V&A Exhibition Celebrates the UK's Lost Music Venues

A poignant new exhibition celebrating the UK’s vibrant but vanishing music scene has opened its doors at the V&A South Kensington. 'Lost Music Venues' is a powerful exploration of the spaces that have shaped British musical identity.

After a public call last May for submissions, the exhibition, titled ‘Lost Music Venues’, opened May 30th. The exhibition features fan memorabilia and personal items to complete their collection.

With support from the Music Venue Trust, the V&A has meticulously assembled a collection of posters, membership cards, club photography, band merchandise, and fashion artifacts linked to approximately 50 now-closed clubs, concert halls, and community spaces across the UK.

Over 150 objects are on display, with a significant number sourced from the public. These items collectively narrate the story of grassroots and DIY music culture in the UK, highlighting campaigns launched to save threatened venues.

The exhibition is thoughtfully divided into four sections. The first explores the evolution of dance halls and cinemas into dedicated music venues in the 1980s. Highlights include items related to the legendary Manchester club The Haçienda, fashion pieces from brands like Dr. Martens and Converse, and the original 1985 sign from the Astoria in London, generously loaned by Damon Albarn.
Lost Music Venues. CREDIT: David Parry for the V&A

The second section delves into the rise of the 'toilet circuit' venues during the 1990s indie explosion, spotlighting grassroots spaces such as Moles in Bath, The Charlotte in Leicester, and Manchester’s Roadhouse. The exhibition underscores the importance of touring for both artists and audiences, providing musicians with opportunities to hone their skills and connect with fans. This segment features vintage Blur set lists, Oasis lyrics scrawled on a tour bus, and the briefcase of former Pulp tour manager Mark Webber.

It also examines how social media transformed the discovery of bands like Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay in the mid-2000s.

The exhibition further explores the ongoing challenges faced by grassroots venues, including noise complaints, licensing laws, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Contributions have been made by the Music Venue Trust, Northern Ireland’s Free The Night, Leeds-based No Place Left to Play, and the UK-wide Save Our Scene.
Lost Music Venues. CREDIT: David Parry for the V&A

Finally, the exhibition highlights the evolution of electronic club culture from the 1990s to the present, showcasing HIV and AIDS awareness initiatives, early Banksy exhibitions at Glasgow’s The Arches, and London institutions like Plastic People and The End.

“Music venues – be they gig spaces or nightclubs – are not only the lifeblood of the music industry but an integral part of the creative sector,” says Harriet Reed, Curator of Contemporary Performance at V&A South Kensington. “As sites of experimentation, entrepreneurship and artistry they nurture talent and provide vital spaces for connection and community.”

Entry to the exhibition is free. More information can be found here.
Lost Music Venues. CREDIT: David Parry for the V&A

This exhibition arrives at a crucial juncture for the UK’s live music sector, with recent reports indicating the permanent closure of 30 grassroots venues between July 2024 and July 2025. Last year, over half of the remaining venues operated without profit, resulting in over 6,000 job losses.

To support these vital spaces and facilitate artist touring, there's a push for a ticket levy. Smaller venues and emerging artists would receive contributions from arena and stadium gigs to ensure their survival.

The pressure is on the live music industry to ensure that 50 per cent of these shows are voluntarily paying in by June 2026, or else the government will step in to make it mandatory by law. Live Nation in particular have come under fire for not being as involved as other companies.

Live Nation, who played a part in Harry Styles contributing £1 for each ticket to his upcoming Wembley Stadium residency to the LIVE Trust, responded to the criticism by telling NME that they “support artists’ choices on charitable donations, and has worked with numerous artists who have contributed to the voluntary levy – from Coldplay to Biffy Clyro – and will continue to do so.”

The levy model is similar to that seen in the Premier League of football, and was given backing from the government in 2024.

The financial burden on grassroots spaces was partially alleviated at the start of the year, when the government delivered a U-turn on their potentially devastating surge in business rates, and also provided a package of extra support for pubs and venues.

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