Independent Venue Week (IVW) have named Nova Twins, Brògeal, and Eve Goodman as their special ambassadors for this year’s event. IVW 2026, due to take place between the 26th of January and the 1st of February, is an initiative to promote and celebrate smaller venues, promoters and trusts that bring live music to the UK without significant industry backing.

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Independent clubs and bars have had a hard time keeping their doors open in recent history, for a variety of reasons. Big promoters tend to smother them and demand an unfair cut for doing business, government and local councils hit them with ever-rising rates for operating, and unprecedented factors like the global COVID pandemic caused closures which have hurt their finances in a way few hosts have recovered from. These obstacles coupled with a lack of support from the mainstream media makes an uphill struggle significantly steeper. Research conducted by the Night Time Industries Association found that one in four late night venues, totaling 800 properties, had closed their doors permanently since 2020.

IVW’s organisers define an independent venue as one that follows their “cornerstone principle” of operating for “purpose over profit”, a place where local promoters and organisers schedule gigs for the experience, instead of siphoning money away for shareholders- one that is both community-owned and community-focused. The 236 grass-roots venues they’ve partnered with are often the first place any up-and-coming band plays a show, but they can also be a fantastic setting for established acts looking to put on a more intimate show.

The mission of IVW is to bring all the components of the music industry together to champion independent venues. By connecting the venues and promoters with record labels, or media outlets like their partnered broadcaster BBC Radio 6 Music, they can then draw in willing acts from all across the musical spectrum. Past ambassadors have ranged from Colin Greenwood of legendary band Radiohead, to modern indie stars Wolf Alice and Wet Leg. Of course, another artist who has given everything to salvage small venues is Frank Turner, who participated as an ambassador in 2015. The English singer-songwriter has established himself as a cult hero for independent venues after years of performing free concerts and fundraisers across the country, and during the pandemic he frequently performed live-streamed shows from home to raise money for venues.

Perhaps the best-known of this year’s ambassadors is Nova Twins, a London alternative rock duo who break boundaries everywhere they go. Their abrasive-but-infectious sound has had them tour the world, as well as earning them sets at Glastonbury and Download festival. They will be playing an intimate show on the 27th of January at the Amersham Arms, a 300-capacity venue in South London, where they performed together as teenagers.

Brògeal, a folk-punk band from Falkirk, are the Scottish contingent this year, having played over 80 shows last year in support of debut album ‘Tuesday Paper Club’. They will be playing at MacArts in Galashiels on the 30th of January, and The Venue in Dumfries on the 31st. IVW describe both venues as being vital to Scotland’s independent scene, due to them maintaining a foothold outside their largest cities.

Rounding off the trio is singer-songwriter Eve Goodman. Hailing from North Wales, her sound is described as “alternative-folk”, with her performing in both English and Welsh. She is ticking off three shows during the week, starting with Caffi Isa in Mold on the 26th of January, then on to Tŷ Tawe in Swansea on the 30th of January, and finishing at Cwtch Coffee in Pembroke on the 1st of February.

Other highlights from the week include German breakout metal enigmas Vianova playing Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach on the 1st of February, and Miles Kane popping into The 1865 in Southampton on the 29th of January, as part of his UK tour. A full list of shows and participating venues can be found on the Independent Venue Week website.

Since the first IVW back in 2014, it has grown exponentially and supports venues across all four nations of the United Kingdom. From iconic spaces like Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, to London’s Troxy and Manchester’s Gullivers, IVW celebrates venues of any shape and size, and not just music venues, with many of them hosting a variety of events throughout the year. 

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Guided by a mantra of “purpose over profit”, venues are selected based on their contributions to their communities, putting locals at the heart of the events rather than any corporate stakeholders. As their website explains, it doesn’t matter who owns the venue—it’s the people in charge of programming and their commitment to audiences that make the difference.  

Supported by a multitude of sponsors, the main partners of the event are Arts Council England, and BBC Radio 6. Radio 6 DJs Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens will be dedicating airtime to highlight the events, with Lamacq even broadcasting live from the Brudenell Social Club on Monday, bringing listeners directly into the heart of the action.

