Passing Clouds: Thousands expected to march in support of Dalston music venue
Passing Clouds, before and after being repossessed. (Picture: www.samr.co). - Credit: Archant
It may have been painted grey but the Passing Clouds crew are hoping for a silver lining as they battle to save the independent arts hub.
Music venues across London will fall silent on Saturday next week in a show of solidarity, while thousands of supporters are expected to join a march.
The protest will start in Hoxton Square at 5pm before heading to the venue in Richmond Road and onto Gillett Square in Dalston for a night of music and speeches from industry representatives.
Landhold Developments evicted the venue last month after campaigners had occupied the building in protest for weeks.
The landlord bought the venue in what management called a “secret deal” last September and went to court to obtain an eviction notice, which cost 100 people their jobs.
Passing Clouds, which has hosted stars such as Lee Scratch Perry, the Sun Ra Arkestra, Jazzie B and Dawn Penn, had put on more than 10,000 cultural and music events since opening in 2006 and the 10th anniversary celebrations were in full swing when the venue was shut down.
Passing Clouds founder Eleanor Wilson branded the eviction a “wilful destruction”.
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She said: “Independent music venues like Passing Clouds are a rare and endangered species with a critical role in the UK’s fragile music industry. We have incubated talent and made a significant contribution to the local economy and music tourism in London, which is worth nearly £1bn a year.
“Wiping out venues like Passing Clouds will have a detrimental effect on the UK’s creative industries and deny a wealth of opportunities particularly for young people in the arts”.
