Just how shit is British pub culture for live music?

It's been around six weeks since I've planted my once-nomadic musical roots firmly down in the warm and sun soaked soils of Lisbon. Still very much a learner of the language and culture, and in spite of being weighed down by the gastronomical demands of endless plates of grilled sardines and cod fish, I have been busy making some inroads to this new musical scene.

The Portuguese have a very different attitude to live music to that which I have previously experienced in the UK; in many ways this can be attributed to the culture and the weather - which allows warm lazy evenings to unwind slowly into the early hours of the morning - something the British climate outright denies us. Here the live music events often don't even begin till eleven in the evening and run on till the early hours, but the most note-worthy difference is the attitude of the audiences, who seems to receive live music with an unbridled enthusiasm and outright lack of cynicism so often seen in the British pubs.

Here in Lisbon the venues are often filled with seated punters, who've all come to the bar specifically to see live music, and have often paid to do so with many bars employing a minimum spend-per-head policy. Their attention is often firmly focused on the performance and musicians and all songs are greeted with a sincere, heartfelt gratitude and applause (regardless of the standard sometimes) and by the end of the concert most will be on their feet dancing and singing along enthusiastically.

I can't help but feel Britain could have much to learn about the way live music events are run here, but also can't help but worry that the ingrained pub-culture and natural cynicism of home may prove to be a barrier to this kind of free, easy and sociable fun that surrounds live music here. It may take a generation at least to change some British attitudes, where often even the best local musicians are treated as a "nuisance" by the pub-goers, and in many cases the fact there is paid live music at all almost feels like a kind of "charity" from the landlords - who often see the effect that live music actually drives their regulars away and there till takes downwards.

Trying to put a finger on the reasons for this seems difficult, but is it a case that many Brits are unable to truly see the value of and embrace something unless it has been given a thorough endorsement from an entire peer group, various media outlets and slapped with an expensive price tag? For example in late 2013 I recall going to see an unknown George Ezra in Truro playing to an almost empty venue on a shared bill with local musicians for free. He was superb. It was a well promoted show locally and George was already gaining a good reputation as a star of tomorrow... It meant nothing ultimately. Fast forward two years and George returned to Truro - this time at the much larger Hall For Cornwall venue - along with an expensive ticket price; of course it was a sell-out...

There are quality musicians and live performers playing around you every night of the week. Some of them could be the stars of tomorrow and you can go see them - often doing the exact same act - entirely for free just by opening your eyes and lowering your preconceptions. As I've seen here in Lisbon these local performances are to be treasured and can do so much to raise the standard of life in the community - how can a quiet night in the pub getting drunk really offer a viable alternative? It isn't money or cost - because most live music events are free or have entry prices that are less than a cup of coffee, let alone an alcoholic drink. For Christ-sakes, go and enjoy yourselves.