Alex Turner’s Fender Stratocaster being raffled off in aid of Sheffield venues

Arctic Monkeys have established a crowdfunding campaign in support of grassroots venues in their home town of Sheffield, as well as across the UK.

The campaign has been established in conjunction with Music Venue Trust, and is focused on raising money for Sheffield’s Leadmill, at which the Arctic Monkeys regularly played.

In conjunction with Music Venue Trust and Crowdfunder, Arctic Monkeys are raising money for The Leadmill in Sheffield and other independent grassroots music venues in Sheffield and across the UK. During the early stages of their career,

Those who support the initiative via the Crowdfunder page will be in with a chance of winning Alex Turner’s Fender Stratocaster which he played at the band’s early shows, including at Reading Festival in 2006. Those who donate and enter the draw will also gain access to an exclusive viewing of the band’s performance at Reading Festival in 2006. Access to view the performance will be invite-only and will be shown at 8 PM BST on 26 August 2020, remaining available for 24 hours.

Writing in a press release, organisers said: “The impact of Covid-19 has been devastating for all music venues and particularly those independent venues who have provided a stage for countless artists at the very start of their career. The Leadmill is a Sheffield venue that has played host to an incredible amount of talent over the past four decades including Pulp, Coldplay, Arcade Fire, Muse, Oasis, Stone Roses, The White Stripes, Jorja Smith, Michael Kiwanuka as well as Arctic Monkeys.

“Since closing their doors back in March, The Leadmill rescheduled or cancelled over 120 events. With no clear opening date on the horizon, the future of this legendary Sheffield venue and the dedicated staff who run it, is now uncertain.”

All funds raised will go to Music Venue Trust to support The Leadmill and other independent UK grassroots music venues. View the campaign here. For more music news, click here.