ENTER SHIKARI and Headliner announce launch of Headliner Spaces initiative to develop beloved grassroots venue into creative hub

Enter Shikari and Headliner announce launch of Headliner Spaces initiative to develop beloved grassroots venue into creative hub

Band announce exclusive T-shirt and raffle prizes with all proceeds going to the venue

ENTER SHIKARI today announce the launch of Healdliner Spaces, a joint-venture with fellow St Albans-based music/tech media platform Headliner, to revitalise the fortunes of local venue, The Pioneer.

Originally opened as a charity in 1941 for young evacuees, The Pioneer has been at its current site in St Albans since 1961. Since then, the venue has been instrumental in the formation of legendary 60’s artists The Zombies, been the site of the UK’s oldest indoor skate park, and kept the teenage members of Enter Shikari out of trouble by giving them a place to promote their own shows, including some of the earliest performances by the likes of Gallows and Bring Me The Horizon.

Headliner Spaces was set up with not just with the aim to reinstate The Pioneer Club as a touring-circuit grassroots venue, but also to have a wider reach into the community and transform the site into a creative and cultural hub. To that end, the venue will also accommodate a rehearsal space and Dolby Atmos recording studio, as well as providing education, training, and experience for aspiring artists, live music crew and recording technicians.

Headliner Spaces has already overseen the renovation of the venue (including installation of a new bar, in partnership with the good people of Signature Brew) and the studio build, with more plans for the near future.

Despite having opened quietly earlier in 2023, The Pioneer / Headliner Spaces will formally launch on Thursday 7th September with an event at the venue. Keep an eye on www.instagram.com/thepioneerclubmusic for more details. 

To raise further funds for the project, Enter Shikari have also donated some prizes of great historical value for a special charity raffle…

Want to own Chris’s bass or Rou's Kaos Pad, as played in the 'Sorry You’re Not A Winner' and 'Anything Can Happen…' videos? How about Rory’s Common Dreads-era Gibson SG (as seen in the 'Sssnakepit' video)?

These items - and more - could be yours.

The band have also released a St Albans-themed charity T-shirt, with all proceeds donated to The Pioneer registered charity to support Headliner Spaces and other endeavours. Each shirt sold also counts as one raffle entry.

More raffle details and t-shirt sale at the Enter Shikari website.

Enter Shikari recently announced their biggest ever headline tour of UK arenas, set to take place through February 2024, in celebration of the release of their UK #1 album A Kiss for the Whole World. Always a band to lead by example, Enter Shikari will be donating £1 from each ticket sale to the Music Venue Trust in support of grassroots venues in each city the band will be touring through.

Enter Shikari 2024 UK tour dates. Tickets are on sale now here.

Fri 09 Feb - First Direct Arena, Leeds, UK
Sat 10 Feb - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham, UK
Mon 12 Feb - O2 Academy, Edinburgh, UK
Wed 14 Feb - O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
Thu 15 Feb - O2 Victoria Warehouse, Manchester, UK
Fri 16 Feb - International Arena, Cardiff, UK
Sat 17 Feb - OVO Arena Wembley, London, UK