Wolf Alice’s BRITs Moment: Ellie Rowsell Pleads for Help for Grassroots Venues After Best British Group Win
Wolf Alice used their Best British Group win at the 2026 BRITs to spotlight the precarious state of the UK’s grassroots music venues. Frontwoman Ellie Rowsell made a forceful appeal during the acceptance speech, stressing why support for small venues matters for the future of music.
Wolf Alice wins Best British Group in Manchester
The BRITs ceremony on February 28 at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena saw Wolf Alice named Best British Group — a title they also held in 2022. The award was presented by Shaun Ryder and Bez of Happy Mondays, who were met with chants of "Manchester" as they took the stage.
Ellie Rowsell’s call for grassroots venues
Ellie Rowsell used the platform to thank those who supported Wolf Alice in their early days and to call attention to the ongoing crisis facing small music spaces. Rowsell thanked the pubs, clubs and grassroots venues where the band learned to play and write, and she expressed gratitude to people who helped them in practical ways, including fans who bought a piece of what she called their "atrocious merch. "
Hard numbers highlighted in the speech
Rowsell referenced recent findings that underline the scale of the problem: a report in January revealed 30 venues closed in the 12 months up to July 2025, and a further 48 venues ceased operating as gig spaces. She also mentioned that last year 30 independent venues closed, 6, 000 jobs were lost and over half of small venues reported making no profit at all. Her point was clear: the health of grassroots venues is linked to jobs, culture and the capacity for new artists to build careers.
Stage moment and wardrobe scramble
The band’s appearance also drew attention for a more tabloid angle. Camera teams were visibly battling to keep parts of Rowsell’s outfit out of frame amid a racy fashion moment, a detail that circulated alongside coverage of the speech.
What Wolf Alice have coming up
Wolf Alice released their fourth album, The Clearing, last year. That record earned a glowing five-star review from critics and landed at Number 11 on a prominent 50-best-albums-of-2025 list compiled by a major music publication. The single "Bloom Baby Bloom" placed at Number 12 on a 50-best-songs-of-the-year rundown.
On the live front, the band are set for a busy run: a huge outdoor show at Finsbury Park this summer where they will be joined by The Last Dinner Party, Lykke Li, Rachel Chinouriri, Keo and Florence Road; a Trans Mission charity show at OVO Arena Wembley in March; and a headline slot in the Teenage Cancer Trust series at the Royal Albert Hall in the same month. Additional scheduled appearances include headline slots at Tramlines Festival, Kendal Calling and Eden Sessions, and festival dates at TRNSMT, Mad Cool and NOS Alive, among others. Schedule details are subject to change.
Competition and recognition
Rowsell, 33, and Wolf Alice triumphed in a category that included contenders such as Pulp, The Last Dinner Party and Wet Leg. The acceptance speech combined gratitude for early support with a policy-minded plea: the band argued that pursuing a music career should feel viable rather than dependent on favors or rare breakthroughs.
As Wolf Alice move from the BRITs stage to a packed calendar of shows, their win and Rowsell’s speech have refocused attention on small venues as essential infrastructure for the music ecosystem. Recent statistics cited in the speech paint a stark picture; details may evolve as advocates and industry stakeholders respond.
