Corbyn is off to Margate in March – but not for a 99, nor for a dip in the sea

The Peace and Justice Project’s Music For The Many campaign has just added another gig to its list of events – with the (hopefully but unlikely to be sunny) seaside resort of Margate the destination.

Corbyn in Margate? Where Else?

The Music For The Many event will be taking place in Margate on Friday 1 March at the Where Else? grassroots music and community art venue. There will be a “very special” live performance from Alt-Rock band SNAYX and more guests who will be announced very soon.

Plus, as well as supporting an excellent grassroots music venue, ticket sales will go towards a donation to the charity Medical Aid For Palestinians and humanitarian aid on the ground in Gaza. As the Canary reported, since 7 October, Israel has killed over 27,000 Palestinians, injured more than 66,000, and displaced the majority of people in Gaza.

The Peace and Justice Project, founded by Jeremy Corbyn in 2021, launched the Music For The Many campaign to protect grassroots music venues and demand the government creates a support fund to protect the futures of at-risk venues.

In 2022, 22 million people saw live music at grassroots music venues and brought £500m into the UK economy. However, operating costs ran at over £499m, leaving a profit margin of only 0.2%.

This is unsustainable and has put thousands of jobs under serious threat. So, the Peace and Justice Project and Corbyn are determined to change things – and Margate is the next stop in this.

Music For The Many

As Corbyn himself recently wrote for Kerrang! magazine:

It is absolutely no exaggeration to say that, without urgent action, we face the real risk of losing an entire generation of talent and artistry to cuts and austerity. Without grassroots music venues, up-and-coming performers, bands and musicians will not be granted the necessary space to harness and develop their craft, or build enough of a following to move on to bigger things such as record deals or the chance to play at larger concert venues.

With that in mind, it is not unreasonable to say that the massive corporations, many of whom have reported massive profits in recent years, should pay their fair share into the delicate ecosystem of British live music.

So, Corbyn has called on corporate sponsors of large music arenas to:

pay a small levy on ticket sales that can be directly re-invested into a specific Grassroots Music Venue Fund to ensure the long-term security of grassroots music venues.

You can get involved with Music For The Many by writing to your MP demanding the government act, here. Also, read Corbyn’s full exclusive for Kerrang! magazine here.

Tickets for the Music For The Many Where Else? Margate gig will be on sale at 10am on Wednesday 7 February. Register to get yours here.

Featured image via the Peace and Justice Project