 

 

 

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Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, emphasised the importance of these spaces, saying: “At 6 Music, we are passionate about the vital role independent venues play in the industry—opening doors of opportunity for artistic expression across all musical genres.”

Just as the Music Venue Trust reported a decline in towns and cities visited by touring artists, IVW brings artists to nooks and crannies around the country. Indie band The Bug Club will be visiting Lincoln and Northampton, while country band The Cactus Blossoms will visit York’s Pocklington Arts Centre. The Cactus Blossoms will be supported by country duo Campbell/Jensen, featuring Ashley Campbell, the daughter of country legend Glen Campbell.

Beyond the performances, IVW also highlights the broader impact of independent venues on society. Big Jeff, described as a prolific gig-goer, revealed the importance of these places, calling them “a modern-day version of churches.” They offer people a “third place”, somewhere outside of work and home, where they can socialise and relax, and ultimately combat loneliness and alienation.  

IVW has also supported various charities and gigs over its 11 year history, again placing the community at the centre of everything they do. Gig Buddies help partner neurodivergent people with music-loving volunteers, and highlight the independence it helps give them. Soundcheck Sessions allow groups of young people to attend soundchecks during the day of an evening gig, giving them a chance to ask the musicians and crew questions, encouraging an interest in grassroots venues.

Introducing Gig Buddies our befriending project which pairs up adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic people with volunteers based on their shared interests. This can be music, theatre, art, sport – anything you love!

This reconnects people with their community & combats isolation

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— Stay Up Late (@gigbuddies.bsky.social) 10 January 2025 at 11:16

One of IVW key tenets is highlighting the funding struggles many of the venues have, particularly issues around funding amid the continuing cost of living crisis. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel however, with the UK government acting quickly to implement a voluntary £1 levy on large-scale arena shows. These funds will then be redirected to small venues, and many of the venues participating will be able to benefit from the scheme. Ticketmaster UK recently made a £60,000 donation to the Music Venue Trust, suggesting that a levy would be welcomed by the ticketing giant.

IVW is not just a celebration of live music; it’s a testament to the resilience and creativity of grassroots venues and the communities they serve. As audiences collect over the coming week, they’ll be supporting the future of live music and the places where artists and fans come together, and hopefully establishing a lifelong relationship with many of the amazing spaces which act as a talent pipeline for the UK’s £7.6 billion live music industry.

There will be; “a strong emphasis on underserved communities and those living in areas of low arts engagement”, press material reads. The initiative will initially target six specific strands: early years; young people; the deaf, disabled and neurodivergent; mental health and wellbeing; LGBTQIA+, and older years.”. A full list of the programme’s activities can be found here.

Similar projects across the country no doubt inspired this new initiative, with organisations like the Warren Youth Project in Hull and the Gig Buddies scheme which focuses on inclusivity for those with learning difficulties. The work conducted by the IVC is thanks to funding from the Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, the Welsh Government and Youth Music.

Sybil Bell (IVC founder) stated; “Independent venues are the absolute heart of the music business, from small villages, to towns and cities, all around the country. What’s less appreciated, however, is the role they can play as community spaces, where local people can express themselves, try new things or simply come together in person.

“From first-hand experience, with initiatives like The Warren Youth Project in Hull or our own Soundcheck Sessions and BE, activity like this can have genuinely life-changing outcomes for people, especially those who don’t normally get access to these kinds of opportunities.”

“Our goal with Independent Venue Community is to harness these individual pockets of brilliance, and to inspire more venues to engage with groups and individuals in their area. Ultimately, we want to build a national network of engaged local communities, and encourage more music venues to throw their doors open in the day. By doing this, I believe they can increase and diversify the people coming through their doors and unlock significant hidden value and talent. It’s a win-win situation.”

To kick off the start of this movement a special event is being held at Lafayette London. There will be a panel discussion with supporting stars like; Nova Twins, Phillip Selway (Radiohead), Dom Frazer (The Boileroom), Kris Halpin (Dyskinetic), JJ Tatten (The Warren), Paul “Jacko” Jackson (The New Adelphi Society), Angelle Joseph (Ipswich Community Media & Future Female Society), Jodie Langford and the music journalist Jude Rogers will be moderating the panel.

