The latest music venue closure
The Old Red Bus Station in Leeds is the most recent small music venue to shut its doors.
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The multi-use venue on Vicar Street in the city center announced its closing via Instagram on Saturday (January 11), stating that it had become “simply not possible” to keep operating.
This 250-seater venue, originally a bus depot, was known for promoting young talent but will cease operations next weekend (January 18).
Challenges faced by grassroots venues
“We are very sad to announce this,” the venue’s message read. “Like many small grassroots venues across the country, we are confronting the daunting challenge of dealing with a cost of living crisis amid rising utility costs, demanding landlords, and a local council and government that show little interest in preserving one of the few cultural aspects this country can be proud of.”
