London-based Signature Brew has launched a £250,000 commitment to live music, with beer grants from £500 to £5000 in value offered to independent music venues nationwide.

The last 12 months have been incredibly tough on the UK’s independent music venues, leaving over 550 venues in danger of closure and threatening the livelihoods of the thousands of passionate people who run them.

With that in mind, Signature Brew are pledging £250,000 worth of beer to help venues get back on their feet and kickstart the return of live music post-pandemic. 

Successful applicants will receive an allocation of the brewery’s Studio Lager to make sure their taps have fresh beer and to help generate much needed revenue to keep the doors open both this year, and for years to come.

Venues just need to visit www.signaturebrew.co.uk/beergrants and fill out a short application form.

Additionally, a portion of the fund will be allocated to touring musicians. Artists with gigs or tours booked in the UK within the next 12 months will be eligible to apply for their share of the beer, which they’ll be able to take on the road with them, removing some of the overheads of touring at a time when they need it most.

Signature Brew co-founder Sam McGregor explained, “We’re passionate about live music and we’re going to help independent venues and musicians however we can.

“The idea for the Beer Grant scheme came from wanting to offer the thing we do best as a way to make life easier for venues and touring bands after an unprecedentedly difficult year.

“We want to help as many venues as possible and we believe the Signature Brew Beer Grant will contribute to safeguarding the future of the UK’s music scene.”

Musician Gus Unger-Hamilton of celebrated indie rock band, Alt-J, added: “Independent venues have it tough even in years where they’re not forced to close due to a pandemic.

“But without these venues, many emerging artists would have nowhere to cut their teeth, and the music industry would be much poorer from top to bottom.

“This initiative from our friends at Signature Brew – we made a beer together a few years ago – is an innovative and fun way to extend some much-needed help to some brilliant places and help them get the show back on the road.”