Libertines co-frontman Carl Barât to headline fundraiser gig for The Margate School

Carl Barat at the Albion studio Photo Jason Knott

The Libertines co-frontman Carl Barât is headlining a benefit gig to raise money for The Margate School (TMS).

The singer, who also owns The Albion Rooms in Cliftonville with his bandmates, is taking part in the No Surrender gig at the TMS site in the High Street on March 4-5 which aims to help the art school raise more funds for its running costs.

Last month TMS successfully raised £50,000 to save the venue from immediate closure.

The independent, postgraduate, liberal arts school faced threat of imminent shut down after several recent funding bids failed to materialise.

The arts school launched a fundraiser  to secure its short-term future and a swell of public support resulted in £41,106 by direct donations and an additional £12,500 sent by cheque from a long term supporter of Margate and its environs.

The Margate School at the Woolworths building

Now it is trying to raise a further £100,000 through the benefit gig and an art auction, which will take place in May, to continue its current teaching provision and to make longer-term plans. The Margate School is also currently speaking with funders, partners, and Thanet District Council to help find an urgent solution.

The weekend fundraising benefit gig in March will feature music, DJ’s, comedy, and art installations.

Confirmed line-up so far: 

DJ set by Carl Barât (Fellow of TMS)

DJ set by Woody Cook

IAMWARFACE, with guest drums by Steve Hewitt (ex Placebo)

Dan Lyons and the tenants

George Pelham

Pink Suits

MC Kinky

Jen Nolan and Friends

US band

CutWith

Rapturous

Death of a Decade

Tickets can be bought by making a minimum donation of £20 for one day,  or £30 for two days here. 

Additional acts will be announced throughout February. There will also be additional performances held at The Old Kent Market.

As part of the Benefit Event fundraising effort, The Margate School is releasing a series of interviews and conversations with performers, supporters, and the community called ‘The Margate School Talks’.

The first conversation features a new fellow of the School, Carl Barât of The Libertines, Dirty Pretty Things, and The Jackals.

The aim is to continue the fundraising to build a bursary fund to support students, studio holders, fellows and other community members in accessing technical training and facilities.

TMS also has to secures its space in the former Woolworths building in Margate High Street which is currently on the market for £1.85m, and is in negotiations with the owner and Margate Creative Land Trust and a private investor.

People can support the school through the TMS website support page here.

Libertines co-frontman Carl Barát on why his family will make the full-time move to Margate

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9 Comments

    • I’m not a fan of the band but I’d like to think that The Libertines will/would do a fundraiser for the Winter Gardens once we know a bit more about its future , in the meantime I think you’re a bit premature taking a pop at them .

        • I really do hope that’s not the case but I’m slowly coming round to the idea that might be true especially now with the news/ development this week regarding the extra concerts and opening hours at Dreamland which might be the first nail in the coffin for WG .
          Are TDC playing games with WG and will say that the new arrangement at Dreamland satisfies the locals demand for concerts and so there’s no need for WG ? Time will tell !
          I personally would be very unhappy if that is the case .as I want both WG and Theatre Royal to still exist along whatever is going on at Dreamland .

  1. Why raise funds for this private company who have thousands in grants and just what do they contribute to Margate?
    Perhaps they can justify what they have spent the money on. Many other businesses have failed in Margate but these organisations get support having already wasted millions. Disgraceful.

  2. The usual angry baying mob moaning.

    Nice to see him trying to help local initiatives.

    Interesting to see fatboy slims son on the bill too.

    Didn’t know he had links to the area, maybe it’s completely random.
    Bet he can put on a good set.

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