Musicians have expressed heartbreak at the shock closure of a popular Sheffield independent venue.

Yesterday (March 5) The Dorothy Pax, in Victoria Quays, announced its immediate closure via social media to thousands of followers, after eight years in the industry. 

For the last two and a half years, popular jazz manouche band Jazz Hot Six have been performing at the venue every month.

Guitarist Bryan Day, of Jazz Hot Six, said: “Their closure is a massive loss to the culture of Sheffield. Without places like it, the world is a very dull place.”

Jazz Hot Six played at The Dorothy Pax the day before the closure was announced, describing it as ‘heartbreaking’ to know that it would be the last gig that they would perform there.

The Music Venue Trust said: “Dorothy Pax is going to be bowing out at a position of never having been stronger… a story becoming tragically common in our sector.”

The Dorothy Pax’s recent success has only made their abrupt closure more shocking.

Mr Day said: “Our nights had become so popular that steps had to be taken in order to keep the numbers attending down.

“It became one of the best nights out in Sheffield.”

The band is determined to continue playing in Sheffield as soon as they have found a new venue to host them, and hope to retain their slot on the first Tuesday of every month. 

Jazz Hot Six’s struggle to find another suitable venue reflects the hardships that grassroots music venues are currently facing countrywide, and the reason for The Dorothy Pax’s closure. 

Arkodoy Dutta, 20, a student and regular at The Dorothy Pax, said: “I’ve seen some of the best live music Sheffield has to offer at Dorothy Pax.

“It’s definitely the end of an era and makes me anxious about what’s to come for other music venues in Sheffield.”

The Dorothy Pax has heavily emphasised the importance of supporting local talent and independent venues, stating that we must ‘use them, or lose them’. 

Mr Day said: “We’d like to personally thank Richard and everyone at The DP for their contribution to the Sheffield music and arts scene.”