Spoon, GZA, Japanese Breakfast, Big Freedia, Femi Kuti, Linda Lindas Announced For Independent Venue Week

Independent Venue Week today announced programming for its July 11 – 17, 2022 event with over 1,100 shows announced at 400 independent venues in 50 states and D.C. Performers include 2022’s IVW Artist Ambassador Big Freedia at Cleveland’s Grog Shop on July 12, Spoon at The Englert Theatre in Iowa City, The Mountain Goats at Wichita’s Wave, Femi Kuti & the Positive Force at D.C.’s 9:30 Club, GZA at New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge, and Japanese Breakfast with The Linda Lindas at Minnesota’s First Avenue.

Returning for its fifth consecutive year in the U.S., Independent Venue Week was first brought to the United States from the United Kingdom in 2018. Its primary purpose was to shine a spotlight on locally-owned live performance spaces that, “serve as the cultural and economic backbone of major cities and small towns across America,” according to a press release.

In March 2020, it was Independent Venue Week participants that helped form the nucleus of what would soon became the National Independent Venue Association, which was co-founded by Rev. Moose of Marauder, which runs IVW in the U.S.

“A lot has happened in these first five years,” said Cecilie Nielsen, Marauder’s Senior Director of Special Projects, in a statement. “We launched in the States with only 20 venues. Independent Venue Week is now the largest national event celebrating independent live music, comedy, and performing arts around the world. No longer is the locally owned or operated room or festival solely on their own; this event serves to unite the individuals within our many communities, reminding those on and in front of the stage what makes these places so special, and of course worthy of a week-long celebration.” 

Independent Venue Week’s partners include See Tickets, which is owned by Vivendi, the National Independent Venue Association, The Orchard and Hearby, which is hosting Independent Venue Week’s show calendar here.

“I wouldn’t be here without the independent venues,” said Independent Venue Week Artist Ambassador Big Freedia in a statement. “After performing in local clubs for years, it was the independent venues that were the first to book me to play for audiences beyond New Orleans.”