Independent Venue Week Gets Bigger

Venue additions include The John Peel Centre in Stowmarket, Halifax’s Grayston Unity, which has a capacity of just 18, The Bungalow in Paisley and the Roundhouse in London. In total, more than 120 venues are to host gigs and showcases by hundreds of acts, the first of which have just been announced. Richard Hawley, Simian Mobile Disco, Martha Wainwright, Cass McCombs, Heck, Beans On Toast, The Moonlandingz, The Carnabys, Skinny Girl Diet, Shame, Dream Wife and Goat Girl have been confirmed to play.

Tim Burgess, frontman of the Charlatans, was named ambassador for Independent Venue Week 2017. Burgess will play a solo live show at The Elgar Room of London’s Royal Albert Hall on the opening night.

Other people and companies curating shows include SXSW, Huw Stephens, Killimanjaro, Domino Records, Bugged Out, Springboard and Juicebox Live. The Arts Council England, Musicians Union, the UK collecting societies PRS and PPL as well as songwriter association Basca are on board as partners and will also be showcasing artists in various forms. New sponsors include Jägermeister, which joins Signature Brew and Jack Daniels on the alcohol front. Skiddle is the official ticket partner, and the event will continue its work with Attitude Is Everything, the initiative dedicated to expanding accessibility for gig-goers.

“What’s so exciting about this year is just how many people are now involved in Independent Venue Week,” says founder Sybil Bell. “The support means grassroots venues are benefitting from brilliant artists, promoters and media who are helping to start the year off with some amazing shows. Last year, nearly 40,000 people went to gigs during IVW – a huge boost to venues and a great way for people to kick the January blues into touch.”