CloseUp Promotions have teamed up with Flying Vinyl and Blood Records, to produce a fundraising compilation album titled ‘What’s Going On?’
Proceeds from the record will be distributed to the Music Venues Trust ‘Save Our Venues’ campaign, and charities via L;FE, in order to support BAME mental health causes linked to the music industry.
As a result of the COVID-19 global lockdown, more than 800 of our favourite small music venues are at risk of closure. These venues are a representation of the emphatic and broadening music culture in the UK, hence the recent push for fundraising. This limited edition release is an effort to gain funding for venues across Great Britain, featuring a compilation of artists’ B-sides, demos, and remixes. Tracks have been compiled from some of our most reputable indie and electronic artists, in order to create a one of a kind collectors item for 2020.
TRACKS:
PEACE – From Under Liquid Glass (Live at Symphony Hall)
FLYTE – Room With A View (Demo)
whenyoung – Never Let Go (Video Blue Remix)
Little Comets – Lost Time (Demo)
Connie Constance – Gran Torino
Abbie Ozard – Clouds
Sad Boys Club – Murderwood
Gengahr – Broken Wings (Demo)
The Night Cafe – Thinking
Jerry Williams – Jeane (The Smiths, Cover)
Marsicans – Can I Stay Here Forever (Pt. 1)
JAWS – Untitled
SECRET ARTIST/TRACK TBA
The album title ‘What’s Going On?’ stems from Marvin Gaye’s 1971 track release, representing the soul of musical culture. CloseUp and all involved with ‘What’s Going On?’ are involved with many music venues that are currently struggling because of the global pandemic. Multiple venues are threatened with permanent closure, resulting in the reduced local music scenes in those areas. CloseUp Promotions host and promote tours in over 50% of the venues that The Music Venue Trust are supporting in 2020.
Britain’s music industry is continuing to expand, and it is clear that we need smaller music venues for developing bands and musicians. These venues are where people have gained their first jobs as promoters, photographers, and event staff – paving the way to larger events. Independent venues are one of the most valuable resources for the industry, and movements like the MVT are aiming to prevent these potential closures.
Additionally, our own mental health is a topic that can not be ignored, particularly in the times of furlough and quarantine. With many industry professionals being hired on a freelance basis, levels of anxiety have been increasingly high since March. Because of the uncertainty of work and future shows, it has become clear that people have been suffering more with their mental health than if they were living in normality. L;FE is an outfit that supports many mental health charities, by providing ideas and funding to enable them to continue their vital work. The cause is often related to music and has been promoted recently by Radio X’s own George Godfrey, as a cause that deserves a huge amount of support. Sam Tucker, a promoter at CloseUp stated:
“A portion of the proceeds will be donated to one of their BAME charities for this release, ‘as an illustration of our allyship with the BLM movement.”
