Kickers and Save Our Scene Support grassroots Music Venues With New Initiative 'Stomping Ground'

Footwear brand Kickers have collaborated with Save Our Scene, an organisation that advocates for preserving live music venues in the UK, and created a new multi-year event series called 'Stomping Ground'. With musician Hak Baker kicking off the very first event at his local 'Stomping Ground' in Brixton last week, he also visited his local community centre, Spotlight, in Isle Of Dogs and did a pop up performance in East London. He also collaborated with Signature Brew on the day, launching his Pound in a Pint Pub Crawl & ‘Reef House’ beer.

Founded in 1970, Kickers has been a staple across the UK, as well as an iconic choice through the 80s and 90s within the music space. The Kick Hi's were extremely popular in Northern England such as Manchester within the raving scene, drawing popularity with the working class and people from multicultural backgrounds. musicians such as Elton John and David Bowie visited the Kickers store, scoring even more buzz around the brand and became a close tie with the britpop and indie scene with Liam Gallagher, Mike Skinner and Arctic Monkeys deepening Kick Hi's legacy in British culture.

Statistics reveal that 37% of clubs have closed in the last 4 years (NTIA) and the past year being the worst on record with 125 spaces closing or halting events entirely (MVT). With Kickers and Save Our Scene partnering up, they will host handfuls of events across the UK to help raise awareness of the closure of spaces that have helped so many people foster creativity and self-expression.

Alex Roberts, Kickers’ Head of Brand said: “The fabric of the Kickers brand lies within the venues and local stomping grounds which are now fighting for existence. These are the spaces in which so many of those high-profile artists associated with the brand spent their formative years, and it is vital, that the next generation are afforded the same opportunities."

George Fleming, Founder & Creative Director of Save Our Scene also mentioned: “Any major UK artist selling out Wembley or the O2 cut their teeth in small venues around the UK. The current collapse of our grassroots venues is unforgiveable and needs urgent action. If we want a future where live music is accessible for upcoming artists, creatives and community, we must do all we can to protect these spaces from continuing to close at this unprecedented rate."

Alongside this partnership, they will be donating to Save Our Scene’s charity partners, Music Venue Trust which will go towards protecting grassroots venues and the ecosystem as well as the Kick Hi boot celebrating it's 50th anniversary in 2025.