Charlie Mead talks about his experience at the protest party hosted by Save Our Scene. What is this for? How is it important? What’s next?
On the Eleventh of October, I attended a protest party hosted by Save Our Scene, that was organised to raise funds and awareness to help prevent the demolition of Digbeth. As I walked down the street, I could feel the floor shaking and hear the walls reverberate with the bass of the music. The heartbeat of Digbeth felt as strong as ever. Draped over an old warehouse beside the main stage, overlooking the crowd, was Claire Elisebeth’s ‘Re-Union Jack’. This large art piece, constructed from hundreds of torn-down Union Jacks from the aftermath of the right-wing surge in the summer of ’24, seemed to capture what this was all about: reclaiming a sense of ownership over something that should belong to its citizens. reclaiming a sense of ownership over something that should belong to its citizens.
In between my questionable dancing, that often portrays a broken revolving door, I was able to speak to the people around me. From the organisers, to those who were there just to enjoy themselves, there was a common sentiment about Digbeth being a crucial part of the social fabric in Birmingham. Billy, a local DJ and participant, spoke about the importance of Digbeth providing a place for independent music venues and events. However, it is not only the music venues that will be dearly missed, but without Digbeth, he feels the culture will ‘have nowhere else to go’. Claire added to this, stating that ‘this whole space here (Digbeth) is the creative heart of Birmingham and if it goes, it’s going to be devastating’.
A few months ago, I wrote about Digbeth ‘tightening the tourniquet on Birmingham’s waning clubbing scene’ by fostering independent, grassroots venues and artists. Towards the end of the article, I even stated that ‘Birmingham’s future nightlife has a lot of promise’. Now, I cannot help but look back on this article feeling slightly sheepish. feeling slightly sheepish.
Since writing this, Midlands Rail has released a £1.75 billion project to promote footfall and business efficiency in Birmingham city centre. Part of this plan involves the widening of Bordesley Viaduct, allowing another railway line to pass through the city that the council hopes will increase the volume of trains by up to three hundred per week. But this operation overlooked the seven music venues and fifty independent businesses that operate in the centre of Digbeth. By 2030, these businesses face the peril of closure, demolition or a compulsory purchase order.
Andy Burnham recently announced slashing business rates for music venues, pubs and social clubs. His reasoning was that types of spaces act as the ‘backbone of our communities’. Admittedly, I am a bit confused. On the one hand, he says that these sorts of places are essential to our society, but then his colleagues, Richard Parker (Mayor of the West Midlands), are helping set up plans to tear them down. These cuts would only save these businesses £1,100 a year. It is nowhere near enough to aid this struggling community, but is probably the right amount to help boost Burnham’s position in the next YouGov poll.
Since the event, Parker has responded to Save Our Scene, stating that ‘my priority is to ensure that the West Midlands secures the transport improvements it needs while also supporting the businesses’. ‘my priority is to ensure that the West Midlands secures the transport improvements it needs while also supporting the businesses’.
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