Dorset Venues Join Nationwide “Everywhere At Once” Grassroots Music Movement

While Glastonbury takes a fallow year this summer, Dorset’s grassroots music venues are preparing to make plenty of noise of their own.

Across the UK, independent venues are coming together for Everywhere At Once, a nationwide initiative from Music Venue Trust designed to celebrate grassroots live music, local communities and the venues keeping music culture alive from the ground up.

Taking place across Glastonbury weekend, the project aims to encourage audiences back into local venues while shining a spotlight on the artists, promoters and independent spaces helping regional music scenes continue to thrive.

For Dorset, it feels like an important moment.

Speaking to Entertainment Dorset, Music Venue Trust’s Campaign & Communications Manager Toni Coe-Brooker described the initiative as:

“Like Glastonbury on its fallow year, but inside grassroots music venues.”

The idea is simple but powerful. Instead of thousands travelling across the country for major festivals, Everywhere At Once encourages people to reconnect with the venues sitting right on their doorstep.

“You don’t need to travel so far away or spend so much money to have a really good quality night out,” Coe-Brooker explained. “You’re supporting your local music ecosystem, local artists, local venues and local communities.”

At a time when rising costs continue to impact both audiences and venues alike, the message behind the initiative feels more relevant than ever.

Why Grassroots Music Venues Matter More Than Ever

Grassroots venues have always played a vital role in developing new artists, but according to Music Venue Trust, their importance goes far beyond launching careers.

“We speak a lot about grassroots music venues being a stepping stone to arenas and stadiums,” said Coe-Brooker. “But that’s not the only importance of them.”

“Grassroots music venues are cultural hubs for belonging.”

From live gigs and local scenes to friendships, communities and shared experiences, these venues continue to act as gathering places for people connected through music.

“When we’re in a time where mental health is an issue and people feel isolated, grassroots music venues are places where people feel part of something,” she added.

That message feels especially important across counties like Dorset, where independent venues often become the centre of local music culture.

Currently, Dorset has just two venues officially involved in the initiative so far: Electric Palace and The Anvil.

According to Coe-Brooker, that reflects a wider national issue affecting regional touring circuits across the UK.

“The touring circuit is now down to around 30% of what it used to be.”

“It’s become concentrated around a few major cities,” she explained. “Meaning many regional areas are missing out.”

Electric Palace Celebrates 100 Years of Live Music

For Bridport’s Electric Palace, the initiative arrives during a landmark year for the venue itself.

The independent venue is currently celebrating its centenary after first opening its doors in 1926.

“We’re an independently run grassroots venue putting on a mixture of original and tribute acts throughout the year,” explained Programmer and Assistant Manager Emilié Kennedy Watson.

Over the years, the venue has become one of Dorset’s best-loved live music spaces, helping bring touring artists, audiences and live culture into Bridport while continuing to champion grassroots music in the South West.

“It’s really nice seeing different generations come together through music,” Watson said.

“You see parents bringing children, grandparents bringing grandchildren and everyone enjoying the same space together. That’s quite rare outside of live music.”

That sense of connection sits right at the heart of what Everywhere At Once is trying to celebrate nationally.

Like many venues across Dorset, Electric Palace also faces its own challenges when it comes to accessibility and transport.

“There’s no motorway in Dorset and no train station in Bridport,” Watson explained. “So a lot of people are relying on cars and taxis.”

Still, there’s optimism surrounding the Dorset live music scene as venues continue rebuilding momentum following Covid and the wider cost-of-living crisis.

“I think it’s bouncing back,” she said. “Dorset’s got a lovely breadth of venues. There’s theatres, arts centres, independent spaces and smaller clubs all forming this big tapestry of arts down here in the South West.”

Bringing Attention Back to Local Music

One of the biggest aims behind Everywhere At Once is encouraging audiences to rediscover the venues and artists already around them.

While festival season often pulls attention toward major national events, Music Venue Trust hopes the initiative will help redirect focus back toward local music communities and independent venues across the UK.

“It’s about reminding people how much they already have at their fingertips,” said Coe-Brooker.

“Your next favourite band could be playing your local venue.”

For Dorset venues, artists and audiences alike, that message feels increasingly important.

As Entertainment Dorset continues spotlighting the county’s growing music scene, initiatives like Everywhere At Once highlight just how vital grassroots venues remain in shaping culture, supporting artists and keeping live music alive across the South West.

Because for Dorset’s grassroots venues, this isn’t just about one weekend of live music.

It’s about proving local music culture still matters.