What Is The Liveline Fund And How Did It Save Nigel Price's UK Jazz Tour?

Picture this. An artist spends a year and a half meticulously planning a massive trip, organising gigs in 46 different places, getting the band together, and sorting out all the fiddly details. Then, just as it's all coming together, the money falls through. The whole thing is about to be cancelled. That's exactly what nearly happened to award-winning jazz guitarist Nigel Price and his huge UK tour. But just in the nick of time, a new hero for the UK music scene stepped in. This isn't a story about capes, but about community, a clever idea, and a charity fund that's changing the game for live music. The tour is on, and it's all thanks to the Liveline Fund.

A tour that nearly didn't happen

Putting a band on the road is a seriously expensive business. It's not just about turning up and playing; there's travel, accommodation, and paying the musicians. For many artists, especially in specialist genres like the jazz scene, getting the necessary funding is the only way to make a big tour happen.

Nigel Price, one of the UK's most respected jazz guitarists, found himself in a tough spot when his application for a grant was turned down. After 18 months of hard work, his entire UK grassroots tour was hanging by a thread.

Nigel himself explained just how difficult the situation was:

"It has become increasingly hard over the last ten years or so to take a band on the road in the UK, and it's pretty much impossible to make it happen without some kind of funding. The Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant system is extremely competitive and the likelihood of success is not high. When my ACE bid was turned down the whole tour was in jeopardy. 18 months of work! Although I was familiar with the fantastic work that MVT have been doing, I was not aware of the Liveline Fund, so to be the first recipient of that support on the jazz scene is not just an honour - right now it actually feels like nothing short of a miracle! I cannot thank MVT and Save Our Scene enough for rescuing this tour. It feels like we are welcoming in a new era of much needed support for the grassroots arts here in the UK."

Date in Leeds

Nigel and the band will be playing at the jazz bar and café, Seven Arts - a community-centred independent venue, in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, on 30th October 2025 at 7:30 pm, tickets £18 – £20.

What is the liveline fund anyway?

Liveline Fund is formed from two organisations dedicated to protecting live music: Music Venue Trust (MVT) and Save Our Scene. Think of it like a circle of musical life. When you buy a ticket to see a massive artist like Coldplay or Sam Fender at a huge stadium, a tiny slice of that ticket money is voluntarily contributed to a central pot. That pot of money is the Liveline Fund. This fund is then used to support grassroots venues, artists, and promoters - the very people who run the small, local gigs where most big artists start their careers. It's a way for the superstars of today to help fuel the future of UK grassroots music.

Big names like Katy Perry and Enter Shikari were some of the first artists to get on board, helping Liveline begin its mission to keep music alive in communities across the country. Nigel's tour is the first in the jazz scene to get this support, showing how this funding can help all kinds of music, not just rock and pop.

So, what's the big deal about this uk grassroots tour?

This isn't just any old tour. It's a massive 46-date journey across the UK, kicking off on September 15 and running right through to December 11. It's being called the biggest event on the UK jazz calendar for 2025, bringing world-class music to towns and cities everywhere. For most of the dates, Nigel will be playing with his brilliant Nigel Price Organ Trio, featuring Ross Stanley and Joel Barford. These guys are a proper powerhouse of sound. But there's more. Nigel is also bringing over some incredible international guests.

• Lorne Lofsky: A legendary Canadian guitarist who has played with some of the biggest names in jazz history, like Oscar Peterson. He's always wanted to visit Scotland, so Nigel is making it happen before they head down to London for a special gig during the London Jazz Festival. That performance is even being recorded for one of his future albums, planned for 2026.
• Alessio Menconi: An amazing guitarist from Italy is coming over for a few shows in early November. He and Nigel will be recording their gig at The Bull's Head in Barnes on November 5 - and they're hoping to create some serious fireworks!
• Libor Smoldas: A brilliant Czech guitarist is also flying in for three dates in October.

This tour is a chance to see a musician who has released 10 albums as a leader, won a British Jazz Award, and spent years playing in incredible bands, including a decade in acid jazz outfit The Filthy Six. And now, he's bringing this incredible live music experience to a venue near you.