Desperate venues and promoters are doing everything they can to breath life back into the scene. After an August where most venues under 1000 capacity had audiences numbering on less than two hands much of the time - the so called "Things getting better in October" saw a brief bounce at the beginning of the month.

Already there are some BIG NAME casualties. At the flagship MAMA venue in the West End Alan McGhee's new clubnight imploded after just 3 weeks and less than 30 people after he had left his previous venue - that venue still has not replaced the night. In addition the flagship club of the NEW GARAGE venue started with 850 capacity over 3 rooms on a Saturday night but has now been replaced by a new club called BANGERS and MASH - which they hope may prove better at getting into three figures.

The reality last SATURDAY in Camden and West End was stark. Theatres were ALL selling at the HALF PRICE booth ( including Phantom and Lion King ) for SATURDAY shows - Tott Ct Road station was earily empty at 11.30p.m when it would be normally full of people going home or coming to late clubs. Camden equally was a ghost town with few venues or clubs getting into treble figures. New music particularly has been hard hit with crowds of less than 30 most days of the week and barely above that at weekends. Even well known bands are only putting in less than 50% of capacity at many venues.

Despite this the big names from the past such as ROBBIE and others are still filling venues. The only ones who are doing so on a regular basis. Nostalgia seems to be selling well during this recession. Clubs such as HEROES at the BARFLY defy expectations and get more than three figures in their midweek residency whereas the new music clubs are struggling.

Thee is still money out there - but venues all across the UK are moving towards club based entertainment because bands simply are not doing the business at the box office anymore. Birmingham's new ACADEMY has sacked most of its live promoters from its previous building to replace them with clubs. Bands are upset - but the people running the venue must know the score and expect to make more money spinning records rather than having live music at weekends.

So where is all this leading ? will there be a cull of venues in 2010 ? or will they move to being clubs only ? I have no idea - but one thing is for sure - the current position is stretching the pockets of venue owners and the remaining promoters and soon something will have to give.

Live has been a big earner in the last years - but now even live is succumbing to the recession and bands and artists returning from tours around the UK say the same - empty venues everywhere most of the time.

The UK public has no money - hit by debt and rising fuel costs they are spending their money on SKY and maybe one big gig every six months watching an established name - the SPANDAU NOLANs JOVIs of the music scene. We are being taken back to the 80s almost literally or earlier by the lack of money.

It is tough being in a new band playing new music right now. Trying to get anyone to come and watch is increasingly difficult......