At Signature Brew we care deeply about live music and we're committed to doing everything we can to safeguard future of the UK's music scene.

The last 12 months have been incredibly tough on the UK's independent music venues, leaving over 550 venues in danger of closure and threatening the livelihoods of the thousands of passionate people who run them.

With that in mind, we're pledging a maximum of £250,000 worth of beer to help venues get back on their feet and kickstart the return of live music post-pandemic. 

Successful applicants will receive an allocation of the brewery’s Studio Lager to make sure their taps have fresh beer and help generate much needed revenue to keep the doors open both this year and for years to come.

A panel made up of expert music industry professionals including Gus Unger-Hamilton (vocals and keyboard in Alt-J), Remi Harris MBE (author of Easy Money?: The Definitive Guide To Funding Music Projects), Tom Sutton-Roberts (GM of the UK's biggest independent venue, The Troxy) and Ed Sellers (Primary Talent Booking) will join Signature Brew co-founders Sam McGregor and Tom Bott to help allocate the grants to successful venues.

Additionally a portion of the quarter of a million pounds worth of beer (retail value) will be allocated to touring musicians and can be applied for here. Artists with gigs or tours booked in the UK within the next 12 months will be eligible to apply for their share of the beer, which they’ll be able to take on the road with them, removing some of the overheads of touring at a time when they need it most.

Signature Brew co-founder Sam McGregor explains, “We’re passionate about live music and we’re going to help independent venues and musicians however we can. The idea for the Beer Grant scheme came from wanting to offer the thing we do best as a way to make life easier for venues and touring bands after an unprecedentedly difficult year. We want to help as many venues as possible and we believe the Signature Brew Beer Grant will contribute to safeguarding the future of the UK’s music scene.”

Alt-J vocalist/keyboard player and Beer Grants panelist, Gus Unger-Hamilton adds, "Some independent venues have it tough even in years where they're not forced to close due to a pandemic. But without these venues, many emerging artists would have nowhere to cut their teeth and the music industry would be much poorer from top to bottom. This initiative from our friends at Signature Brew is an innovative and fun way to extend some much needed help to some brilliant places and help them get the show back on the road."

Fellow Beer Grants judge and author of Easy Money?: The Definitive UK Guide To Funding Music Projects, Remi Harris MBE states, “It’s been heartening to see the music, venue and events sector coming together to support each other during the pandemic, and the Beer Grants idea is pure Signature Brew ingeniousness that will give the winning venues a shot in the arm (excuse the pun).”

Speaking on behalf of venues, Tom Sutton-Roberts, the general manager of East London's iconic Troxy – the UK's largest independent venue – comments, "Music venues are where life-long memories are made, careers are forged, beer is spilt and passion breathes louder that the collective cheer of all the fans combined. Signature Brew's commitment to live music is more important now, than ever before. With the help of Signature Brew's Beer Grants, we're getting ready to get back to normal."

To apply for a Signature Brew Beer Grant, please complete the form linked to below.

 

Key Information For Signature Brew Beer Grants For Independent Venues

Total Beer Fund

Up to £250,000 retail value of Signature Brew's Studio Lager

Grant Range

£500 to a maximum of £5,000

Eligibility

Signature Brew Beer Grants are available to independent venues in the UK. Venues must host regular live musical performances of any genre as part of their typical running activity

Key Dates

Application open date: 9AM on 5th May 2021

Application closing date: 12PM on 5̶t̶h̶ ̶J̶u̶n̶e̶ 23rd June –  We've extended the deadline to help out now that Covid restrictions have been extended

Decisions communicated: No later than 6PM on 1st July 2021

How To Apply: Are You Applying On Behalf Of A Venue Or A Band/Artist?