I've Got News For You

So Wednesday night’s practice then, a rather subdued affair, I think everyone was tired after the exertions of the previous two weekends. We practiced a few dances, took the newer members through a few more, and your drummer had his customary three pints of Symonds cider. The Spain-Portugal match was on in the bar, and a small crowd of locals were in attendance.

We had some discussion on amplified music. Our band consists of four main members, guitarist Clive, accordion and fiddle player Ian, melodeon and mouth organ player Dave, and myself on percussion. Since the start, we have used small battery amps in an attempt to balance the sound. The problem that we have is trying to enable the quieter instruments to be heard alongside the drums and boxes.

We’ve experimented extensively with this and are, we think, justifiably proud of our fairly unique sound. During one mad moment we were even asked if we do cds! The music we produce is not particularly loud in the scheme of things, I would even argue that it’s not as loud as a big band with three or four boxes and a couple of drums. So where’s the problem? The Licencing Act 2003 makes it illegal to  perform any music in public without there being an entertainments licence in force. There is a helpful exemption for Morris dancers regarding live unamplified music. So that leaves us out in the cold somewhat.

A chance conversation with my nephew, a guitarist in a band, however, brought some good news. The Live Music Act 2012 was a private members bill which sought to  change some of the act, negating the requirement for a licence for venues with an audience under 200. The Morris exemption rewords to “live accompaniment”.  This comes into force in October, and is the work of tireless campaigning from, among others, Feargal Sharkey and Hamish Birchall. The peer responsible is Tim Clement-Jones, who tabled the private members bill.

So if you are out this weekend, in a pub somewhere, and happen across a fiddle player and an accordionist in the corner, raise a glass to Feargal, and Hamish, and Tim.  Young bands and musicians need the smaller venues to learn their trade. The Licencing Act 2003 was slowly killing off grass roots music in the UK.

As for ourselves, well we’ll just ensure that all our venues have a licence until October, when they will no longer be necessary. Hurrah for a happy ending!