"Its all digital now, everything uses Youtube and Soundcloud"

Named as one of Birmingham's leading venues for independent music, The Flapper & Firkin located on Birmingham's Cambrian Wharf is closing its doors on 30th June 2018. Open since 1969, plans are going ahead to replace the pub with a 12-storey block of apartments, despite over 11,000 people signing a petition to keep the pub open. 

Since 2012, Birmingham has gained the reputation for its indie explosion, taking the crown from Manchester's independent music scene. Bands such as Peace, Jaws, Swim Deep and Superfood have each represented the Birmingham music scene across the country as well across the ocean to other countries, showing what the B-Town scene has to offer. However, these bands would not have gained the attention that they have if it wasn’t for the venues offering to give upcoming bands the opportunity to play for a crowd.

People from up and down the country travel to see artists and bands that play at The Flapper, including one gentleman travelling from London in order to recognise the latest music being released and experience the electric feel these venues give. Further unhappiness is being expressed on the petition page to save The Flapper, with Nicola Boden writing "This is an iconic venue, we need to preserve Birmingham's music heritage!".

Walsall situated band The Real Cool are a rising name in the underground independent music scene in Birmingham, gaining over 5,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a large social media presence. Following their performance at The Flapper, supporting No Hot Ashes alongside Midlands local bands The Assist and Sugartheif, The Real Cool sat down and talked about the impact the closure of the venue will have on the Birmingham music scene.

Brother's Tom and Jacob Barton and best friend Ellis Garrett have depended on independent music venues such as The Flapper and The Sunflower Lounge for the year that they have been together and playing music. "Independent venues like the Flapper and The Sunflower Lounge give us a stage. We need these basements and bars to practice our trade." 

Although being the first support act of the night, that didn’t stop the crowd erupting with cheer after they finished their set. When speaking about performing in Birmingham compared to elsewhere in the UK, Tom mentioned about how hometown shows are the best ones because friends, family and local fans know the songs and sing along.

"When you go elsewhere, you have to win over a crowd."

Experiencing playing in different cities throughout the country, the band agreed that Birmingham is diverse in the way people follow certain artists, mentioning that Birmingham is a club-orientated and clique-based town in terms of music. "We had never played a show in Sheffield before and sixty people turned up just to see us play, just to watch live music."

Over the year that the band has been together, The Real Cool have had to play at small independent venues supported by Birmingham Promoters to gain fans and listeners. As well as using these small music venues as a platform to perform their music, Jacob speaks of how each venue has a different sound. "Every venue has their certain bands, and by going to these allows us to collaborate and branch out. Losing one of those venues is like losing a genre and sound within the underground scene."

"We need these basements and bars to practice our trade. There's a good underground scene at every one of these venues, each having their own certain sound."

The owner of The Flapper and Firkin, William Adams, is also the developer of the plans to replace the pub with apartment blocks. Despite numerous petitions and groups opposing the idea of the music venue being closed down, there is little hope of the pub being rescued regardless of Adams talking about looking into an alternative venue for the venue to move to.

In an interview with Birmingham Live, Will Adams spoke about the reasons why he is choosing to replace the popular and historical pub with a block of apartments that will house hundreds of first-time buyers. "Most music listening is much more online these days."

According to data released by The Official Charts Company and BPI (British Phonographic Industry), statistics show that in 2017, online streaming on services such as Spotify and Apple Music prompted the fastest growth in UK music consumption since the late 1990's. The growth in the consumption of music in the UK was driven by audio streaming.

Within the interview, it is evident that Adams is focussed on replacing The Flapper. "Assuming we get our planning permission, its going. There's no doubt about it.

“The existing 1960’s building is coming to the end of its life, and we feel that further investment will inevitably be required. These proposals represent an opportunity to help meet demonstrated housing demand."

With the closure of previous music venues in Birmingham such as jazz venue Fiddle and Bone, The Flapper is another venue to see the end of an era to legendary artists performing and presenting new sounds to the independent music scene.

The closure of such a popular, important music venue in Birmingham brings the fear of more following in their footsteps, recognising that music consumption is indeed moving onto an online platform.