In this talk, Grammy-winning musician Steven Smith reveals why the future of live music depends on the survival of grassroots venues. He shares how global superstars including the artists he has worked with and toured alongside, began their careers playing to fewer than a hundred people in tiny local rooms.

Drawing on his own early years performing in small South London venues, Steven shows how these intimate spaces give artists the confidence, resilience, and connection that no stadium can replicate. With many grassroots venues now closing due to rising costs, redevelopment, and lack of support, he argues that losing them means losing the next generation of great musicians.

His message is clear: if we want a thriving future for music, we must protect the places where it truly begins. Steve Smith is a Grammy Award–winning musician with over three decades of experience as a performer, songwriter, producer, and mentor. As a founding member of Dirty Vegas, he earned a Grammy in 2003, achieved Platinum and Gold records worldwide, and toured extensively across the globe.

In 2019, he contributed to the Grammy-winning hit “Feel It Still” by Portugal. The Man, which went multi-Platinum in more than 30 countries. Since 2017, Steve has been a full-time member of the iconic British band Squeeze, performing on world tours and sharing stages with artists from The Who to Hall & Oates. Alongside his performance career, he mentors emerging musicians through Help Musicians UK and holds a Master’s in Music Enterprise from Waterbear College, specialising in sustainable careers in music.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

Video posted Nov 19, 2025