Independent Venue Week 2020

08 January 2020 - Press release

INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK 2020

CELEBRATES WITH INTIMATE LIVE SHOWS AND TOURS,

A FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

& NEW LIVE RECORD RELEASE

INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK’S 2020 AMBASSADOR: ANNA CALVI

OVER 230 INDEPENDENT UK VENUES

MONDAY 27 JANUARY - SUNDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2020

SHOWS INC. ANNA CALVI, BC CAMPLIGHT, FRANK TURNER, GRUFF RHYS, MORCHEEBA, NADINE SHAH, PIGS,PIGS,PIGS,PIGS,PIGS,PIGS,PIGS, SELF ESTEEM, DEMOB HAPPY, TOY, TWIN ATLANTIC + many more

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH - ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND, ARTS COUNCIL WALES, CREATIVE SCOTLAND, BBC 6 MUSIC, BBC SOUNDS, FRED PERRY, HARMAN, MUSICIANS UNION, PPL, PRS FOR MUSIC, YAMAHA, YORKSHIRE TEA

Returning for its seventh consecutive year, Independent Venue Week is a seven day celebration of independent music venues around the UK, championing the venue’s importance to the nation’s culture and identity through those that own, work and play in them. IVW will take place from Monday 27 January - Sunday 2 February 2020.

The BBC 6 Homecoming Tour with Steve Lamacq (Anna Calvi, Nadine Shah, Frank Turner, Self Esteem, Gryff Rhys) will be a key part of over 800 gigs taking place across the UK alongside other tours and shows including BC Camplight, Pigs x7, TOY, Sinead O’Brien, Demob Happy, Toyah Wilcox, Stereo MC’s Twin Atlantic, Morcheeba, Goat Girl, Black Country New Road, Raging Speedhorn). The week before also sees the release of IVW’s feature documentary, The Long and Winding Road, with Philip Selway (Radiohead) and their second live record release from #IVW19 (Cancer Bats, Pip Blom, Public Service Broadcasting).

Funded in partnership with Arts Council England, Arts Council Wales, Creative Scotland, BBC 6 Music, BBC Sounds, Fred Perry, Harman, Musicians Union, PPL, PRS For Music, Yamaha and Yorkshire Tea and with over 230 venues across the UK signed up to take part, these independent venues have given artists their first live platforms, they have given fans their first experience of live music, and they have inspired careers within the music industry on and off stage. Independent venues are at the beginning of each journey and a host of incredible musicians, crew and gig-goers will come together to celebrate their grass roots in a week long celebration of independent venues. 

Following the announcement of Independent Venue Week 2020 Ambassador, Mercury Prize nominated musician, Anna Calvi (UK) at a launch event in London in November 2019, Anna said “As an artist who spent many years developing my art in small venues across the UK, it’s such a pleasure to be named the ambassador of Independent Venue Week 2020” 

“At a time where independent venues continue to provide a vital platform in every artists career, yet still struggle to keep their doors open, it’s more important than ever for every artist, no matter what size, to continue our support and be vocal about their vitality.”

For the first time, there are two additional Ambassadors for the nations, BBC Radio 1 presenter, Huw Stephens (Wales) and BBC Radio Scotland presenter, Vic Galloway (Scotland). 

IVW can now reveal their full plans for this year’s celebration;

The BBC 6 Music Homecoming Tour with Steve Lamacq
27- 31 January 2020 

Continuing their ongoing support of Independent Venue Week, The BBC 6 Music Homecoming Tour with Steve Lamacq, will kick off on Monday 27 January, seeing Lamacq take his BBC Radio 6 Music show to five UK cities, celebrating homegrown music venues. Steve will be welcoming Nadine Shah, Self Esteem, Gruff Rhys, Frank Turner, and Anna Calvi, from Monday 27 to Friday 31 January, 4-7pm, taking the bus across Newcastle, Sheffield, Cardiff, Exeter and London. 

