by Johnny Lewis

Live music has always been a big part of the entertainment scene around east Kent.

Bands, duos and solo performers can really make a good night out great at pubs and clubs, lifting the atmosphere and creating a feel-good factor.

Venues offer a great platform for young bands to get started as well - where else can they play to an audience to see how well they are being received?

So it comes as a blow to the local music scene when one of the most popular live music venues is closed.

The Britannia in Margate has been a home for bands and their supporters for many years and notwithstanding the reasons behind the closure, it is a great place for bands to play with a decent stage space and good facilities.

At the time of writing there is a mounting campaign on the Facebook online social networking site for the Brit to be reopened and I hope the campaigners are successful.

You only have to look at the popularity of large events like the Folk Festival at Broadstairs and the Rock on the Dock shows at Ramsgate last summer to realise how much we would miss local appearances by good quality performers.

Keeping music live - whatever the style - is important. So we say well done to all the performers and venue managers that are keeping this terrific tradition alive.