The UK was once an historically renowned and unrivalled hub for live music and creativity amidst the global scene. Our venues and events, our festivals – the artists, bands and producers we unveiled to the world – were second to none, and subsequently inspired many generations of musicians and songwriters for decades to come.

They say nothing lasts forever, but surely that should just mean that things change, evolve, become better – not end entirely?

In light of the catastrophic closure of so many UK venues, the struggles the music industry has undoubtedly faced over the past five years have meant that it can be hard to maintain focus and optimism as an independent act or even an avid music fan.

However, as with any great difficulty in life and art, there is always hope. There are always creative people working just beneath the mainstream radar, creating communities and worlds in which music and art can thrive and reignite the nation’s passion for its unrivalled honesty and connection.

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NOISE: A MUSIC INITIATIVE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF COMMUNITY & CREATIVITY FOR THE GRASSROOTS

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Bringing together the artist showcase and the impromptu energy of the live jam, NOISE was developed by What Does Not, in unison with London’s underground music scene.

Their intentions were clear from the start – to creatively tackle the fundamental issues that face every aspect of the essential balance required to maintain a successful musical ecosystem. That is, to take on the struggles of the venues, the audiences, and the musicians alike, and find realistic, actionable and impactful solutions that unite all three.

The mass closure of venues across the UK has undoubtedly hit both national and internationally touring acts with significant impact. In particular, the UK’s rising living costs have meant that it’s the bare-bones, grass roots venues and events that are hit the hardest – essentially pushing them out of the heart of London, and potentially making this central creative hub inaccessible to the vast majority of hard-working artists and music fans.

There’s also the matter of a growing lack of places for new artists and bands to perform – no opportunities to hone their abilities or connect with diverse new audiences, as was the historical pathway for so many legendary acts throughout the past fifty years.

“DIY culture has done so much for music, but at some point, music has to leave the bedroom and the smartphone to be experienced live.”

Enter What Does Not – an institution built from the ground up, by creatives, music fans and industry pros, in the hopes of giving voices back to musicians by way of live events like RAW and NOISE.

The program not only hosts regular live shows and inclusive jam sessions, but works hard to help independent musicians arrange and launch their own smaller headline shows in and around London, with versatility in both genre and origin being a key aspect of that.

With their next live event scheduled for this Thursday (February 6th) at London’s Blues Kitchen (Brixton), a plethora of live showcases and jams are booked in for the next six months at least, and there’s plenty of opportunity for indie artists and bands to get involved and share the excitement and exposure, in order to network and start building their own following as a live act.

Don’t let the weight of the mainstream millionaire club get you down. The underground scenes have always paved the way for the very best and most inspiring, uplifting and timeless music and live shows. That hasn’t disappeared, not at all – it’s perhaps just returned to its more secretive and exclusive state, and things are rising up and thriving faster than ever right now.

Get yourselves involved and show support. Keep the UK’s grassroots venues and events alive and well, and make sure to share the love with everyone you know who cares equally about the future of the UK’s grassroots music scene.

“ACCESS TO CULTURE IS FOR EVERYONE. SO OUR TICKETING SYSTEM IS PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN.”

Grab TICKETS. Read the initiative’s Open Letter To Mick Jagger. Find & follow What Does Not on Instagram & their Website. Find out more via this exclusive Earmilk feature.