Speaking on the tour, Steve Lamacq says - “January can be a make or break time for small venues, so it’s terrific to be involved in Independent Venue Week again, which was launched specifically to support these places and the artists who thrive in them. This time we’re trying to emphasise just how important local venues can be in providing a stage for new artists on their way to bigger success, by taking some of our favourite musicians back to the haunts where they first plied their trade and began honing their songs.” 

On the final stop of the tour on Friday 31 January, Lamacq will broadcast his 6 Music show live inside London’s renowned independent venue, The Windmill Brixton, where he is joined by IVW’s 2020 UK Ambassador Anna Calvi for an incredibly intimate live performance. The London born singer and guitarist is a three time Mercury Prize nominee who scored the fifth season of BBC One series Peaky Blinders and is set to captivate audiences in this very special, one-off show. 

Anna Calvi’s show at The Windmill Brixton will be available via ballot here: annacalvi.com/win 

For full tour details, see here: www.independentvenueweek.com/?p=7387&preview=true 

Long And Winding Road : Documentary
Premiere Date: 21 January 2020

Blue Hippo Media, creators of acclaimed music documentary Last Shop Standing, have partnered with Independent Venue Week to create a feature documentary celebrating and exploring the eclectic, dynamic and magical world of independent music venues. Teaser here.

Filming began during IVW 2018 and continued through 2019, when the IVW team hit the road with Philip Selway(Radiohead) visiting places that were instrumental in the early days of the band. Speaking about his week on tour, Selway said,

“Going on the road trip for Independent Venue Week, I was able to reconnect with the venues and people that I came across in the early days of touring with Radiohead. It gave me a greater insight into the highly motivated and inspirational communities that make these venues happen. They truly are the backbone and wellspring of music in the UK.”  

The passion and stories captured truly reflect the love there is for these venues. Selway spoke with owners, artists and promoters along with local people involved in their scene, including gig goers, to understand how important these venues are to everyone that comes through their doors.

Contributors to the feature documentary inc. Nadine Shah, Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), Sheila Ravenscroft (John Peel Centre), Adrian Utley (Portishead), Gaz Coombes, IDLES and many more. 

The documentary was filmed at the 100 Club, John Peel Centre, Moles Club Bath, Brudenell Social Club, The Boileroom, The New Adelphi, The Trades Club Hebden Bridge and others.

London’s Bush Hall will host the premiere on Tuesday 21st January (followed by a live Q&A hosted by Steve Lamacq with Philip Selway, Adrian Utley, Nadine Shah, Dom Frazer (Boileroom), Sybil Bell (Independent Venue Week Founder) and Pip Piper (Director). Boththe documentary and Q&A will also be streamed live in selected venues across the UK. 

Independent Venue Week Live 2019
Release Date: 24 January 2020

To further celebrate the fruitful live music scene in the UK, IVW will be releasing their second vinyl-only live album, featuring a collection of standout acts from 2019’s Independent Venue Week (inc. Cancer Bats, John Paul, Pip Blom, Public Service Broadcasting, Rozi Plain, Talk Show, The Blinders, This Is The Kit along with the live performance of the poem written by Dom Frazer from the Boileroom at the IVW launch Nov 19 ). 

J. Willgoose Esq, Public Service Broadcasting, says - “We loved playing Independent Venue Week in 2019 - we're still very used to playing small rooms, especially on the continent, but it's been a while since we played venues like the Adelphi and the Trades Club here in the UK and it made for a great atmosphere.” 

Limited to only 250 units, the double gatefold, 180g record will be released by I like The Sound Of That, the label of IVW’s commercial arm on Friday 24th January 2020 and only available in UK stores. 

The “Big Jeff” Tour 2020
TBC mid Jan

A very special tour will be announced in due course with former IVW ambassador and legendary gig-goer “Big Jeff” (Jeffrey Johns). He will be taking to the road to meet the communities around these venues, with a focus on other gig goers who also have additional needs, highlighting what it means to attend gigs as someone with a disability. 
For full event listings please visit: independentvenueweek.com