• Keeping music and club culture alive is critical to Britain’s reputation on the global stage, and a key factor in the wellbeing of people and communities
• Music and club venues have no energy cap like households do, seeing increases in their energy costs of over 200% to 300%
• Supporting venues is as important as supporting emerging artists with opportunities
• New curated concert meets club night means affordable fun isn’t a compromise on quality
In the midst of a cost of living crisis, one events startup is making sure no person has to cut back on fun and belonging; venues can stay afloat with exciting programming, and emerging artists can keep London music and club culture vibrant. Whether due to Brexit or the war in Ukraine, the cost of living and energy prices have a sting. Everyone, from the average person to the artists to venue owners, are feeling the squeeze. This is where What Does Not (WDN) comes into play. This events company, whose unique programme of events focuses on creating fun and affordable spaces of belonging, is out to make sure you can’t put a price on human connection or culture.
“Our focus is creating experiences that bring a unique edge to forging genuine human connection – and supporting emerging creators while we’re at it,” says founder Christine Charitonos. “In this financially squeezed climate, keeping emerging bricks and mortar alive is as important as supporting emerging humans” she adds – an important consideration, since the rising costs of life present challenges for consumers of culture, creators and host venues alike.
It’s a sentiment echoed by Night Time Industries Association boss Michael Kill. They’ve been lobbying the government throughout the pandemic, and into the cost of living crisis, seeking more support for night-time businesses: “Dance music and clubs drive culture to the heart of communities – from the lone teenager listening to beats on a laptop in a bedroom, to groups of kids on an estate spitting lyrics and bars over an electro beat from the 1980s on a mobile phone, to the soul, jazz and funk instrumentals that underpin modern productions.”
To give an idea of how venues are feeling the pressure, Dalston Superstore, for example, a multipurpose queer venue in Hackney, east London, has seen their electricity costs increase over 300%, jumping from £14,000 per year to £65,000 per year.
WDN founder, Charitonos is on the case: “We want to tear down all barriers that stand in the way of culture, connection and opportunity. Our new event series, What Does Not NOISE is doing just that.” She is referring to their new curated, emerging music series that’s launching at the Outernet on 3rd February. Designed to maintain London as the breeding ground for amazing music, it’s a much-needed grassroots initiative for British culture. Brexit made it harder for emerging artists to tour the EU and make a name for themselves, Arts Council funding is greatly reduced, and of course, the ever-present cost of living crisis puts pressure on them to take “a real job”.
“Our event on 3rd February is bringing grassroots music back to the heart of London, in what’s known as Britain’s Tin Pan Alley. Gentrification made it hard for music culture to flourish in central London – we, together with the Outernet’s grassroots music venue, The Lower Third, are out to change that,” says Charitonos. In the past, Soho’s Denmark Street, the location of The Lower Third, is where the Rolling Stones, the Sex Pistols and David Bowie hung out and recorded music. The venue itself also has an illustrious history as, in its previous incarnation as the 12 Bar Club, it hosted early performances by Adele, Regina Spektor and Jeff Buckley.
“We’re saying, spend less, but spend smart – where it makes a difference. A night out with us is a conscious decision to support culture and all the players in the culture ecosystem – because music is so key to what it means to be human,” Charitonos added: “So we scoured the underground scene and handpicked some amazing talent, and created an affordable night out, in one of London’s hottest venues, in support of emerging artists.”
The highly curated What Does Not NOISE event features three emerging live acts, and three DJs, all for £13.47 – less than the predicted price of a pint in 2025, making sure that keeping music and club culture alive packs a lot of punch for your money.
Tickets to What Does Not NOISE, are available on Dice.
