Black Hawk Down guitarist says bands and live music venues in Stamford area will struggle to survive coronavirus lockdown

A musician has spoken of his concerns about the impact of the coronavirus crisis on local artists and the live music scene.

Lee Daffern, from Stamford, believes many venues and bands will find it hard to survive the current lockdown.

He plays guitar in two groups - rock outfit Closed Circuit and heavy rock band Black Hawk Down, who have played at festivals and venues including the 02 Academy Birmingham.

Since the lockdown they have seen dozens of gigs cancelled and a new album has had to be delayed.

Lee, 43, said: “Black Hawk Down would generally play two or three gigs a month, and obviously that's disappeared; we've had at least 10 gigs cancelled.

“On top of that, our album was due for release at the beginning of the lockdown, along with promotional gigs, so that's had to be postponed while we re-work the plan to take all of this into account, with all of the lost investment that implies.

“As for Closed Circuit, we'd just reformed with a new lineup after a few years away, and were due to relaunch in April with a flurry of live shows.”

Lee said band members were mainly in their thirties with stable home and work lives so they weren’t reliant on the success of their music.

“We're lucky in that we aren't relying on the income from these shows to survive,” he added. “A lot of younger bands who have careers based around music don't have that luxury, and being self-employed they're really struggling now.”

The live music scene had been in dire straits before Covid-19 reared its head with a number of venues closing down over recent years “in favour of development”, Lee said.

“Music venues have been under threat for a long time even before the current crisis occurred, and in the last few years it's been increasingly hard for bands to find quality venues willing to put on bands who don't already have significant followings,” he said.

“I think it's fairly safe to say that there will be fewer venues around for live music; most venues operate on a shoestring profit as it is, so I'll be amazed if they all manage to survive this.

“And it's not just venues. Rehearsal facilities have no real way to keep the lights on either, and, by the sounds of it, landlords have been particularly unforgiving. Fewer venues, less availability at the rehearsal studios that survive - it's clearly going to be pretty hard for a lot of bands to continue.”

Many bands have been trying to push themselves and their music out over social media but are struggling to maintain people’s interest.

“The fact is everybody's doing it, and I've noticed content-fatigue setting in, such that videos which would've previously had thousands of views are now getting hundreds, or less,” said Lee.

Some might think that the lockdown would be a perfect opportunity for bands to practice and write music.

But Lee, who works as an IT specialist, said: “It's very difficult to find the motivation to write new music, when we know that it could be another six to nine months, maybe even a year, before we get to play it in front of a live audience.”

His comments come as big names including folk-punk singer Frank Turner urge people across the country to back the national Save Our Venues campaign.

This newspaper reported last week that The Railway and Platform One in Oakham had been identified as one of 556 key venues that are under threat.

Frank Turner, who has saved one venue in Tunbridge Wells, said: “The UK live music industry is staring into the abyss right now.”

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