Lewis Capaldi performs at Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s to raise funds for struggling music venues
Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
15 October 2020
Last Friday (9th October), Lewis Capaldi performed a live stream in order to raise money for Music Venue Trust, since COVID-19 has curtailed any hope for potential live gigs. This is an organisation who helps raise funds for grassroot music venues across the UK, where many bands get their first big break.
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Lewis selected Sneaky Pete’s, an independent gig and club venue in Edinburgh’s Cowgate to perform his livestream. The evening was in collaboration with Amazon Music’s ‘Prime Day Live’ event which launched, Friday 9th October at 7pm. He was joined by supporting acts, Celeste and Cate Le Bon who performed across England and Wales.
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Lewis Capaldi, from Glasgow, Scotland remains the UK’s bestselling artist, since 2019. His single, ‘Someone You Loved’ won Best Song of the Year at the 2020 Brit Awards, remaining in the UK singles charts for 7 weeks.
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Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
Director, of Sneaky Pete’s, Nick Stewart revealed how this collaboration with Lewis came about: “I’m actually, the Scottish coordinator for Music Venue Trust so it was really nice that Lewis was actually raising money for this. But by some fantastic coincidence, it’s also the case that Lewis totally separately chose Sneaky Pete’s and the reason why is because Lewis had some of his early shows in Sneaky’s.”
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Their first record of Lewis, is dated back to 2015, including one of his first sell out gigs; although Lewis reckons, he may have played as early as 2012.
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The live stream was broadcast live via Twitch TV, a gaming platform owned by Amazon. However, due to copyright and technical issues, Sneaky Pete’s were unable to provide a playback: “Just a bit like having to be there at a gig, you were either there or you weren’t, so that made it quite special.” Instead, Sneaky Pete’s have posted clips of Lewis chatting in between songs, revealing to their Instagram followers, “because well…You know Lewis. He didn’t hold back.”
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Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
The aim of the live stream was ultimately to raise funds for Music Venue Trust, with Amazon Music providing a donation to help “make it happen.” Nick reveals what he hopes this event will bring to Scotland’s music industry: “On one hand it makes a public awareness that grassroot venues, like Sneaky Pete’s need to survive. And, on the other hand, it was to direct help to Music Venue Trust…for them to be able to use their crisis fund for music venues who are in trouble.”
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Music Venue Trust is an organisation Nick is extremely passionate about. He highlights not only do they help struggling music venues stay afloat but are currently working with the Scottish Government to produce a plan for additional funding.
"...it makes a public awareness that grassroot venues, like Sneaky Pete’s need to survive. And... was to direct help to Music Venue Trust"
The coronavirus pandemic has caused huge restrictions on Scotland’s music industry. Sneaky Pete’s, usually a jam-packed gig and club venue; alternatively re-opened this summer as a bar serving pizza and cocktails.
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From limiting numbers through to a 10pm curfew, Nick reveals how setting up a Crowdfunder along with loyal customers have helped Sneaky Pete’s survive: “It seems that in every turn where we need any kind of public support…we’ve just been shown so much love, Lewis playing is just an example but the real love we have got, and I am so grateful for this…is just from all the regular gig goers and clubbers who just keep going back to us”.
Photo Cred: Karina Caulfield
However, amid Scotland’s most recent coronavirus restrictions, all clubs have been forced to shut down until October 25th. Nick views there is “no real likelihood” of shows happening until March or onwards, and the shows that do go ahead will be socially distanced.
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"Now, it’s great to do that, because it keeps the whole eco system going, you know technicians are still working, musicians are working, people get to see shows, so it gives a sense of hope in things with everything that is going on there but it is very expensive to do.”
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Nick therefore believes the priority of the Scottish Government should be to “make sure that the venues themselves survive and that we try to prevent redundancies…but if government wants to try make sure some activity happens, then they definitely should support them in a financial way.”
"...we’ve just been shown so much love, Lewis playing is just an example but the real love we have got…is just from all the regular gig goers and clubbers..."
Nick ends with revealing what being a part of Sneaky Pete’s means to him: “It’s just seeing so much enjoyment people have in the audience…We realise we are there for other people, the venue is not about us… and that’s a good attitude to have.”
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You can still support grassroot music venues across the UK under the #SaveOurVenues - Red Alert Campaign. Visit https://saveourvenues.co.uk/#/ where you can purchase merchandise, watch online events or donate to the national campaign Crowdfunder to help reach its £1000 target.
Author: Karina Caulfield