Edinburgh’s beloved Jazz Bar announced its sudden closure back in April. Established in 2005, locals said an emotional goodbye after it became the latest victim of the crisis facing grassroots venues. But in a heartwarming turn of events, the Jazz Bar is making a comeback!
It’ll reopen as a social enterprise in just a matter of weeks thanks to a group of passionate musicians and two former staff members. The pair launched a crowdfunding campaign at the end of May to raise £35,000 to bring the venue back – they hit the target within a week and eventually raised over £43,000.
Oliver Melling, the Scotland coordinator for Music Venues Trust, told the Big Issue: ‘The Jazz Bar smashing their initial crowdfunding target shows that the appetite for grassroots jazz in Scotland is alive and well and that the community around the Jazz Bar was ready to support wherever they could,’ says Oliver Melling, MVT’s Scotland coordinator.
‘This is much-needed good news for Scottish grassroots music venues and shows the power of the music community and how well loved venues like the Jazz Bar are.’
There are gigs already lined up for the Jazz Bar’s comeback, including The Jazz Bar Big Band, Prime Trio and Dick Lee’s Swing Scoundrels. Keep an eye on the official website for further updates!
More small venues
Grassroots venues are the crown jewels of the UK’s music scene and mightily worth celebrating. Many of them feature on Time Out’s list of the UK's best music venues, picked by people who have played them. Others make an appearance on this roundup of the UK’s best queer venues.
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