City's grassroots music venues adapt to survive

Grassroots music venues in Hull say they are having to adapt and diversify to survive.

More than half of small live music venues in the UK failed to make a profit last year, according to the sector's charity the Music Venue Trust (MVT).

Several venues in Hull have been taking part in Independent Venue Week, which is designed to support and celebrate independent music and arts venues.

Nick Cobley, from DiveHu5 in Princes Avenue, said the venue had "adapted in every way we possibly can to keep going and surviving".

"You have to be able to offer something a little bit more now we've seen it already, hundreds of venues that we've seen close over the last few years," he said.

Jay Taylor from the MVT said the grassroots network of venues was fragile with 6000 jobs lost and 30 venues closed last year.

"These venues create the artists of tomorrow," he said.

"These are spaces where artists play and explore their crafts."

Gary Marks from Wrecking Ball, in Whitefriargate, Hull, said he was always looking to add different events at the venue.

"We do all sorts," he said.

"We do music. We also do poetry events. We do open mic events. You know, we have all sorts of things in here."

Cobley said DiveHu5 would soon host a CSI investigation night.

"We started the karaoke nights, quiz nights, film night," he said.

"We brought food in, we brought coffee in. We've adapted in every way we possibly can to keep going and surviving."

The charity said, despite music venues across the UK struggling to make a profit, the number of people attending grassroots gigs had risen by 13%, with 21 million fans attending in 2025.

Marks said: "We're always looking ahead and looking to get better."

The MVT said it was in support of establishments varying what they offer.

"It's making them more culturally diverse, it's making them more sustainable, but it's important that they're not losing that core drive to present and support grassroots music," Taylor said.

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