Today sees the start of the UK’s seven day national celebration of live music as more than 200 venues nationwide come together for Independent Venue Week (IVW). IVW offers artists, audiences and the wider music business the opportunity to recognise the vital role these hundreds of independent-owned venues play in the industry and local community across England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland. From giving artists their first experience of performing live to giving fans somewhere to discover and watch their favourite artists locally, they also provide those wanting a career off-stage the chance to learn their craft in a safe and secure environment.
Now in its eleventh year, IVW will see these vital spaces in villages, towns and cities across the UK host hundreds of live gigs by everyone from globally-recognised artists to upcoming acts, inviting fans to come out, buy a ticket and support their local music venue and scene – as well as having a great night out.
Paying tribute to IVW, fast-rising spoken word and hip-hop artist Antony Szmierek has penned a beautiful new poem which encapsulates the importance of these independent venues to the UK’s music culture – noting that “without these little rooms there’d be no one to fill the ones that are bigger” before raising a toast to the countless brilliant artists who continue to tread their stages:
“this is for all the bands that never made it
and for the venues that scream, proudly:
you made it if you played here“
The poem, which premiered on Steve Lamacq’s Teatime Session on BBC Radio 6 Music, can be heard in its entirety here and is published in full below.
Encouraging fans to come out and show support for independent venues and local independent culture, IVW founder Sybil Bell said:
“Antony’s beautiful poem perfectly captures why live music and independent venues are so special to the UK – and have been for decades. These are the spaces where magic happens. They are the bedrock of our culture. But if we don’t use them, then we’ll lose them. I hope people will use IVW as a chance to reconnect with the joy of live music, to have a great night out with friends and to support their local venue.”
Antony, who enjoyed a breakout year in 2023, playing to huge crowds at the likes of Glastonbury, Reading & Leeds and Bluedot as well as making his TV debut on Later… With Jools Holland, will perform at Wrexham’s Rockin’ Chair venue on Friday February 2nd (alongside NME cover stars Picture Parlour) as part of five days of IVW-focussed broadcasts by BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Music Introducing.
This will see DJs Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens go “on the road” to present their weekly shows from a different UK venue – with Steve travelling to Belfast (January 29th: Ash + Problem Patterns at The Oh Yeah Centre) before Huw visits venues in Edinburgh (January 30th: 86TVs + Grace & The Flat Boys at Whistle Binkies), York (January 31st: NewDad + Kindelan at The Fulford Arms), Hull (February 1st: English Teacher + Jodie Langford at Polar Bear Music Club).
Elsewhere, an incredible array of artists from every genre will play IVW shows across 205 venues situated everywhere from Edinburgh to Guernsey.
They will include performances from the likes of David Gray, Nell Mescall, Soulwax, The Snuts, CVC, Hinds, Richard Dawson, Alison Russell, Islet & Pictish Trail (Fire Records 40th anniversary show), The Zutons, Fatoumata Diawara, Little Comets, The Bug Club, The Mezingers, MF Tomlinson, TV Priest, Eat Ethio, This Is The Kit, Sweet Baboo, TVAM, Buckcherry, Isabel LaRosa, Evil Scarecrow, Hooton Tennis Club, Margaret Glaspy, Chris Difford, The Heavy North, IAMWARFACE, Circa Waves, Skinny Living, EMF, Ben Ottewell, Joyeria, Hardwicke Circus, Ginger Wildheart, Steve Mason and many many more, as well as DJ sets from Don Letts, Gilles Peterson, Trevor Nelson, DJ Yoda, and Reverend & The Makers, comedy events and documentary screenings. See here for more details:
The IVW 2024 Artist Ambassadors, English Teacher, will play in Hebden Bridge, Stockton-on-Tees, Hull and Margate. The Leeds-based band release their much-anticipated debut album, This Could Be Texas, in April 2024. Meanwhile, Brooke Combe (IVW 2024 Ambassador for Scotland) plays Galashiels and L E M F R E CK (IVW 2024 Ambassador for Wales) plays in Cardiff. Details here
Offering younger audiences (aged 14+) a first taste of live music, IVW’s sister organisation, Independent Venue Community, will run a series of free daytime events in Cardiff (with L E M F R E C K), the Isle of Wight (with The Clause), London (with Caitlin Pinkess), Norwich (with Mama Oh No), Stockton on Tees (with English Teacher), Sunderland (with Tummyache) and Winsford (with The Jokers). These Soundcheck Sessions enable young people to gain up-close access to artists, crew and venue staff to discover what happens behind the scenes before a gig.
IVW’s partners include Arts Council England, Creative Scotland, Creative Wales, Gigantic, Sound Technology, PPL, and loadin.com
As part of Beavertown Brewrey’s partnership with IVW, they are supporting three venues with shows across the week , all now on sale – with an exclusive solo performance by Mogwais’ Stuart Braithwait at Mc Chuhills in Glasgow on 3rd February; Humour Hank + Chad at the George Tavern in London on 29th and Pixey, Zuzu+ Elenor Nelly at the Arts Bar Baltic in Liverpool on 3rd February.
Read Antony Szmierek’s superb poem for Independent Venue week below:
Antony Szmierek- A poem for Independent Venue Week:
there’s no nosebleed seats in a hundred cap room
no need for LEDs to replace the view when you can see the white’s of the eyes of the artist in front of you
but it’s another year of eulogies
the bar used to be over there, says the owner
and the stage two times smaller
and still the band are walked through the crowd from the green room by torch and trained promoter
crowd and artist together no film no filter
without these little rooms there’d be no one to fill the ones that are bigger
a pipe says ‘watch your head’
a steel beam in the middle of the floor
it blocks the view and it’s impossible to ignore but
it’s somewhere to leave your coats
and they accumulate around the base like fallen leaves
but what happens when the goodwill leaves?
the red right hand wants this church turned into rental properties
in the shadow of the megaplex pyrotechnic principalities
there’s little we can do other than buy tickets and show up
for those four bands that share the same guitarist
on that dancefloor where your mum and dad first kissed
we’re just custodians of these places
let’s make sure they still exist for the next ones
this is for all the bands that never made it
and for the venues that scream, proudly:
you made it if you played here
Photo Credit for English Teacher – Tatiana Pozuelo
