Sam Fender donates twenty-five thousand pounds Mercury Prize to grassroots concert halls

Sam Fender accepting Mercury Prize in the North East
He won the honor recently in the North East

The star has handed over the complete sum of his £25k honor prize money to the trust for venues, which works to protect the Britain's independent music venues.

The star was presented with the award on mid-October as his third album the album was named the outstanding release of the past year.

The musician has chosen to hand the money over to the trust, in acknowledgment of the vital role small stages played in his beginning days.

"I personally wouldn't be doing what I am doing today if it weren't for all the performances I did around the area, and beyond, when I was beginning," stated Sam Fender. "These spaces are legendary, but they are facing challenges."

Beginning in 2023, over 150 of these spaces have permanently closed – approximately 16 percent of the entire UK sector.

Recently, top acts such as Pulp, the group Coldplay, the singer Katy Perry and Ed Sheeran have all backed the MVT in its attempts to keep the scene afloat, by applying a minor surcharge to their admission fees, which benefits local stages.

Fender also participated, generating more than £100,000 on his recent tour to support 38 grassroots venues across England, Scotland, and Wales.

These funds supported spaces that were dealing with possible closure due to challenges caused by flooding, fire incidents and family tragedies, as well as regulatory hurdles, court cases and sound issues.

Additional spaces received funding support in modernizing infrastructure and gear that directly benefitted musicians and concertgoers.

"The idea that revenue from shows in large arenas helps the local stages, where it kicks off for artists like me, is just common sense," Sam Fender has stated.

The band Pulp in concert
The group are among the artists who donated their honor prize money to charity

Fender is not the first artist to contribute his honor funds to worthy causes.

When Pulp earned the award in 1996 for their record Different Class, lead singer Jarvis Cocker announced that the act would contribute their winnings to the organization the charity.

That year, artist she shared her prize among several good causes, such as the NSPCC and a Sickle Cell charity.

"I also gave a thousand pounds to Highgate Newtown, to their gymnastics program, because I did gymnastics when I was younger and they needed better apparatus," Ms Dynamite told the media.

Two years ago, they gave their winnings to the local youth club that developed their act, in addition to other local music groups.

Additionally the 1994 recipients they gave their winnings to a charity for MS after a friend was diagnosed the illness.

"Receiving the award was sufficient," said artist Heather Small. "The prize was the cherry on top but we could do without the extra, because we had the cake. So our victory impacted the lives of others."

Recently, the MVT shared it had protected several local spots in the South East, by bringing them into public stewardship.

The first in Southampton and The Croft in the city were purchased under the public acquisition initiative, which is funded by the arts council and supporters who acquire "shares" in the buildings.

Nicole Gonzalez
Nicole Gonzalez

A competitive esports analyst and gaming journalist with a passion for uncovering hidden gems in indie games.