UB40 stand up for Birmingham music scene at Rainbow benefit gig in Digbeth
Nov 4 2009 by Edward Chadwick, Birmingham Post
UB40’s Brian Travers says Birmingham faces becoming a city famous for nothing more than “empty duplexes and shoe shops” unless more is done to protect the music scene.
The saxophonist was speaking last night as the reggae stalwarts were preparing to play a benefit gig at Digbeth’s Rainbow pub.
City council bosses slapped the venue with a noise abatement order after complaints from a nearby block of flats.
The band offered to perform for free before a European tour to help cover the cost of a £30,000 roof over a courtyard where live music is staged.
Mr Travers said the city’s long history of producing world famous rock and pop acts would end if venues were forced to turn down the volume.
“Young bands can’t go and learn their craft at 10,000 capacity arenas,” he said. “They’ve got to do that in the smaller venues like we did 30 years ago.
“The factories have gone from Digbeth because there’s no work and unless we fight to keep places like the Rainbow open all you will have left round here is empty duplex flats.
“It’s all well and good having Selfridges and 1,000 shoe shops in the city centre but do we really want to be famous for that?”
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