Music Venue Trust

VIY and Music Venue Trust (MVT) are working together to improve grassroots music venues across the UK through two dedicated programmes: Stay The Night and Feel At Home. Funded through the grassroots levy – a £1 contribution from tickets sold for arena and stadium shows of more than 5,000 capacity, distributed by the LIVE Trust – these programmes are investing directly in the venues that form the backbone of the UK’s live music sector.

Through Stay The Night, we’re transforming underused venue spaces into artist accommodation, helping to reduce touring costs and ease some of the financial pressures facing artists. Through Feel At Home, we’re upgrading backstage facilities to create welcoming, functional spaces that better support performers and touring crews.

At the same time, these projects are creating opportunities for young people to get hands-on experience, build confidence, and boost their employability – all while improving the spaces their local communities rely on.

And the work is continuing to grow. This October, we’re heading to Scotland for the first time through the partnership, with a project at PJ Molloy’s in Dunfermline, alongside upcoming projects at Hairy Dog in Derby and a music venue in Manchester, with more to follow.

Here are some of the venues we’ve supported so far:

Voodoo Daddy’s, Norwich

Voodoo Daddy’s marks our first Stay The Night project, supporting the venue as it expanded into a neighbouring building to create much-needed facilities for touring artists. We transformed previously unused space into dedicated artist accommodation and upgraded backstage facilities, including overnight accommodation with six bunk beds, a shower room, kitchenette and toilet. By providing artists with access to rest, food preparation facilities and a safe place to stay, the project helps make touring healthier, fairer and more sustainable. The improvements also strengthen the venue’s offer, enhancing its ability to attract and support touring acts while contributing to a more resilient grassroots music sector. Hear directly from those involved in the video below.

“It’s been amazing to be involved with MVT’s Stay The Night initiative and see our green room transformed into an artist accommodation space. Working alongside the VIY team, the mentors and young people that have helped with the project has been a real pleasure and it feels good to know that they’ll be gaining valuable vocational experience and accreditation here too. The work has already had an impact by allowing us to book in a number of international acts who were struggling to make a show work in Norwich but were happy to confirm once they knew we could offer nice and convenient accommodation right by the venue!” 

Ben Street, Voodoo Daddy’s Venue Manager

Firebug, Leicester

Our latest Stay The Night project at Firebug in Leicester has transformed its backstage spaces, creating new accommodation and much-needed facilities for visiting artists. We’ve turned tired, underused rooms into a more comfortable place to stay, with bespoke triple bunk beds, a refurbished kitchen, new flooring and upgraded dressing and green room spaces. The finished space means touring artists can now stay on site, giving them somewhere safe and comfortable to rest, get ready and recharge between performances. It’s a big upgrade for both artists and Firebug, helping the venue offer a more welcoming experience for visiting acts while making better use of its space for the wider community.

2Funky Music Café, Leicester

Our Feel At Home project at 2Funky Music Café in Leicester focused on improving the spaces artists use before they step on stage. The club is a major hub for the city’s grassroots music scene, hosting everything from live music and club nights to community events. Here we gave the backstage areas a much-needed lift, with new panelling, fresh decoration throughout the green room, toilets and corridor, plus a smarter, more welcoming artist entrance complete with a timber shelter and planters. It now feels much more like the kind of space artists actually want to arrive into. A total of 22 local young people took part in the renovation, gaining hands-on trade skills and accreditations.

Hear what Jovan,17, whose dream is to become an electrician has to say about his experience on the project

“A huge thank you for the work you’ve done at 2Funky Complex. The dressing/green room, backstage areas and the artists’ entrance look brilliant. It’s made a massive difference to how the venue feels behind the scenes, it’s cleaner, brighter, more professional, and it genuinely improves the artist experience from the moment they arrive. I also really appreciate how you went above and beyond what was originally in the scope, especially getting the main music venue café painted as well, has made a big overall impact and hasn’t gone unnoticed. The standard of work and the attitude from the team was spot on. We’re genuinely so happy with the results and grateful for the support.”

Vijay Mistry, 2Funky Complex’s Director

The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

Our project at The Lubber Fiend in Newcastle focused on improving the spaces artists use behind the scenes. Since opening in 2022, the venue has become an important part of the city’s independent music scene. Here we transformed the venue’s green room area, creating a much more welcoming and functional space for artists and staff. 10 young people from Newcastle College took part in the renovation, building new seating and storage, creating a bespoke table, installing a wall-mounted coat and bag frame, and helping to create a new kitchen area with running water. The improvements give artists a comfortable place to relax and reset before and after shows, while strengthening the venue’s ability to support the grassroots music community.

The Independent, Sunderland

Our project at Independent in Sunderland focused on improving backstage facilities at one of the North East’s longest-running grassroots music venues. Working alongside local young people, we expanded and refurbished the green room by removing an internal wall to create a larger, more usable space, before adding new seating, improved flooring and redecorating throughout. We also created a dedicated kitchen and seating area for artists and staff, helping to provide a more comfortable and practical environment behind the scenes.

The Piehouse, London

One of London’s few genuinely inclusive, accessible and community-run arts spaces has had a much-needed makeover. The Piehouse is a vital home for queer, disabled, working-class and POC artists, and through our Feel At Home project, we refurbished its toilets, kitchen, green room and practice space. The result is a more welcoming, accessible and sustainable space for the communities and artists who call The Piehouse home, while local young people gained hands-on construction experience and valuable skills.

BOOM, Leeds

Based inside Leeds’ Canalside, grassroots music venue Boom champions all genres, with a particular love for hardcore, metal and punk. Through our Feel At Home project, we transformed its green room into a more functional, multi-use space, adding bespoke storage, new seating, a central table with integrated power and improved kitchen facilities. The finished space gives artists and staff a more comfortable place to work and unwind, while local young people gained hands-on experience and valuable trade skills.

XOYO Birmingham

Known for its packed programme of live music and club nights, XOYO Birmingham is one of Digbeth’s busiest music venues. Through our Feel At Home project, we gave the venue’s backstage spaces a proper refresh, fully redecorating the green rooms and installing brand-new kitchen units. The result is a much more welcoming and practical space for artists to relax and prepare for performances, while local young people gained hands-on experience and valuable construction skills during the transformation.

Yellow Arch, Sheffied

For years, Yellow Arch Studios has been at the heart of Sheffield’s grassroots music scene, giving emerging artists a place to rehearse, record and perform. Through our Feel At Home project, we transformed its backstage green room, refreshing the décor, adding bespoke timber storage and improving the facilities for artists. The makeover has created a warmer, more comfortable space to relax and prepare, while local young people gained hands-on experience and valuable trade skills along the way.