Month of music events planned for town

A group of almost 30 musicians are preparing a series of musical events around a town in the Black Country to support and revive the town's music scene.

Walsall Music May-hem will take place across several venues in Walsall throughout May, including The Wheatshead, The Victoria, and The Fountain Inn.

Organisers said the idea was sparked by conversations about the pandemic and successive cost of living crises, as well as the closure of the Oak Inn pub in January, which had hosted open mic and live band nights.

"The loss of this venue, along with a survey at the time which voted Walsall to be the most deprived town in the UK, turned these conversations into actions," the group said.

Regular performers on the Walsall scene are being joined by open mic hosts, rehearsal room owners, music teachers and bands from Walsall's past who have reunited ready for the occasion.

A spokesperson for the group said: "Prior to the pandemic, Walsall had more than twice as many live music venues and a much larger community supporting the music.

"The label of most deprived town is not something we can dismiss - it is our reality and a symptom of being kicked while we were already down through the successive cost of living crises that have followed the pandemic.

"The closure of the Oak demonstrated the existential threat for grassroots music scenes faced through the socio-economic conditions we find ourselves in."

They added: "Collectively, we're fighting back, building a community-driven future as we can't wait for the local or national government to build one for us.

"We want to make it clear that there is a space for everyone here, musicians and music fans alike."

The group hosted warm up events in Walsall town centre on 18 and 25 April, while the full launch will take place on 1 May at Hednesford Ex Servicemen's Club.

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