Following the news that The Big Difference music venue in Leicester was forced to close its doors, the venue’s recent management team has launched a bid to take it over.
Anthony Lamb (Big Tony) first worked at the venue when it was The Cookie, over 8 years ago, and then went on to return as venue manager. He has launched a Crowdfunder campaign to ensure the venue stays in the hands of those who are invested in keeping it as an integral part of the city’s music scene. As the Crowdfunder continues to gather momentum, we caught up with him to find out more about his plans for the venue.
Tell us about your history at the venue and what this means to you?
I started working at The Cookie in 2018 as a bartender, I was aware of the venue and its status in the local music scene because at that time I was also in a band called EARLS. I worked at The Cookie right up until it closed down during Covid. I returned to the venue in 2022 as the venue manager once The Big Difference had taken it over. In my time at The Big Difference I have seen the place grow and a strong, supportive community form around the venue.
That building means so much to me, I met my current partner there, played loads of gigs and made so many friends in that building. I feel that I have a duty to the community and the city, to keep the venue going and make sure that Leicester has a really cool venue on its High Street.
The original target was smashed straight away, what was that initial target for?
I cannot believe how quickly that first target was reached. £8,000 in 3 hours of the fundraiser going live.
That money will go into the first 2 months payment on the lease, changing the signage on the front and repainting the front of the venue. (Pink, of course)
Now gearing towards the stretch targets, what will this enable you to do?
The stretch goals will allow me to make vital improvements to the venue that I was unable to do under the previous ownership. Such as; update the old furniture, repaint the entire bar, fix up the toilets and (if we get enough through Crowdfunder) reopen the roof terrace upstairs!
How important is the venue to Leicester’s music scene do you think?
The venue is just a building, don’t get me wrong, it’s a building I absolutely adore but the music scene is already thriving at the cities other wonderful venues (Firebug, Duffys, Soundhouse, The International & 2Funky).
Every venue is important to the audiences and artists that perform there. The Big Difference filled a niche for many queer and LGBTQIA+ focused events as well as showcasing new, young artists. It was a place where many people did their first ever show and it has been an honour to provide that experience for so many people.
Tell us a little about some of the events and the community that was building at the venue before closure?
We had many regular events…
Big Diff’s Little Gigs – Every Wednesday – a night for artists to perform in the main bar area in a low stakes, low pressure environment.
Get Mouthy – Every second Monday of the Month – A poetry and spoken word open mic with a special featured act every month. Ran by the Get Mouthy team, this event has a wonderful community around it.
An Asian Occasion – Seasonal – A mixed-bill comedy show featuring comics of south Asian Heritage. Ran by the wonderful Rahul Somia.
The Afterparty – Every Saturday night – A late night DJ event showcasing Leicester’s newest and best DJs (unfortunately this just launched 3 weeks before the venue closed)
Other than that there are regularly gigs every Friday and Saturday night that can range from touring acts, local headliners, charity shows, comedy shows and theatre performances.
What have been some of your highlights of running the venue?
My highlight is the ‘Big Diff’s Little Gigs’ event, it was something totally original to The Big Difference that was completely my idea and it was my job to organise a line up every week. I saw so many magical moments on those Wednesdays and watched a community of people start to come to the venue every week just for that event (shout out to the Big Diff Lil Crew) .
Tell us about the new name you’ve chosen for the venue?
Naming a venue is hard. Everything is cringy, lame or just rubbish if you try to find a ‘cool’ name.
So to get inspiration I researched the history of Leicester High Street and found out that it was the site of a medieval pig market, known as Forum Porcorum by the Latin speaking denizens of Leicester/Ratae. So that’s where the name comes from, it just means pig market in Latin. Forum Porcorum is really fun to say out loud btw.
To anyone reading this, what message would you like to give them?
Leicester is brilliant, I moved here for university in 2015 and I have fallen in love with this city. Yes, it has flaws but it also has so much potential. The narrative around this city needs to change. The fundraiser for Forum Porcorum has categorically proved how much people care about this city and want good things to happen here.
Thank you, all of you.
TO DONATE – The Crowdfunder for Forum Porcorum is open until the end of August. To help them reach their stretch target of £20,000 you can donate HERE.
Cool As Leicester’s Weekly Music Guide is sponsored by PPL PRS.
