Foster’s Bill to boost live music in Bath

Don Foster MP has welcomed his Live Music Bill becoming one step closer to law. The Bill, which will free small venues from red tape when showcasing live music and make it easier to stage events in school and village halls, has successfully passed its second reading in the House of Commons.

The Live Music Bill was tabled in the Lords by the Liberal Democrats. Don Foster is the Bill’s sponsor in the House of Commons.

The aim of the Live Music Bill is to reduce the crippling affect that red tape and bureaucracy had on the live music industry across the country but specifically in Bath’s pubs. The Bill will remove unnecessary licensing restrictions that are currently in place for unamplified music, and for amplified music performed to audiences of fewer than 200 people.

Commenting Don Foster said:

“If this Bill passes its remaining parliamentary stages, it will help reverse the decline of live music events in smaller venues.

“By removing unnecessary red tape it will help struggling venues such as pubs and clubs and preserve our world class grassroots music scene.

“It is significant that not one MP objected to the passage of the Bill. Across all parties, MPs agree that the red tape on our live music must go.”

Alan Morgan, founder of the Bath based brewery, Abbey Ales and Inns, was delighted by the news:

“The Live Music Bill will be a great help to the pub industry in Bath as it will allow our small venues to put on music without the hassle of red-tape”

“Music goes hand in hand with British pubs but existing licensing laws make it nigh on impossible for small pubs to put on live entertainment”

“Hopefully, the Live Music Bill will become law as this will be great benefit to us at the Assembly Inn where live music will be a regular feature.”

David Jackson, Head of Marketing at Bath Tourism Plus also welcomed the news, adding:

“Anything that removes regulation for small businesses is a very positive thing, particularly for a city like Bath which has an active arts, cultural and live music scene”.