Saving The Spitz

by Jon Fletcher

With live music venues closing down left, right and centre, Caroline Kehoe decided it was time for more than just signing online petitions and starting a Facebook group

"I was close to tears as my feet had gone numb and I was shaking uncontrollably. Knowing I had to stop, and not knowing whether the weather would be as bad the next day, was devastating."

Live music is, apparently, more popular in the UK than ever before. Certainly the number of corporate juggernauts queuing up to sponsor live events seems to pay testament to this. And yet, when all should be sweetness and light, a raft of established and much loved London music venues are closing their doors for the last time. The Proud Galleries, Hammersmith Palais, the Spitz, the Garage – even the mighty London Astoria is threatened with extinction. Stranger still, bar the odd Facebook ripple, these institutions of London’s live music scene are disappearing with barely a murmur from the fans that have frequented them so faithfully over the years.

What makes this trend even more frustrating is the reasons given for closure. Certainly in the case of Proud, the Spitz and the Astoria – three venues that are each, in their own ways, quirky and wholly unique – they are being shut down in the name of ‘development’. It seems a strange form of urban evolution that sees us taking a demolition ball to centrepieces of a city’s cultural heritage, only to replace them with gleaming glass and steel boxes set in the nether regions of some ghastly shopping complex. Anyone who has experienced the student union horror that is the Islington Academy can vouch for how unappealing a ‘modern’ venue can be.

Perhaps it’s the sheer speed at which the venues are disappearing that makes the music loving public so apathetic – you’ve barely got your knickers in a twist about the demise of one favourite haunt when another announces its days are numbered. Perhaps we’re just too busy enjoying the treasures available elsewhere to care. Perhaps we’re just too busy, full stop.

Not so Caroline Kehoe. Visiting the Spitz for the first time, Caroline became so frustrated by the venue’s forthcoming closure that she decided to cycle the length of the country to raise money for their cause. On her own. Not usually ones to proselytise, New Noise thought this was something worth shouting about, so we fired off a few questions to her about the trip and what made her do it.

Why is the Spitz important?
The Spitz is important for a number of reasons. Not only has it played host to groundbreaking exhibitions in their gallery, given numerous new bands a platform and also provided a socially conscious restaurant for people to come to for the past 11 years, it also counts among one of The Dandelion Trust's many worthy projects. The Trust is a registered charity that supports the arts, helps people in traumatic situations and conserves green spaces and beautiful buildings. Their work ranges from providing holidays for child victims of the Chernobyl fall out to the preservation of woodland areas and historic buildings.



How did you become involved in their campaign?
Back in April, a friend invited me to the opening of Chernobyl Legacy, an exhibition of photographer Paul Fusco's work highlighting the lives of the people of Belarus 21 years on from the disaster. It was the first time I'd been to The Spitz. I listened to Paul's speech on what he'd seen and how we shouldn’t forget the dangers of nuclear power. I realised that an exhibition like this - one which has a very strong message, but is not commercial in any aspect - would not be hosted in many galleries. It wasn't something people wanted to see, but it was something they needed to see. The Spitz was unique in actively giving such shows a platform as readily as they would encourage new talent on the music scene. Annabel (Farnell-Watson, one of the Dandelion Trust's trustees) then gave a speech about their work, and about how The Spitz was being evicted from their premises due to redevelopment. I knew something had to be done, so I offered them my help that night!

What were the highlights (and lowlights) of the trip?
Watching the scenery, as well hearing the accents, changing was incredible. I had never realised Britain was so beautiful and so diverse. Cycling from the fresh, salty air at Land's End up through agricultural areas, and then along the coast was stunningly different to rush hour traffic around London Bridge.

My knees had started giving me problems a day or two before Birmingham and I'd had to start taking ibuprofen and paracetemol. There was a point cycling to Kendal, when it was lashing rain, and my knees were really hurting, that I considered giving up. I wondered why the hell I was out in the pouring rain, howling in pain, doing this. I thought about it for about 30 seconds and then told myself to cop on.

Still, the lowest point was without a doubt day 12, cycling from Arrochar in Scotland to Spean Bridge. The weather forecast was for about two inches of rain, and they were spot on! I had planned on cycling 78 miles that day, but the rain was torrential for the last five hours. Hypothermia was starting to set in and I knew that it would have been really dangerous for me to continue any further, so I stopped 20 miles short. Cycling on your own, you have to stay focused on what you have to do and keep yourself in a positive frame of mind and stay motivated. I was close to tears as my feet had gone numb and I was shaking uncontrollably. Knowing I had to stop, and not knowing whether the weather would be as bad the next day, was devastating. Luckily, I found a place to stay that night which had a bath I could defrost in, and the weather was much better the next day. I added the 20 miles to that day's total and in the end, made it to John O'Groats as planned.

The highpoint was being at Hazelwood House in Devon for the opening of Chernobyl Legacy there on day two. It was the reason I got involved with the Dandelion Trust in the first place and I changed the direction of my challenge to be able to be there, as I'd originally wanted to work my way down from Scotland.



What is happening next with The Spitz’ campaign?
The spirit of The Spitz will still live on through their new interactive website while a new venue is found and hopefully, their leaving party at the end of September will mark a change in location rather than an end to something which has made a huge impact on London for over a decade. I for one will continue to help them in whatever way I can and I hope the public will get behind them and actively support them too.

First off, you can go and use The Spitz while they are still in Spitalfields. Spread the word about it and what's happening. Badger friends to come along, as well as go and donate online. There's a justgiving site up at www.justgiving.com/end2end4spitz or go to www.spitz.co.uk and donate there. Give whatever you feel like giving, and make sure to click on the Gift Aid as well, which adds a further 28% at no extra cost to you!!!

What The Spitz really needs is the public's support, through donations, but also if you are an entrepreneur or have a venue you think is suitable for the incredible contribution The Spitz makes to the London Music and Arts scene, then please get in contact with them.

Quite a number of companies have become involved when they heard what was happening (you can find out more about these, and the challenge itself on www.spitz.co.uk/charitybikeride.htm) but they need as much help as possible.

Email the manager, Jamie with any ideas: jamie@spitz.co.uk
mikehaydock said on September 12th 2007 [report abuse]

Cracking article, that, and she puts the rest of us to shame.

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