For a long time, Glasgow has had a rich history of supporting grassroots music while hosting some of the biggest giants within the industry.

Venues like The Glad Café, Broadcast and King Tuts Wah Wah Hut – where Oasis was famously signed by Alan McGee in 1993 – have acted as a starting line for many.

It is no wonder Glasgow received the UNESCO City of Music in 2008.

But as more artists flock to bigger stages and arenas, and the price of a concert ticket continues to rise (Like £266 for a Sabrina Carpenter ticket for the OVO Hydro) the city’s smaller venues are beginning to be casually left in the dust - and it threatens to kill what we have left of the proud grassroots music scene in Glasgow.

In response to the public concern, the Glasgow Times has decided to investigate the rise in concert ticket prices. 

Music Venue Trust (MVT), a UK-registered charity - which acts to protect, secure and improve UK Grassroots Music Venues – says problems have already begun within the grassroots scene as a result of the ticket cost increase.  

(Image: Mark Davyd (Image supplied))

Speaking with the Glasgow Times, Mark Davyd, CEO and Founder of MVT, said: “There are people in the music industry who believe that tickets for arenas at £100, £200 or even £1000, have no impact on the likelihood of people buying a £10 ticket for new artists at a local venue.

“Those people are living in a fantasyland.

“Common sense should be telling us that the person who just got out their credit card to hand over £120 to see the Arctic Monkeys isn’t finishing that transaction and immediately checking the local live music listings to see if they can spend some more.

“We are in a phase of what is known in economic circles as ‘over-harvesting’ and the demands for big-ticket big show spend is a huge part of that problem.”

(Image: Donald MacLeod, pictured by Gordon Terris)

Donald MacLeod MBE, live music and club promoter (of Cathouse and The Garage) agreed.

He said: “Grassroot music venues like the Cathouse, The Garage, King Tut’s, Nice N Sleazy and The Hug and Pint are breeding grounds where many acts and artists start and learn their craft.

“But sadly, due to the ongoing Cost of living Crisis, LEZ, public transport anxiety, and dynamic pricing has meant many venues have been forced to pull their shutters down.

“This is a major problem that urgently needs to be addressed if Glasgow wants to continue to proclaim itself as a UNESCO city of music."

The concern comes as independent music venues in the city like 13th Note and The Blue Arrow Jazz Club have had to close their doors in recent years.

And it is particularly problematic when demand for live grassroots music is growing, according to Mark.

He explained: “Demand for live music is up. It’s up in every sector and every town and city in the country.

“People want to be part of the excitement of live music at big events and in their local community, but the challenge isn’t that this new music isn’t out there, or that people don’t want it, it’s how to bring that supply and demand together in a financially sustainable ecosystem where fans can afford to see it and artists and venues can afford to present it.”

(Image: Broadcast, pictured by Newsquest staff)

One of the most popular bars in the city which has supported grassroot sound for years is Broadcast on Sauchiehall Street.

Logan Stewart, spokesperson for Broadcast, revealed his fears regarding ticket price rises and the potential decrease in grassroots music as a result. 

He said: “We have seen a trend across the UK towards large arena-sized events and one day festivals featuring bigger artists.

“These are by their nature more expensive events and are contributing to a rise in ticket costs. They are also far more likely to feature dynamic pricing than grassroots music events.

“Tomorrow's arena and stadium-sized artists need grassroots music venues to cut their teeth and increase their profile. Without them, we will see a stark decrease in homegrown talent and the UK will fall behind culturally on the international stage.”

He added: “While ticket prices will be a factor in any decision made by a potential gig goer, it is important to remember that it is only part of the cost of a night out. Transport and food and drinks prices also play their part, and grassroots music venues tend to have far more reasonable prices for a pint than arenas and stadiums.”

So, how can we protect grassroots music amidst the rise in concert concerts?

Aside from the obvious of buying tickets to grassroots gigs when and if you can, there is also the possibility of ticket levying on big arena shows and events in the future.

The initiative – which was thought up by MVT - has been discussed by the Scottish Greens recently.

Patrick Harvie, MSP for Glasgow, explained that a small £1 charge on tickets to the biggest stadium-packing gigs like the Foo Fighters and P!NK at Hampden Park could have a transformative impact on the industry and Glasgow’s famous nightlife.

He said: “Earlier this year, The Music Venue Trust highlighted that just £1 from every ticket sale at gigs in Scotland’s two largest stadiums would generate a million pounds a year.”

(Image: Archive)

Harvie shared the fear of losing our smaller venues due to the enormous cost rises.

He added: “Across Glasgow, there are fantastic venues that are feeling the strain like never before. There are iconic venues that have provided a starting ground for some of the biggest artists in the world.

“We need to stand with them and support them, otherwise we risk losing them for good.”

It would be hard to deny that Grassroots music in Glasgow has not been affected by the rise in ticket prices in recent years. Nor would it be hard to say that it is not going to get worse.

What would we, the fans, or musicians do without these places, that give artists a space to plant their seeds?

Simply, it seems, no one would have anywhere to begin, and we would be robbed of saying ‘I knew them when they were starting out’.

Our Glasgow Times Investigates continues tomorrow.