Music Venue Trust (MVT) has named Norman Cook (AKA Fatboy Slim), Jamie Cullum, BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins and singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery as patrons of the charity.
“All four [patrons] have been longstanding supporters of MVT and advocates for the importance of grassroots music venues, using their respective platforms as artists and broadcasters to highlight the role the sector plays in developing artists, audiences and music industry professionals,” says MVT.
Norman Cook has been a long-time supporter of grassroots venues, which includes an investment in charity MVT’s Music Venue Properties initiative, which aims to secure a venue’s future by bringing at least 15 venues into community ownership by the end of 2026.
Norman Cook said: “I’ve been lucky enough to play huge stages all over the world, but grassroots venues are where it all started for me and where music scenes really begin, where artists learn their craft, where communities form, and where people come together purely for the love of it. Without grassroots venues, independent promoters and local crowds taking a chance on something new, none of this exists.”
Beverley Whitrick, COO of Music Venue Trust, added, “Artists and broadcasters have played a hugely important role in helping us build understanding of why Grassroots Music Venues matter and why they need protecting. Norman, Jamie, Chris and Ciaran have all been doing that work with us for some time, so making them official patrons is really about recognising that contribution and saying thank you. Their voices help us reach audiences, communities and decision-makers that MVT could never reach alone.”
