Steve Harris and British Lion have announced a show at The Booking Hall on 21 May in support of the under-threat Dover venue. The news follows Kris Barras Band’s announcement of a show there on 28 June.
“We were very concerned when we heard that The Booking Hall was at risk of closing,” Steve Harris told us. “It is a fantastic venue, and we just wanted to get involved and be a part of keeping this brilliant music venue alive.
“We’re looking forward to playing a few other shows, including a return to the Cart & Horses, as well as shows in Faro and Seville in July.”
A £25k crowdfunding has reached 39% of its target with a successful completion meaning the charitable Community Benefit Society set up by Music Venue Trust would be able to purchase the venue.
“Music Venue Properties have now included The Booking Hall Dover into the Own Our Venues campaign,” Music Venue Trust said, “and are making a very substantial financial commitment to purchase The Booking Hall.
“However, as The Booking Hall was not one of the original nine venues in the Own Our Venues campaign, there is a shortfall of £25,000, and that is where we are looking for your support.”
Stuart Cameron of The Booking Hall is over the moon. “It’s fantastic to welcome back to the venue British Lion for a fundraiser show to help us purchase the Old Harbour Station,” he said. “The amount of support the venue has received since announcing our [The Booking Hall and Music Venue Trust] plans to purchase the building and secure the presence of a live music venue forever in Dover has been overwhelming at times.
“None more so than when Steve Harris and his team reached out to offer their services free of charge so that all funds could go straight into making the purchase a reality. Also performing on the same evening is Tony Moore, another Iron Maiden legend.
“We can’t thank British Lion, Steve and his team, and Tony Moore enough. It’s incredible to see that our little venue in Dover can get such amazing support from such industry veterans.”
To coincide with the special Dover show, British Lion will also return to London’s legendary Cart & Horses venue in Stratford, the venue where Iron Maiden played their first show.
British Lion played three packed out shows there in January and are thrilled to add a fourth show there in what is fast-becoming a home from home. The Cart & Horses show sold out in minutes after the announcement on Friday.
The band will also play summer shows in Faro, Portugal and Seville, Spain in June.
Keep up to date with everything at The Cart & Horse in The MetalTalk Venues series. Each month, we speak with a venue owner or promoter to highlight the work they do for the Heavy Metal community. You can read the introduction pieces for The Cart & Horses here.
The MetalTalk Cart & Horses Page can be seen here. For even more info, visit cartandhorses.london.
