The very acquisitive of late MAMA Group have bought a number of London venues off the Mean Fiddler Music Group, and have also acquired the Mean Fiddler brand name. MAMA have acquired Mean Fiddler Holdings, which owns London's Jazz Café, Borderline and Garage venues, plus a 75% stake in the firm behind the G-A-Y club and bar. The deal also gives MAMA Mean Fiddler's brand and website meanfiddler.com.
As previously reported, MAMA, who already owned the Barfly venue chain, have expanded their presence in the London live scene significantly in the last year, previously acquiring the London Forum and Hammersmith Apollo off Mean Fiddler owners Live Nation/Hamsard. Mean Fiddler announced that the firm had made a new approach regarding acquiring additional London venues last month.
With MAMA acquiring the Mean Fiddler brand as part of the deal, the remaining Mean Fiddler operation will rebrand as Festival Republic with immediate effect. The new name recognises that the company's primary business is now festival promotion, although the firm will continue to operate the Astoria venues, which are not part of the MAMA deal.