Part three of my recent United We Stream GM DJ set is available now via my Mixcloud Select profile along with parts one and two. The final part will be available from next Wednesday 1st July at 08:00 BST.
Earlier this week Peter Hook and I appeared on Sky News to talk about the cancellation of this year’s Glastonbury festival, the postponement of the Haçienda Classical shows and the lack of guidance, help or advice from the government regarding when live venues might be able to open again. You can read what we said and watch a clip here:
Coronavirus: DJ Graeme Park says government's plans for reopening live music sector are “shambles”
Park told Sky News he couldn't believe the music industry was being overlooked
Also this week I’ve been working with Forgotten Ltd to raise awareness of the lack of meaningful government support for the small business community across the UK. Like so many people who work in my sector, I’m a director of a small limited company and as a result we don’t qualify for the government’s furlough or self-employed income support scheme. Forgotten Ltd We call on the government to address this disparity by extending COVID-19 support packages to those of us left behind are asking for parity. They are are asking not to be forgotten. Look out for their campaign by searching #ForgottenLtd and get involved by signing their online petition or by writing to the Chancellor or your MP. You can follow them on Twitter or Facebook More details from the Forgotten Ltd website
Finally, a big shout to everyone who joined me online as part of the Beat 106 Scotland launch. A lot of you have been asking when I’m planning to live-stream again after taking a short break. Well, I will be back online soon but just not as often as I have been. Although I have helped to raise huge amounts for charity, like most DJs I'm basically doing a lot of work for nothing. Up until the end of May I was streaming at least three times a week and often more. So I’ve decided to focus my efforts on holding the Government to account regarding lack of advice on when live venues might open and lobbying for directors of small limited companies to get the same financial help as the self-employed and furloughed workers (see above). If venues remain closed for the foreseeable future, then people will have to start paying something for online content to support live musicians, performers and DJs whose income has completely disappeared. I hope you understand. However, I will be popping up from time to time on Mixcloud Live as well as other platforms. Just not several times a week. Ultimately I’m really missing performing live either as a DJ or with Haçienda Classical and I can’t wait until some kind of normality returns to my industry and I can meet my friends, colleagues and fans again.