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The news was announced via the annual launch, held on 27th October 2021 at the 229 Club, hosted by BBC 6 Music presenter Steve Lamacq. The renowned DJ also spoke with two guests regarding how the landscape within the Live music sector has changed during COVID. Lamacq discussed such issues with Tim Perry from the Brixton venue The Windmill and Cath Hurley from Future Yard in Birkenhead.

The BBC presenter also discussed the future of live-streaming with Wayne Yardley of Rippla, who began to live-stream performances before lockdown. Lamacq also spoke with Charlotte Penny from Arts Council England, the pair discussed how the grassroots community were supported throughout the pandemic. The programme also featured a live performance by London based group Moa Moa.

Wet Leg gave the following statement concerning their involvement with the annual event. “We grew up in a place where we had no music venues at all and after living in Bristol and London, it’s been incredible to experience what it’s like to be a part of a scene; to feel that sense of community that you can pin point geographically to a place, to a venue, I think is quite important and quite special particularly for emerging bands and artists, It’s a bit of a delicate ecosystem – Music makers and lovers are supported by the venues and in turn the venues are supported by bands/artists and their fans passing through. The way I see it is this – No Independent venues = No music scene. No community. And to me, I feel that that’s something worth continuing to preserve and nurture. That’s why we’re super stoked and very, very proud to be ambassadors for this year’s Independent Venue Week.”

The annual celebration of independent live music and live music venues is set to return next year for its ninth year. The event aims to champion grassroots venues and communities within the UK. The seven-day observation of the live music sector will take place between Monday 31st January and Sunday 6th February 2022. The event is celebrated across the nation and provides support to uphold the infrastructures found within live music.

During the last 18 months, the industry has faced tremendously difficult times and such support has proven valuable. So far, 121 venues located across the nation have signed up with 89% of those participating being outside of London. More news is set to be announced on 29th October and will include three additional ambassadors for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Keeping within the event’s grassroots focus, the event’s new ambassadors are also up and coming. Formed in the Isle of Wright, the musical duo consists of Rhian Teasdale and Hester Chambers. Despite the band’s new career, the duo has gained much traction within the industry and have sired popularity within Spotify. The band’s debut single “Chaise Longue” was released in June 2021, the second single “Wet Dream” was released in September 2021. With their unique future pop sound, the band have received both critical and commercial success with both releases.

As well as chairing next year’s Independent Venue Week, the band are set to hit the road next month with English post-punk band Shame. Fans will also be able to catch Wet Leg live next year when the duo embark on a nine-date tour across the UK.

Wet Leg UK tour

16/04/2022 – Newcastle University Student Union – Newcastle Upon Tyne
17/04 – The Mash House – Edinburgh
19/04 – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds
20/04 – Manchester Gorilla – Manchester
21/04 – Trinity – Bristol
23/04 – O2 Institute3 Birmingham – Birmingham
24/04 – Norwich Arts Centre – Norwich
26/04 – KOKO – London
27/04 – Wedgewood Rooms – Portsmouth

Click here for more information concerning Independent Venue Week.

#IVW21 Taith Cymru // Tour of Wales @Lepub // @SinCitySwansea // @QueensHallNarbs // @_GALERI_ // @NeuaddOgwen

https://t.co/OQpfZ0nA7e
https://t.co/WZYMhBqaC6@BBCWales // @Arts_Wales_ // @Celf_Cymru // @bbcintroducing // @welshgocreative pic.twitter.com/J5fRTkdi9J

— Horizons / Gorwelion (@HorizonsCymru) January 19, 2021

In an interview with stalwart Welsh music scribe David Owens for Nation.Cymru, Horizons Project Manager Bethan Elfyn spoke about the pressing need to show solidarity with the lockdown-stricken live music sector. She said “We’ve been watching helplessly as Covid-19 has kept venues and theatres from opening, keeping communities that need each other apart, keeping us from watching, supporting and growing talent in Wales, and keeping us from the benefits of wellbeing and personal growth that music brings to life.”

