PlugnPlay director Russ Alsop is hopeful Play will reopen as a live venue and has not ruled out one-off shows
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Plug pulled on live music venue Play
By Mike PyleOctober 12, 2012
Reading's live music scene has hit a bum note after a venue that promoted new bands for 11 years announced it will no longer hold regular gigs.
Play, the live music arm of PlugnPlay in Milford Road, Central Reading, will remain a venue for bands to rehearse and record.
It leaves only Sub89 in Friar Street as a dedicated live music venue in the town, although pubs and bars including the Oakford Social Club in Forbury Road and Face Bar in Chatham Street hold band nights.
PlugnPlay director Russ Alsop is hopeful Play will reopen as a live venue and has not ruled out one-off shows.
The final gig at Play will be tonight when Club Velocity will present Tilehurst five-piece Violet Class with support acts.
Mr Alsop said: “We’re stopping opening as a live music venue with a bar purely for financial reasons. We’ve spent 11 years supporting live music in Reading, but unfortunately the recession has taken hold and, to be frank, it’s losing money.
“We’re concentrating on our core business, which is recording and rehearsing in the studios, although, in time, we do hope to go back to being a live music venue. We will still keep our licence and do special events.
“It’s been a hard decision. Over the last 11 years we’ve been working our fingers to the bone because we’re really passionate about young people who want to make music and we help them with that.”
Mr Alsop said places set up as gig venues and not as bars or clubs are suffering.
He added: “I think there is a problem in Reading in terms of giving real opportunities and proper stages to up and coming bands but, until any business owner can make it work financially, that will always be the case.”
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Most recent user comments 3 of 3
I daresay the location played some part in this as they were never going to attract customers in who were 'just passing'.
15/10/2012 at 12:55 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Hands up who wants to work for nothing?
Same people stealing music and films that complain that the quality is no longer there, well there you go.
15/10/2012 at 12:16 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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agree with russ that reading's live scene is terrible currently, with way too much focus spent on corporate drinking establishments as opposed to actual entertainment.
15/10/2012 at 09:15 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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