Dua Lipa and Sam Fender – two of the most popular singers in the country who have performed on the Glastonbury Pyramid Stage. In music, you have to start somewhere, you don’t make it to Glastonbury overnight. So I visited the Birmingham bar and music venue which has been the gateway for the next generation of artists for years. Read More: I visited a ‘cosy town’ in the Midlands named ‘happiest place to live’ where locals enjoy life Opening in 2002, The Sunflower Lounge is a venue on Norfolk Street and only a short walk from Bullring & Grand Central. The upstairs bar might have psychedelic artwork for the eyes, but the heart of the Sunflower is the intimate home of music downstairs. Propping up at the bar, I met with general manager Ed Scott who sadly revealed there are times where the bar is ‘hanging on’. Ed said: “In my two years here, there have been times where it feels like we’re hanging on, to a point. “Our busiest months are usually March until June and then September until December. “We used to tick over quite nicely during the summer, even though we didn’t have many gigs. “It’s starting to thin out now in the quiet months and that’s what kills us.” Travelling into the city centre on weekends, a packed smoking area outside the bar would be an indication it would be a busy night in Birmingham. However, with Birmingham looking like a ghost town some nights, it’s not surprising a city centre venue is suffering as a result. I later spoke with booking manager Rich Morgan, a regular visitor of the Lounge who has noticed a similar decrease in footfall. Rich said: “I used to go home after gigs and when I went upstairs, I had to squeeze my way out because there were so many people at the bar. “Since lockdown, Digbeth has taken a lot from us because it’s the go-to area. Snobs closing down across the road hasn’t helped either. “The young generation missed out a lot during lockdown and I think that’s why they don’t go to music venues as much. “We’re really missing out on students who aren’t coming to gigs anymore.” As a booking promoter, Rich named Birmingham as ‘probably the hardest city’ in the UK for selling tickets. He said: “We have a much older demographic and don’t really get the kids, even at our Sam Fender show. “In the nineties, every big band played here and now they go to other Midlands cities like Nottingham. “When bands announce a tour, it’s a shock when you see Birmingham on the poster.” Ed added: “A lot of bands have had issues in the past where they haven’t sold many tickets. “We’ll chat to them afterwards and they’ll say they performed the night before in Manchester to a sold-out crowd. “The next day, they’re performing to about 20 people in Brum. “It’s something about Birmingham. People are happy to spend money at Utilita Arena, but nobody wants to spend at grassroots level. “There’s plenty of other promoters actively trying to promote live music, but it feels like flogging a dead horse sometimes. “You don’t have to come here and spend all your money, I run into people all the time who say they love The Sunflower Lounge. “If every person who said that came here for just one pint a week, that would be a massive benefit.” The world will be watching Villa Park in less than two weeks for Black Sabbath. If we show that same appetite for music venues as we do for stadium shows, I think the whole of Birmingham nightlife will benefit. In November, I spoke to greengrocer JH Ward who issued his own plea when customers didn’t return after lockdown. Whether it’s a pub, greengrocer or your favourite venue, the simple answer is this: use it or lose it. For musicians interested in performing, please email bookings@thesunflowerlounge.com The Sunflower Lounge is located on 76 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4EG.