TWO up and coming bands will be taking to the stage at a grassroots music venue in Winchester thanks to Lottery funding.
The Railway Inn will be hosting two shows as part of the National Lottery Revive tour
The tour is taking place in grassroots music venues across the UK between June and September.
The Railway Inn in St Paul’s Hill will be welcoming bands Sick Joy and Vigilantes with all touring and production costs being covered by the National Lottery.
Every National Lottery player who buys a ticket can bring a friend for free, giving music fans the opportunity to enjoy music in their local venues at an affordable price.
The revive tour is in association with the Music Venue Trust (MVT), a charity that aims to protect grass root venues by securing their long-term future.
After their recent gig performing to thousands of people in Hyde Park, Sick Joy will be coming to Winchester for the first time on Saturday, July 23 for a more intimate affair.
The Brighton based band described their style as “somewhere between punk, grunge and industrial.”
Sick Joy guitarist and singer, Mykl Barton said: “The MVT is keeping grassroots venues going and giving them the support that they need."
The three-piece band will be playing a total of 10 grass root venues as part of the tour, with the Railway Inn being their first stop.
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Mykl added: “A part of me still leans towards the smaller venues because you’re really close to crowd, you can taste the sweat. I prefer intimate shows, you get more of a buzz as an artist."
More than 20 bands and artists are taking part in the National Lottery’s third ever revive tour. Charlie XCX Paolo Nutini, Sleaford Mods, The Amazons and The Coral will also be playing special live shows to highlight the importance of grassroots music venues.
The National Lottery funding is a rare form of secure income for smaller venues like the Railway Inn that have recently seen a significant decline in footfall.
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Show promoter and show rep for the Railway Inn, Jack Bolton said: “We’re always excited to be involved with the National Lottery Revive Tours because it kind of sends us some bands that might not have thought about playing in Winchester before.
“As much as we try, Winchester isn’t necessarily the coolest place for a tour to be done. But little may they realise, coming to our stage they are playing in the same place that Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran and Kasabian once did.”
The Railway Inn is selling 60 two-for-one tickets for each of the revive tour shows. The second show hosting Indie rock band, Vigilantes on Thursday, July 28.
For tickets, go to: guides.ticketmaster.co.uk/revive-live/.
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