Elfyn added “Independent Venue Week is a chance to celebrate everything about our map of venues around Wales, the maverick producers and promoters behind the venues, and the talent that would normally fill the empty buildings with life. The tour is a celebration of what we have, what we miss, and a nod to the future when we can get back to the community that we’ve missed.”

The line-up for what is set to be a memorable week of music is as follows:

Monday 25th – Le Pub, Newport

One of Newport city centre’s most revered gig venues and eateries – renowned across South Wales for its vegan grub and mysterious, neon green ‘Trevor Nelson’ cocktails – will kick off a week of music with sets from R&B vocalist Faith and rapper Mace The Great, both of whom hail from further west down the M4 in Cardiff. Mace The Great, who paid tribute to his hometown on last year’s six-track EP Charlie Foxtrot, has garnered praise from Trench for his ‘grit and alchemy‘, as well as a ‘phenomenal work rate‘. Faith Nelson (aka Faith), a former contestant on The Voice UK who has balanced her musical career with studying for a degree in criminology and sociology, told her Twitter followers that she was “Very happy to be a part of authentic beauty, INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK in Celebration of the culture of music and its institutions.”

Tuesday 26th – Sin City, Swansea

The tour of Wales moves on to one of West Glamorgan’s best-known indie and punk hot spots, Sin City. Taking to the stage in Swansea are local R&B merchants Leila McKenzie and her brother Elliot McKenzie (aka K(e)nz), as well as Bridgend rock five-piece Those Damn Crows. Last year Those Damned Crows released their critically-acclaimed second LP Point of No Return, which reached number #14 in the Official UK Albums Chart. Louder Sound have previously praised the group for their “big choruses” and “the kind of racing urgency that’s given the Foo Fighters a career“.

Wednesday 27th – Queens Hall, Narberth

The Pembrokeshire leg of the tour will take in performances from Haverfordwest indie-pop singer-songwriter Rona Mac, and If We Try singer Jodie Marie. Marie, whose melodic sound straddles soul, folk and country, releases her next album The Answer on February 12th ahead of another livestreamed gig at Narberth’s Queens Hall on February 19th. The West Walian multi-instrumentalist capped off 2020 by releasing two superb new tracks: the dulcet ballad Carageen and Motown-influenced festive cracker (I Don’t Wanna Be) Alone This Christmas.

Thursday 28th – Galeri, Caernarfon

The fourth concert of the week comes the Galeri performing arts centre in Caernarfon in Gwynedd; incorporating performances from up-and-coming duo Body Water, whose new track Pyscho is set to feature on the BBC Introducing mixtape on BBC Radio 6 this week, and Ifan Pritchard, frontman with North Walian alt-rock outfit Gwilym. The band’s debut album Sugno Gola (which translates to Drink Cola) was one of the first Welsh language albums to attain over 100,000 streams on Spotify.

Friday 29th – Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda

The tour wraps up at Neuadd Ogwen in Bethesda, on the edge of Snowdonia National Park. The gig includes sets from Llanrug blues-rock duo Alffa; North Wales electro-pop artist Malan; and Ennio The Little Brother, who describes his music as ‘soulful dream hop‘. Neuadd Ogwen will also play host to the virtual Ara Deg festival this week, curated by Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys. Rhys serves as one of the UK’s four national representatives for Independent Venue Week, representing Wales alongside fellow ambassadors Arlo Parks (England), Amy MacDonald (Scotland) and Jordan Adetunji (Northern Ireland). In an interview with NME, Rhys said “Venues need our love and support to survive, so I’m proud to fly the flag for them.”

