Becky Hill returns to Worcester’s Marrs Bar for special gig

Recalling her early performance at The Marrs Bar, Hill described herself at the time as a “very timid, nervous 16-year-old in a yellow cardigan”.

“Sixteen was such an important age for me, I’d only really started doing open mics,” she said.

“I was kind of encouraged to start doing more and more little local gigs by a really good friend of mine and it was really important for me to gain experience and confidence and stage craft.”

The Everywhere At Once , externalinitiative saw more than 2,000 artists perform in intimate venues across the country over Glastonbury weekend, between 26-28 June.

A National Lottery spokesperson said because of National Lottery players, more than £1bn had been raised for music related projects across the UK, with £96m provided for 2,268 projects in the West Midlands.

Hill previously said grassroots music venues were vital to the UK’s culture and economy and that small venues were at the heart of a wider ecosystem that supported local jobs, hospitality and creative industries.

“I think these venues are really important for those beginning artists to become really great live acts,” she told the BBC.