Frank Turner receives MVT’s Outstanding Achievement for Grassroots Music Venues Award 2020

Frank Turner has been presented with the Music Venue Trust‘s Outstanding Achievement for Grassroots Music Venues Award 2020 in a wind swept ceremony on top of London’s iconic O2 arena. Recognised for 27 shows which were instrumental in directly enabling Grassroots Music Venues to survive the Covid crisis, which raised nearly £300,000, Frank was surprised with the award during the Team MVT Up the O2 climb.

Mark Davyd, CEO, Music Venue Trust

“With all the venues Frank has helped, and all the people he has inspired to get involved in the Save Our Venues campaign, there was never any doubt about who should receive the award this year.

Frank absolutely embodies the motto of MVT during these last 16 months; “People who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of people doing it”. Frank put himself right at the coalface of the work to reopen every venue safely, not just raising huge amounts of money but also using his name and reputation to stand front and centre of the fight to bring back live music.”

Frank Turner

“I was totally surprised by Mark and the MVT‘s sneaky plan to surprise me with the award, and I’m hugely honoured by it. The last year has been so rough for independent music venues, and everyone has worked incredibly hard to turn things around. I’m glad to have been a small part of that.”

The MVT Outstanding Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual whose work and life has made an extraordinary and exceptional contribution to the resilience and sustainability of the sector. It is the only award presented by Music Venue Trust.