Russell Watson To Play Special Gig At Stoller Hall, Manchester For ‘Passport: Back To Our Roots’ Campaign

Pet Shop Boys, KT Tunstall, Russell Watson and Passenger have pledged to play gigs for ‘Passport: Back to Our Roots’, the campaign to raise money for grassroots music venues at risk of closure.

Classical singer Russell Watson said:
“Grassroots venues were crucial in the development of my career. I spent almost nine years in the working men’s clubs in the North West of England before my touring career as a recording artiste. It’s heart-breaking to see so many of these venues – which are the fabric of our communities, where people gather to drink, procrastinate and be entertained - under such huge financial strain.

"Entertainment is essential to the UK. It’s fundamentally crucial in driving a large part of our nation’s economy but also in the employment of hundreds of thousands of incredibly talented people - from lighting engineers to prima donnas. This is a time for us all to reflect on just what the entertainment industry means to us and to keep it alive during these most unprecedented times.

I’ve chosen Manchester’s Stoller Hall, a small but beautiful and intimate venue, to perform a free concert in aid of Passport: Back to Our Roots. Please come and join me.”

Entry to the show will be via a prize draw which will run for three weeks from Monday September 14th until Monday October 5th via
crowdfunder.co.uk/passport-back-to-our-roots.

For a £5 minimum donation to the campaign, music fans will be entered into the draw to win passes to the show of their choice for themselves and a guest.