Luton South MP Rachel Hopkins has championed the town’s creative heritage and the vital role of grassroots music during a speech in the House of Commons, calling attention to the importance of Independent Venue Week currently taking place in the town and the need to better support the creative industries.
Speaking passionately about the town’s rich history of artistic innovation, Hopkins highlighted how venues such as The Castle, the Hat Factory arts centre and The Bear Club are the beating heart of Luton’s creative scene.
The Castle is currently hosting six nights of live music as part of the national Independent Venue Week celebrations, which runs until February 1. Last night saw The Lounge Society headline with support from local acts Owes and Ramona Marx.
And tonight (January 29) sees Luton’s own The Looted Youth play alongside Framatics in a pay-what-you-can show after headliner Low Girl pulled out through illness – though a replacement date is planned.
The Looted Youth – aka singer songwriter Ben Thomson – Owes and Ramona Marx have all played The Castle before, with the former even recording a three-track session at the venue last year, specifically to highlight the importance of grassroots live music.
The Live Session project is put together by Luton music collective Vandalism Begins at Home who regularly promote gigs at The Castle, focusing on emerging talent from the town and neighbouring areas. One of their co-conspirators Ben Barry spoke earlier this month to The Lutonian about banging the drum for upcoming artists and local music venue, saying their future is a case of “use it or lose it”.
And, the town’s Member of Parliament has now carried the creative case into the seat of British politics, describing Luton’s music venues as a critical platform for emerging artists.
“Independent Venue Week is a chance for us to celebrate the grassroots music venues that provide the essential pipeline for tomorrow’s megastars and household names,” Ms Hopkins said. “We cannot overestimate their value.”
She pointed to the rise to global superstardom of Luton-born artist Myles Smith as a shining example of the importance of these spaces. Smith, who began playing music in local pubs before gaining worldwide exposure through social media, returned to his hometown in the summer for a triumphant set on BBC Music’s Introducing stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Luton. He has since performed on the BBC’s Later… with Jools Holland programme, toured the United States – where he has back playing now – and earned multiple Brit Award nominations.
Ms Hopkins’ speech carried a rallying call for continued support of venues like The Castle, stressing that grassroots spaces are essential not just for local music culture but for the UK’s creative ecosystem.
“These venues are where young and emerging artists develop their craft, and they contribute to a town’s cultural identity, sense of place, and wellbeing,” she noted.
The Labour politician also addressed the challenges faced by the creative sector in recent years, highlighting funding cuts under the previous Conservative government. She pointed out that arts funding had fallen by almost 50 per cent per person in real terms, with local government revenue funding for cultural services seeing a similar decline.
“Those funding cuts have enacted enormous damage to the pipeline of talent in the industry, to the provision of local arts, and to the availability of work in the performing arts,” she said.
Ms Hopkins welcomed the new Labour government’s recent £60million package of support for the creative industries, including a £40million investment in start-up video game studios, British music and film exports and creative businesses outside London.
The MP highlighted Luton’s historic reputation as a place of artistry and craftsmanship, from its hat-making industry in the 19th and 20th centuries to its modern role in computer systems, film, and music.
“Artistry has been at the heart of our town’s economy across three centuries, and we hold on to that with pride today,” she said.
Ms Hopkins also praised local efforts to foster musical talent, including the work of Luton Music Service and the many volunteer parents who help young people develop their skills.
She concluded by expressing confidence in the UK’s future as a global leader in the creative industries. “Our creative industries have been underfunded and undervalued for too long, but as we prioritise them within our industrial strategy, I am confident that the UK will lead as industry innovators, boosting economic growth and unlocking opportunities for generations to come.”
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