“it’s a big team effort”

We’re super excited that @jordanadetunji is joining us as our #IVW21 Ambassador for Northern Ireland, read more about how his local music scene and independent venues have supported him at the start of his career: https://t.co/RlaYU3G4wX pic.twitter.com/xpGqihhApt

— Independent Venue Week (@IVW_UK) January 7, 2021

The annual week-long event, will celebrate grassroots music venues across the UK, inviting a myriad of artists from across the UK to play digital shows in order to raise awareness for local venues and creative spaces. The organisation will also hold comedy, poetry, and craft events in order to raise support. So far, over 64 venues across the UK will take part in the celebrations

“I am delighted to have been chosen as the ambassador for Northern Ireland during Independent Venue Week 2021. Independent venues play a vital role in creating economic opportunities, while at the same time showcasing and promoting the works of many local artists like myself,” Adetunji stated. “This is a fantastic opportunity to bring together venues, artists, events operators, and the public – especially in these challenging times – to highlight the importance of independent venues.”

An ambassador from Independent Music Week 2021 also expressed their excitement in teaming up with Adetunji. “As we step into 2021, it is clear we are a long way from any kind of opportunity to safely enjoy live music in grassroots music venues and the health and well-being of our whole community is our priority.”

 “IVW is responding by adapting the way shows are available across the week with a range of digital events. From ‘In Conversations’ with artists, labels, promoters, gig goers and other industry organisations to album listening parties, pre-recorded live streams, comedy and quizzes.”

As nationwide music tours as we know them are likely to be put on hold until at least 2021, it’s the little guys who are getting hit the worst. Verge recently reported on a study from the Music Industry Research Association that pointed out the average working musician in the US overwhelmingly relies on touring as their primary source of income, and thankfully music distributors like Bandcamp have made impressive efforts to keep indie labels and artists afloat. But the touring business is a two-way street; let’s not forget that independent venues aren’t even afforded the revenue from online record sales.

Go to https://t.co/bg5xJBkjRV at 5pm BST TODAY to watch my conversation with the always-inspiring and genuine Joe from @idlesband, and more importantly donate to help support independent venues across the UK during this difficult time pic.twitter.com/U6fCdiz1Sv

— Anna Calvi (@annacalvi) May 25, 2020

Independent Venue Week is an initiative created in 2013 that celebrates the people who own, run, and work in independent music venues across the country. Given the state of live music this year, their work has become more vital than ever. In aid of a crowdfunder campaign they launched earlier this year, IVW are running ‘Take 5’: a series of online conversations between British musicians on their life in music, from early gigs, shows they’ve loved, venues they love and more widely how music has been such a positive influence in their lives.   Take 5’s inaugural session from last week (above) featured Wolf Alice’s Ellie Rowsell and Calvi, the idea being that the series of conversations chains from one artist to the next. At the end of yesterday’s episode, Talbot revealed that in next week’s he would be talking to fellow Welshman James Cox. Comment your questions for the Crow’s frontman by 5pm today via the Twitter post embedded below.

James (@__CROWS) and I will talk about all the stuff next week. Please comment your questions for him below with #IVWTake5 and I’ll ask him them aggressively and we can get to the bottom of this. Get your questions in by 17:00 today. All is love. pic.twitter.com/9RJb0vr7IJ — I D L E S (@idlesband) May 26, 2020

In an interview with NME, Wolf Alice stated:

“We are proud to be ambassadors of this year’s Independent Venue Week and ask for peoples support so these kind of unique, intimate and sweaty shows continue for everyone to enjoy. Venues that we started off playing along with so many other bands have created some of our funniest memories to date. We’d love for that to continue for us and for other bands, please show your support.”

So what is the Independent Venue Week you may ask? It’s a seven day celebration of small music venues that you find all across the UK, recognizing the hard work of the people that own, run and work in them continuously to help provide the live performances people pay to see. These venues are basically the backbone of the live music scene, helping smaller artists and bands get the recognition they deserve and are one of the gateways to success. This is why the Independent Venue Week think it’s important to recognise all they have done to create some memorable and iconic moments in the past so they can continue to do it in the future.

Artists set to perform over the seven days include: Everything Everything, Matthew E White, Mallory Knox, Childhood, Misty Miller, Beans On Toast, Eliza And The Bear, Saffron (Republica) Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets), Georgia, Get Inuit, Edwyn Collins and Get Cape, Wear Cape and Fly.

More information on the venues and acts can be found at independentvenueweek.com