THE COST-OF-LIVING CHRISTMAS FOR RAVERS

Connie Cowell
Dec 3
4 min read

Every winter in Manchester comes with a predictable set of rituals, like the damp swirl of mates trying to decide which afters is closest to a Spar. But this year (and last year, and the year before), another ritual has crept in…

Checking your bank balance before you buy a ticket, before you buy a drink, before you even book an Uber to the venue.

Across Manchester’s underground, the cost-of-living crisis is rewriting what a ‘festive season’ means for ravers, promoters, and the grassroots spaces that keep the city’s nightlife alive.

And places like The Bag Factory sit right on the frontline.

The Price of a Night Out Has Quietly Doubled

You don’t need spreadsheets to know everything’s gone up: utilities, rents, insurance, but the data makes it unavoidable.

The North West was the hardest-hit region for grassroots venue closures in 2023, according to reporting from NME and Arts Professional. The cause? Soaring energy prices, rent hikes, and operational costs that small venues simply couldn’t absorb. Yet public interest hasn’t vanished: in fact, Google searches for “grassroots music venues” jumped 70% in the year leading up to August 2024.

This is the contradiction of the moment: demand is high, but survival is low.

Promoters across Manchester feel it daily. Heating a warehouse space like the Bag Factory in December can cost the same as booking another headliner. Temporary staff cost more. Artists cost more. Drinks cost more.

Everything moves upward, except the average raver’s wages.

‘Gigflation’ and the National Picture

Manchester feels this sharply, but it’s part of a broader UK trend.

The BBC reported that concert ticket prices rose 23% in 2023, on top of a 19% rise since the pandemic.
UK Theatre data shows significant jumps in staffing and energy costs, which push prices upward even as venues try to keep things moderately affordable.

Even if Bag Factory isn’t selling arena-scale tickets, the ripple effect lands on the underground too: equipment hire, artist fees, PA suppliers, and security companies raise rates in sync with national costs.

The difference is that grassroots venues don’t have brand partnerships or corporate sponsors to cushion the blow.

Grassroots Spaces Are Absorbing the Hit

While big clubs can shrug off rising costs with £9 lagers, the DIY end of Manchester’s nightlife, from Cheetham Hill units to tiny rooms in Ancoats, is holding things together with cable ties, borrowed heaters, and community goodwill.

Spaces like Bag Factory, which run residencies for DIY collectives, feel the squeeze most. They’re accessible by design. So instead of passing every cost onto ravers, they bend before they break:

Promoters take home less (or nothing).
Crews reinvest earnings to keep the scene alive.
Artists play for mates rates.
The venue absorbs costs just to keep operating.

It’s community care. It’s also increasingly untenable.

Why 360 Deals Are Part of the Problem

Another quiet force behind rising pricing is the return of the 360 deal. In this contract, record labels take a cut of all an artist’s revenue streams: not just record sales, but merch, sponsorships, and crucially, live performance income.

In a recession?

At a time when artists rely heavily on gig income to survive?

At a time when independent promoters are barely breaking even?

It raises a serious question: Is this model ethical?

Here’s the tension:

Artists need to earn more from touring because streaming pays almost nothing.
Labels want a share of that touring income as part of 360 contracts.
Promoters and venues can’t afford higher artist fees.
Ravers can’t afford higher ticket prices.

It becomes a loop where everyone pays except the major players at the top.

Manchester’s grassroots scene, historically built on autonomy, independence, and DIY ethics, is the opposite of the 360 model. And the clash is only becoming more visible.

Ravers Are Changing Their Habits Too

Manchester crowds are loyal, but pragmatic.

People are:

Going out later (arriving at 1 am instead of 11 pm).
Pre-drinking more to avoid bar prices.
Choosing one “big night” per month instead of two or three smaller ones.

It’s nobody’s fault; everyone’s broke.

But the cultural impact is real: the underground thrives on consistency, not rare drop-ins.

Christmas Is No Longer the Financial Lifeline It Used to Be

December used to guarantee:

Higher spend per head
Students returning with cash
Office party spillovers
A city-wide festive mood

But this winter, everything feels more careful, more selective, more survival-minded.

Promoters say ravers now treat a December lineup with surgical precision, choosing one event rather than the whole season.

What We Can Do (Realistically)

No one expects ravers to bail out venues.

But small collective actions make a difference:

Choose grassroots events over branded clubs.
Arrive early so door takings support the night.
Share nights online, promotion matters.
Book studio sessions or creative time during the winter slump.
Support resident collectives who reinvest everything back into the scene.
Talk about venue closures loudly; silence helps nobody.

And importantly: support the Music Venue Trust, the UK charity dedicated to protecting grassroots music venues.

You can donate to their Emergency Response Service, which helps venues in crisis.
Or sign up to their newsletter/campaign to stay informed about local venues under threat.
Through their Liveline Fund, they distribute donations directly to grassroots venues and promoters, helping them cover repairs, infrastructure costs, or short-term financial support.

By contributing, you’re not just supporting one night out; you’re helping keep the whole grassroots ecosystem alive, including places like Bag Factory, where the real heart of Manchester’s music scene lives. Let us know what you think, and as always, we will see you at the front (of The Bag Factory).