LNZRT, pronounced “Lanzarote” (and not “Lanzert” like I embarrassingly said at the beginning of the interview) is a creative agency which works primarily in live music. If you haven’t heard of them, you’ve definitely come across the venues and shows they manage: MOTH Club, Shacklewell Arms, Rich Mix and the recent Wide Awake Festival. They’ve also just opened up their own space, Lanzarote Works, which hosts community centred events and intimate launches. Across these various ventures, one thing remains: a dedication to DIY culture and supporting grassroots and emerging art. I caught up with Georgia Hardy and Sophie Tutaev to better understand the threat facing the iconic Moth Club, the declining number of independent promoters and what it takes to keep venues afloat in this increasingly volatile climate.

SOS: What can punters expect from your events?

LNZRT: Cutting edge new music and a really personal approach. A lot of people who go to Shack and Moth become regulars because they both have such a familial feel to them, from the bar staff all the way to management. It’s really inspiring as well, you chat to some of the staff there, and it turns out that they’ve started playing regular gigs at the spaces as well. So, for creatives it's definitely the right environment, you never know who you’re going to be chatting to! 

SOS: Can we talk about the threat which is facing Moth Club?

LNZRT: So, there’s been a planning application submitted to build flats next to the venue, which got denied, but they’ve obviously come back with a fresh one. On top of that, we keep getting noise complaints. We’ve had it from every single venue we’ve ever worked on. Most of the time it's not from people who have lived in the area for a long time, but rather people who have moved recently and aren’t from there. It's the classic: people move in, but don’t actually want what they’re moving into. It’s pretty mad. 

And it’s not just us. In a matter of weeks, NT’s loft and Netil House both had threats of closure, so that’s three spaces in just a one-mile radius. If MOTH closed down, it would be a huge loss for the alternative music scene in London. It's such an important venue where so many artists come though, from new artists all the way to people like Lady Gaga who asked to come and perform there, which proves what a credit the venue is to the city.  

SOS: How can we support?

LNZRT: Come to the shows, but try not to be noisy when you leave the venue. But more importantly than that, sign the petition. We've already had 18,000+ people sign it but are still waiting to hear from the council, so any support we can get is great! We’ve also got a template letter you can send to the council, you just need to sign your name. Basically, the more voices, the better. 

SOS: What have you noticed about the way London’s night-life has changed in the last 5–10 years?

LNZRT: The most obvious shift as a programmer is how few new independent promoters there are now. When I first started, I could name 10 promoters off the top of my head, mostly individuals and students starting their own nights, now there’s hardly any. And I get why. The risks are much higher financially, and the industry has become so professionalised really early on. Bands that have only got one song out, now have management and booking agents. Whereas before, bands would spend six months to a year cutting their teeth in small venues, which allowed small promoters to book them. Now they have management, they build their relationships with booking agents much earlier on. Which is fine, but it really cuts out any kind of competition, and cuts out fun essentially. We love having small promoters doing smaller parties. Those are the fun gigs at the Shack, where it's free entry and everything gets a bit messy. 

SOS: What tips would you give young promoters then?

LNZRT: Just contact us, or the venue that you want to work with. We’re here, and we want to hear from new promoters and people who are interested in things. We will always give advice. For us to take on a night, a promoter needs a really clear idea of what they want to do. The questions I’m asking are things like: do they understand the importance of getting good artwork together? Are there bands that they're already in touch with? Things like that. 

SOS: What would you like to see change concerning UK nightlife? 

LNZRT: I’d like to see a lot more respect from the councils and the wider government for venues and the people running them. Also, more respect from people attending events. Wide Awake has always been a festival for discovering new music, and people don’t seem to get that. Just because you don’t know an act doesn’t mean you won’t like them. So it’s about giving people a chance. 

I’d also like to see the music industry work together a lot more. I know people are always saying this, but it doesn't always happen. More collaboration and less politics would be great. 

SOS: What is giving you hope for the industry?

LNZRT: That there are people doing good things. Sometimes I do think that it can be easy to get jaded in the music industry, because it can just feel like such a grind. But then I do just stop, and I’m like wow everyone is working in this because ultimately they love music and that’s what gives me hope. Music is so important to people’s lives. It really does matter, and that’s what gives me hope that it will always find a way to carry on.