The artist donates £25,000 award winnings to grassroots concert halls

Sam Fender receiving Mercury Prize in the North East
He received the prestigious award last month in his hometown

The star has handed over the full amount of his twenty-five thousand pound honor winnings to the trust for venues, which works to save the Britain's independent live music spots.

He was given the cheque on October 16 as his latest record the album was chosen as the best record of the last 12 months.

The musician has chosen to give the cash to the MVT, in recognition of the vital role grassroots venues had in his initial steps.

"I personally couldn't be pursuing what I am doing today if it wasn't for all the gigs I did around the region, and further afield, when I was starting out," remarked Sam Fender. "These venues are iconic, but they are in difficulty."

From early 2023 onward, at least 150 of these venues have shut down – about 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Over the past year, major artists including the band Pulp, Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Sheeran have all supported the MVT in its attempts to support the industry, by including a modest fee to their ticket costs, which benefits smaller concert halls.

Fender also joined in, generating over £100k on his 2024 arena tour to help thirty-eight grassroots venues across Britain.

The donation supported spaces that were confronting imminent closure due to difficulties caused by floods, blazes and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces obtained monetary aid in upgrading amenities and sound and lighting systems that positively impacted musicians and concertgoers.

"The notion that revenue from performances in big venues supports the independent spots, where it all starts for musicians like me, is just sensible," Fender has stated.

Pulp members on stage
The group are one of the many acts who donated their honor winnings to good causes

The musician is not the first artist to contribute his award winnings to charitable organizations.

In the band received the prize in the year 1996 for their album the album, lead singer Jarvis Cocker declared that the group would contribute their winnings to the charity War Child.

That year, rapper and singer she shared her award among a few good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell organization.

"I also contributed a thousand pounds to the center, to their classes, because I trained in gymnastics when I was growing up and they lacked updated gear," Ms Dynamite told a publication.

Previously, they donated their funds to the youth organization that supported their act, as well as other independent music bodies.

Also the 1994 recipients M People donated their winnings to a MS organization after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"Winning was quite enough," stated vocalist Heather Small. "The money was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the honor. So our success affected another person's life."

In the past week, the trust shared it had saved two grassroots venues in that region, by placing them under public stewardship.

The Joiners in Southampton and The Croft in that location were acquired under the public acquisition program, which is backed by Arts Council England and supporters who purchase "shares" in the properties.

Brenda Forbes
Brenda Forbes

Eva is a passionate storyteller and cultural enthusiast who explores the hidden gems of The Hague.