Celebrating a decade of the grassroots music venue movement, MVT will be hosting the largest gathering of people who run grassroots music venues (GMV) in the world. The event will offer an opportunity to reflect on progress made in the UK and the challenges still being faced by the sector.

This year’s Venues Day theme will centre around the importance of the artists and the role GMVs play in inspiring, nurturing and connecting them with audiences while offering them an opportunity to experiment and develop new ideas. As ever, Venues Day will also offer networking opportunities, the chance to share experiences and information and a platform to discuss important issues.

The event represents the single biggest opportunity to engage directly and in person with the GMV sector as it is designed specifically for members of the Music Venues Alliance, providing attendees with workshops, discussions, presentations and networking that offer practical support to the people who run these vital venues and connect them with services that can help them.

A series of panels exploring the common goals of artists and venues has now been confirmed with speakers including: Sam Duckworth (Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly), Lily Meff (The Meffs), Kwame Kwaten (Ferocious Talent), Stina Tweeddale (Honeyblood), Nathan Clark (Brudenell Social Club), Rhoda Dakar, Tom Gray (The Ivors) and Jane Beese among others.

Music Venue Trust represents over 800 UK grassroots music venues, has held this one day event for the sector since 2014, with delegates representing venues, promoters, agents, artists, government departments, funding bodies and a wide range of ancillary service providers.

Bev Whitrick, Chief Operating Officer at Music Venue Trust said, “The landscape for GMVs in 2024 is still challenging. 10 years of work has not solved everything, but this annual opportunity to bring our community together to update on progress, offer support, forge new connections and celebrate the wins is needed now more than ever. Venues Day 2024 is THE event for the GMV sector and everyone who has a stake in it.”

Hundreds of delegates from across the UK’s grassroots music venue sector, representing venues throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, have already booked their places at the event.

Longtime supporters of MVT and headline sponsors Ticketmaster, Fred Perry and Jack Daniels have also allowed Venues Day 2024 to offer subsidised delegate passes and travel bursaries to ensure that venue representatives from across the UK can attend.

Thanks also to the generosity of Ticketmaster Venues Day 2024 will end with a fully catered after-party for delegates and special guests who have been instrumental in MVT’s work over the past 10 years.

Taking place at Woolwich Works in London on Tuesday 8th October 2024, there are a limited number of remaining tickets for Venues Day 2024. Priced at £168, they can be booked here.

BBC Radio 6 Music announced on September 1st that Lamacq has decided to say goodbye to his 18 year long run on the Drivetime show in pursuit of a “well-deserved change to his broadcasting career”. 

Steve Lamacq has decided to make a well-deserved change to his broadcasting career

He will begin a new weekly show on 6 Music, Steve Lamacq’s Teatime Session, on Monday 8th January (4pm-7pm).

Steve will present his final daily weekday (4pm-7pm) show on Friday 20th October. pic.twitter.com/IfugRRFh50

— BBC Radio 6 Music (@BBC6Music) September 1, 2023

Lamacq’s last day as the Drivetime show host will be on Friday 20th October, and he will then take a short break from radio before returning in the new year with a brand new show. On Monday 8th January, Lamacq will begin hosting a weekly show on BBC Radio 6 Music titled “Steve Lamacq’s Teatime Session”.

The Drivetime show will be taken over by fellow BBC Radio presenter Huw Stephens, who will host the show from 4-7pm Tuesday-Friday, with Lamacq’s new show claiming Monday’s 4-7pm slot.

In a BBC press release, Lamacq said “It’s been terrific doing six shows a week, but what with all the prep work for the programmes and the ever-increasing volume of new music to listen to, there’s not been nearly enough time left over for my family. And to be honest, after nearly 40 years at the coalface of new music, I think I need a bit of breather.”

Steve Lamacq is married to psychologist Dr Jen Wills, and the couple have a young daughter. The break from broadcasting and less intense schedule of “Steve Lemacq’s Teatime Session” will allow Lamacq to spend some quality time with his family.

Alongside this, Lamacq also said “But of course, my heart still lives for discovering and nurturing new bands, so I’m really pleased that these changes mean I can stay at 6 Music, while allowing more time to go searching for emerging artists, who I’ll be channelling into the new Monday show. There’ll be live sessions, interviews, some amazing archive and fingers crossed, at some point, the future of rock and roll.”

Many people were shocked by the news of Lamacq’s departure, and took to social media to show their appreciation.

So sad to hear @steve_lamacq is leaving his @BBC6Music show full time.
What a legend and hugely influential person he’s been to so many of us especially @IdlewildtheBand. I’ll be forever grateful to him for all his support and also friendship. All the best for the future!

— Rod Jones (@RodJonesMusic) September 1, 2023

Legend is an often overly used word to describe someone.

But in this instance, it’s very much applicable!@steve_lamacq deserves honorary recognition for services to music!
We award him our Brudenell medal anyway! https://t.co/qw2kB0PjFv

— Nath Brudenell (@Nath_Brudenell) September 1, 2023

You can still hear Steve Lamacq on the BBC Radio 6 Music Drivetime show until Friday 20th October.

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A post shared by Independent Venue Week (@ivw_uk)

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.

Having earned rave reviews across the UK music scene from acclaimed names in the business such as Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq, Mary Anne Hobbs and many more, the quartet have had a hectic summer schedule as they continue in their bid to get their name out in the open in the hope of attracting more and more fans. Seeing as they have already had a plethora of impressive support slots, including Babyshambles and We Are Scientists, it can’t be too long before Gaolers Daughter are thrusted into the spotlight and getting the plaudits they so desperately deserve.

With a launch party prepared on Monday 23rd of August at The Monarch in London, it is sure to be a night where the roof is taken off, glasses are raised and cheers are made. How To Make Time promises to be an astronomical record and is capable of taking the group to the next step. The album comes out on 26th of August, and be sure to get a hold of a copy by any means necessary. You can watch the video to Cordelia below to get a snippet of what to expect when the album drops in a couple of weeks’ time.