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‘New music and a good night out’: Amy Winehouse film shows vital role of small venues

At the Dublin Castle in London, where the singer played, musicians and gig-goers say grassroots scene needs saving

As critics debate the accuracy of Back to Black, the long-awaited biopic on the short life of Amy Winehouse, there is at least one aspect of the film that everyone can agree on. In the last year, more than 125 small British venues closed, including Moles in Bath, Melodic Distraction in Liverpool and Velvet Music Rooms in Birmingham, citing factors such as the cost of living crisis and the economic impact of Covid. Former Camden resident and Winehouse fan Samantha King said the area, long associated with music, had changed in the more than a decade since the singer’s death aged 27.

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