I WOULD like to reply to the letter from Nicholas Coombs regarding the Lighthouse. I agree with Mr Coombs that there seems to be a lack of modern bands and artists playing at the venue.

I am a bass player and, whilst never making the “big time”, have played quite successfully in several local bands over a 40 year period.

Unfortunately, when you are in a band, the venues don’t come to you, you have to tout yourselves. The reason the Lighthouse doesn’t have bands such as Florence and The Machine and their ilk is simply that it is not viable cost-wise.

The Lighthouse could contact these bands until they are blue in the face, but if they don’t want to come, you can’t make them. It’s all down to bums on seats. To put on a concert is very, very costly.

These costs have to be met from ticket sales and merchandising and if it is a small venue which sadly the Lighthouse is, then it is not cost effective when you can hire a venue like the O2 Arena and know the place will be packed with thousands of fans as opposed to hundreds.

So, Mr Coombs, while I sympathise with you, don’t blame the Lighthouse for not getting the bands, blame the bands for not wanting to come to smaller venues.

TERRY NEAL, The Broadway, Northbourne, Bournemouth