This Documentary Shows Why Venues Need Your Support Now More Than Ever
Capturing the roll out of Beatport and Miller’s Grassroots Venue Fund.
After championing up-and-coming talent through a dedicated event series, Beatport and Miller recently turned its efforts to supporting music venues with its Grassroots Venue Fund. Offering establishments €15,000 EUR ($18,000 USD), the fund aimed to help with infrastructure upgrades as well as programming.
Speaking on the roll out, a representative from Molson Coors said, “At Miller, we believe that exceptional nightlife is built on the passion of local culture creators. The Grassroots Venue Fund is our commitment to preserving the high-energy, unforgettable experiences that these hubs provide. Seeing the tangible impact of this funding on the ground is deeply rewarding.”
The venues that were awarded the money include Revolver Upstairs located in Melbourne, Australia, Pixel in Ankara, Turkey and Expresszó Klub in Veszprém, Hungary. By focusing on local establishments, the effects of the fund extended beyond the venue itself and to the nightlife scenes in the respective places.
In a new documentary series, Beatport and Miller trace these individual journeys, capturing the changes that each venue made. One episode followed the team behind renowned club Revolver Upstairs. Despite cultivating a nightlife in Melbourne since 1997, Henry Fosters, a resident DJ and event curator, shared that it struggled with “increased cost of living, increased rent, and noise complaints.” Using the fund money, Entertainment Manager Henry Who said, “It will allow us to continue pursuing creative ideas and engage artists.”
Meanwhile in Hungary, Expresszó Klub reveals in another episode how the fund helped with implementing renovations across the club such as a new stage and sound system. Its co-founder, Straub Gergő, shared how they can now look forward to kickstarting several other projects, explaining, “My plans for the coming year are that we remain diverse while giving up-and-coming talent the chance to perform.”
You can watch the full episode in the video above. Stay tuned to Beatport’s YouTube channel for more episodes on the Grassroots Venue Fund.
