The Cottonettes Discuss: The Boileroom & UK Live Music
With Guildford venue the Boileroom facing the possibility of closure, TMMP caught up with oi-pop punk outfit The Cottonettes to discuss the Boileroom and the state of the UK’s live music scene.
This interview is part of a larger TMMP feature which can be read in full here.
What is your general opinion of the Boileroom?
The Boileroom is an absolute pillar of the Surrey/Hampshire music scene. It brings through up and coming bands who have become huge acts, like Ed Sheeran and The 1975, to name a couple of recent performances. But it is more than that; it also does a lot for the community in the form of a meeting place for all sorts of activities.
How did you feel when you heard about the Boileroom’s current problems?
I thought “Uh oh squeaky bum time here”. We’d just seen places like Blind Tiger club go down the pan due to complaints, and other venues are currently in a bit of a pickle for similar reasons.
What would happen if the Boileroom were to shut down? What impact would that event have?
I think it would leave a gap in the local live music market as there is only the Star offering a similar brand of entertainment in Guildford. The Boileroom does however allow access to under 18’s (The Star does not) which is important in preventing antisocial behaviour in the local area by giving young people a relatively low cost wholesome activity to attend in their local area, thus diverting them away from just “hanging around” the local streets or parks potentially causing trouble and becoming involved in antisocial behaviour.
What is your favourite Boileroom-related memory?
We have played a few good gigs there – our gig with The Virginmarys was a particular highlight.
How do you feel about the state of the UK’s live music scene right now? What could be done to improve things?
It is in a bad way and has been for some time.
The blame lies with both bands that don’t seem to want to do anything different and make their own sound, promoters who don’t promote and expect bands to do all the hard work for little or no reward, and a general apathy towards new live music by the public at large.
The situation could be improved by venues and promoters offering cheap (below £5 or free entry) gigs for smaller bands. Bands in general need to work harder to push themselves along and get themselves out there; we encounter a lot of lazy bands who just want to turn up and play. Whilst they shouldn’t do the bulk of promotion, how hard is it to put out a few tweets or posts on Facebook?
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Check out The Cottonettes supporting Anti Nowhere League at The Boileroom on 24th October!
Links
The Cottonettes official website.
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