UK born and now based in Berlin, largely because of Brexit, touring songwriter Josh Savage has played more than 700 shows on four continents. Here he gives he thoughts on how the post-Brexit EU work permit fiasco is impacting independent artists.

Since the Brexit Deal (or Trade and Cooperation Agreement) came into force in January 2021, a mountain of costly red tape has prevented musicians from planning tours in Europe as performances return after coronavirus.

There is no competitive advantage to be gained by restricting touring musicians’ rights. A solution will require both the UK and the EU to come together and agree a way forward.

Even the keenest Brexiteer must feel that the process has been tortuously long. / That has been, in large part, because successive British governments have refused to accept the trade-off between untrammelled sovereignty and friction-free access to the EU’s single market, a refusal that shapes today’s increasingly testy relationship.

The opportunity to travel freely, experience different cultures and exchange ideas, has long been a source of inspiration for creatives. The UK’s membership of the EU granted Freedom of Movement across the bloc to all UK citizens, which took away the previous need for work visas and carnets which were a costly and time-consuming drain on resources.