Two north music venues have backed a nationwide campaign calling for major financial measures to ensure such spots can survive the pandemic.
The likes of Hootananny and Tooth and Claw in Inverness have fallen silent since lockdown was introduced in March, and there remains no clear idea on when gigs will be able to return as the UK gradually emerges from the pandemic.
Some have voiced fears that grassroots musicians may have nowhere left to play by the time crowds are once again able to gather to watch them perform.
The two Inverness venues have now joined with several others across the country to endorse a letter being posted to the UK government.
The owners are calling for a £50 million financial support package, along with a reduction on VAT on future ticket sales.
The letter states that industry leaders want the government to take the “two simple steps” to help the sector survive the next three months – and then leave them to work out the rest.
Bosses insist they do not want to become a “permanently subsidised drain” on the public purse.
Programmer for the Hootananny and Tooth and Claw, Steven Robertson, explained the predicament those two beloved hotspots now find themselves in.
He said: “The local economy has been impacted with the amount of money that even small venues bring in.
“Say people come to the Tooth and Claw for a gig, they may go to other bars for a drink at the same time.
“So it has a really big knock-on effect, and that’s not even going into freelancers who work in the industry and the many probably having to claim benefits now.
“It has also impacted myself as I’m self employed so I can’t get furlough.”
Mr Robertson stressed that venues aren’t looking for handouts – they want to get back up and running to put on gigs in a safe environment.
He said: “With the restrictions, it will not be possible to present gigs in the format that people are used to.
“There are lots of health concerns.
“It is important that the government puts in measures so these gigs can return in a safe manner.
“The main thing for me is getting support, and it is a temporary measure to make sure these venues return.
“Nobody is saying ‘can you support us so we can just all sit at home’, and everyone would love to be able to put on gigs.
“Ultimately we all want to go back to a place where everyone is enjoying live music in a safe way.”
The letter to the UK government highlighted that grassroots music venues are the “fundamental foundations and cornerstone” of the £5.2 billion per year music industry.
Mr Robertson added that Hootananny had helped names like Jake Bugg and Mumford and Sons on their way to stardom over the past few years.
He added: “Without these venues, how do these bands get started?”
Tooth and Claw manager James Carr said the amount of money needed to ensure reopening amid restrictions was “alarming”.
He has launched a crowd-funding page online to raise £7,500 to cover the rent payments for the pub whilst it remains closed.
The Inverness building started hosting live music in the summer of 2012 and has been hailed as one of Scotland’s best small music venues.
Mr Carr said: “There will a lot of changes like having to get hand sanitisers at every entry.
“We have been in discussions with the Music Venue Trust about what would be required to reopen and the amount of investment that would allow that is really alarming.
“The fundraising page was set up to cover the cost of rent for the next quarter and our landlord has been quite good.
“But there will be even more costs to come for special equipment needed.”
