Suffolk superstar Ed Sheeran among 1,500 calling on government to save live music venues
Suffolk superstar Ed Sheeran has joined hundreds of others calling on the government to save the country's live music venues from a "bleak" future.
The singer, who grew up in Framlingham, is among a host of famous signatories on an open letter to culture secretary Oliver Dowden.
They include Sir Rod Stewart, Liam Gallagher, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Little Mix and Lewis Capaldi.
The letter warns that with concerts and festivals unlikely to be able to resume until 2021 at the earliest, the industry is at risk of "mass insolvencies".
"UK live music has been one of the UK's biggest social, cultural and economic successes of the past decade.
"Until these businesses can operate again, which is likely to be 2021 at the earliest, government support will be crucial to prevent mass insolvencies and the end of this world-leading industry."
The letter has encouraged supporters to use the hashtag #LetTheMusicPlay on social media and has led to people - including fans and artists - sharing posts and photos about their last live gigs.
Among them have been music fans and venues from across the Anglia region.
Signalling its support for the campaign, Cambridge Junction called on the government for a reduction in VAT and added: "Without assistance, businesses will go bankrupt, jobs will be lost, venues will close and some festivals will never come back again. Plus there are thousands of self-employed workers, bands and musicians that rely on the live industry for their work.
"This is an industry that in 2019 employed over 210,000 people and added £4.5 billion to the UK economy. It's a business that rarely asks for assistance. "
The open letter calls on Mr Dowden to deliver a three-point strategy for restarting the live music sector: a clear, conditional timeline for reopening venues without social distancing, a comprehensive business and employment support package, and VAT exemption on ticket sales.
In response, a government spokeswoman said the government had already provided unprecedented financial support - including the job retention scheme and loans - which many in the music industry had taken advantage of. She said it was working closely with the industry to "develop comprehensive guidance for performances and events to return as soon as possible."