeeze co-founder Tilbrook added: “Fifty years ago Squeeze started out in the small venues of south-east London.
“Later this year we will be playing our biggest UK tour including at the O2 Arena across the Thames from the Theatreship.
“I still go out and play solo shows at grassroots venues and some of the best nights I’ve ever had playing music have been in tiny rooms packed with people who just love live music.
“These venues don’t just support musicians, they become part of the fabric of local communities. They give people a place to meet, connect and discover something new.
“We need to cherish them, if we lose them, we lose far more than somewhere to see a band. So show your support for your local venue, you never know where the next great artist, or the next great night, might come from.”
He joins previously announced artists including Becky Hill, Tinie Tempah and Rizzle Kicks.
Hill will play at The Marrs Bar in Worcester, while Tempah will play The Brook in Southampton, The Grove in Newcastle and Voodoo Daddys in Norwich.
Rizzle Kicks will play Patterns in Brighton.
Spraggan said: “Live music is an ecosystem, from your local small venue all the way up to stadiums.
“Each night a venue supplies a stage for an artist, that artist is supported by their crew, just as the venue is supported by their staff.
“You can see the network of livelihoods that entwine through the umbrella that is ‘live music’, it’s pretty endless.
“There is a career for musicians, crew, artists, tour managers from smaller projects all the way to Taylor Swift sized projects, but only if we have the venues to support them.
“Grassroots venues give opportunities to a plethora of people and we, as artists and gig goers, breathe life back into the venues. We are all an important part of the ecosystem.”
The three-day festival, backed by the Music Venue Trust and the National Lottery, aims to help venues and independent promoters champion new artists. Tickets are on sale now.
