KT Tunstall is to play Brixton’s Windmill venue as part of the Passport: Back To Our Roots campaign, which raises money through a draw for tickets to shows planned to take place when social distancing guidelines are relaxed.
Other artists to pledge support for the campaign are Pet Shop Boys, Russell Watson and Passenger. The shows will support grassroots music venues at risk of closure.
The campaign raises money for them through a draw for tickets to the shows. It raised £75,000 from its first prize draw for entry to concerts by Elbow, Public Service Broadcasting, Everything Everything, The Slow Readers Club, and Ash.
Pet Shop Boys will perform at Camden’s Electric Ballroom, Russell Watson at Manchester’s Stoller Hall, Passenger at Brighton’s Komedia and KT Tunstall will play the Windmill Brixton and PJ Molloys in Dunfermline.
Dates are to be confirmed. Entry to the draw is in exchange for a £5 minimum donation to the campaign.
Sally Cook, co-founder of Passport: Back To Our Roots, said: “We’re blown away by the incredible response to the first block of fundraisers, and want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated, and to every artist who pledged to play a grassroots venue show.
“The outpouring of support (we read all the comments!) just proves how important grassroots venues are to the UK’s music fans.
“£75,000 is an amazing start and will help make a real difference to the venues involved and the sector as a whole, but we’re not stopping there. We are really excited to be announcing this new group of artists this week.”
KT Tunstall said: “Without grassroots music venues, there are no big acts. It’s as simple as that.
“The incredible eco-system of small venues exists, in the vast majority of cases, as labours of love.
“Constantly up against rapidly rising business rates and big developer interests, these essential community hubs are kept alive by often overworked owners and staff with an unending passion for music and the music lovers and musicians they serve.”
The prize draw will run for three weeks, from 14 September to 5 October.
Two further artists will be announced on BBC Radio 6 Music during the station’s State Of Independents Day on September 10.
