DON'T LET THE MUSIC DIE
First posted: 9 December 2002 Last Revision: 14 January 2003

Local musicians are seeking changes to proposals which could mean pubs and bars without an entertainment licence will no longer be able to host gigs by solo performers and duets, as they can now.
Local musician Jon Moore, who plays with E2K, outlines the campaign for changes to proposed Publice Entertainment Licensing that threatens Lancaster's thriving music scene...

This is a public warning. If at midnight on New Years Eve 2003 you feel moved to sing "For Auld Lang Syne", then take care! You may be about to commit a criminal act.

It's true. If more than two people sing in a place without a Public Entertainment Licence (like your typical local pub) then a criminal act will have been committed. No, honestly, I'm not making this up - this is the law as it stands at present. Clearly it's a stupid outdated piece of nonsense, and a smart government would take the first opportunity to have it repealed.

The opportunity has arrived in the form of the review of all licensing, including pub opening hours, two years ago -- but far from removing daft rules, the government white paper proposes to increase them. Among other suggestions are; forcing churches to be licensed for music(!),and making individuals take out licences for birthday parties, in case "Happy Birthday To You" is sung.

No comedy script could come close.

The proposals will remove the venues which foster choral music, folk, jazz, amateur orchestras, young bands; in short, all music that does not come out of a television or a CD player.

"As a musician, I find such sweeping and unfair legislation insulting and ill informed," comments local muscian Bill Roberts. "It would effectively outlaw, for example, a small collection of folk musicians having a session in a pub, or even someone having a singsong around a piano, unless an expensive licence is obtained.
"As usual, the Scots have got it sorted and don't have to put up with such arcane laws.
"All the evidence points to the fact that pubs which have live music have less trouble,", he argues. "In fact, usually no trouble and better behaved punters, since violent scum types aren't usually into live music!
"Existing health and safety laws already protects the safety of staff and customers, and Environmental legislation exists as a safeguard against undue noise pollution.

Perhaps the government knows about some terrible health risk associated with singing or playing music. If so, they are quite happy to let those north of the border suffer the consequences, as none of these rules apply in Scotland!

I beg all who have ever enjoyed live music to write to our local MPs, Hilton Dawson or Geraldine Smith. Just a note saying "Public Entertainment Licences - Why?" will do.
If this legislation is passed it will remove live music from Lancaster.

Or, as Bill Roberts so succinctly puts it: "There's enough trendy loud theme pubs with piped music and big screen TVs - why on earth discourage live music in a city where its already sparse enough?"