Fender donates £25,000 to small music venues

Sam Fender has donated his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to the Music Venues Trust (MVT), which aims to preserve the UK’s grassroots music venues. The donation was made after his album, People Watching, won the award on 16 October. Fender acknowledged the importance of these venues in his early career, stating, “I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing today if it wasn’t for all the gigs I played.” He emphasized the struggles these legendary venues are currently facing.

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