Independent Venue Week 2026: January 26th - February 1st 09 Jan 2026
IVW Artist Ambassadors’ Nova Twins, Brògeal and Eve Goodman announce exclusive live shows to celebrate the importance of independent venues
-
Nova Twins play a hometown gig at London’s Amersham Arms on January 27th
-
Brògeal perform two Scottish shows across the week at MacArts in Galashiels (30th January) and The Venue in Dumfries (31st January)
-
Welsh singer-songwriter Eve Goodman plays a solo show at Mold’s Caffi Isa on January 26th
-
Tickets for these Ambassador shows are available to purchase from tomorrow am
-
IVW also detail a new initiative with PRS Foundation’s Early Career Promoter Fund
-
236 venues are confirmed to participate in IVW26 (10% more than IVW25) hosting a huge range of music and other live events all around the UK
With the 13th edition of Independent Venue Week kicking off in less than three weeks, we are hugely excited to announce details of the exclusive live shows being performed by our 2026 Artist Ambassadors’ Nova Twins, Brògeal (Scotland) and Eve Goodman (Wales).
They will be joining hundreds of other artists - both big and small, and from all different genres - who will take to the stage at 236 authentic, independently-owned venues across the UK between Monday January 26th and Sunday February 1st for one of the UK’s biggest celebrations of live music and independent culture.
Returning to their South London beginnings, Nova Twins will play a one-off live show on Tuesday January 27th at the 300-capacity Amersham Arms.
Widely recognised as one the UK’s most exciting live performers, the trailblazing and fiercely independent duo (Amy Love & Georgia South) are currently on the verge of serious international success. With a November 2025 appearance on NPR Music’s iconic Tiny Desk Concert bringing their fresh and futuristic brand of rock to an even wider audience, the band will play more than 50 live dates this year in support of their third album, Parasites & Butterflies, including a series of US and European arena shows supporting Evanescence.
Nova Twins’ roots, however, are firmly in the UK, with the Amersham Arms providing a pivotal early influence. A bastion of London’s music scene since the 1960s, the venue has continued to host wave after wave innovative musical talent, from Suede, Gene, Placebo and Cornershop in the 1990s through to Foals, The xx, Skepta, Hudson Mohawke, These New Puritans, Loyle Carner, Public Service Broadcasting, Lambrini Girls, The K’s and Fat Dog.
This exclusive IVW show is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see one of the UK’s greatest contemporary live bands in such an intimate setting.
General tickets go on sale here at 10am Friday 9th January.
Nova Twins said:
“We’re SO excited to be playing Amersham Arms on Jan 27th for Independent Venue Week! This is such a special space for us, we cut our teeth on that stage many times in our teen years and have so many fond memories there.
“From our very first bands to forming Nova Twins, it’s been a staple for us, shaping our growth and helping build our community. We can’t wait to put on an intimate show to celebrate independent venues, we must keep protecting them!”
IVW are also announcing shows from our Scottish Ambassadors, the amazing Brògeal, and our Welsh Ambassador, folk singer Eve Goodman.
On the back of a hugely successful 2025, when they released their acclaimed debut album Tuesday Paper Club and racked up more than 80 live shows, Falkirk five-piece Brògeal will help kickstart IVW26 north of the border with gigs at and MacArts in Galashiels (30th January) and The Venue in Dumfries (31st January). Both are incredibly important venues within the Scottish music scene, bringing live events to regions beyond the buzzing scenes of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Brògeal will be supported on both dates by The Rooks.
Tickets for Galashiels go on sale here at 10am Friday 9th January. Tickets for Dumfries go on sale here.
Meanwhile, Eve Goodman who already has IVW shows booked at Swansea’sTŷ Tawe on 30th January and Pembroke’s Cwtch Coffee on 1st February as part of a tour with fellow singer-songwriter SERA, will play an additional solo show at Caffi Isa in Mold on 26th January.
Tickets go on sale here at 10am Friday 9th January.
Sybil Bell, Founder & CEO, Independent Venue Week:
“I’m so honoured that IVW continues to attract such brilliant artist ambassadors, and these shows really encapsulate what this celebration is all about - whether it’s Nova Twins going back to a formative venue that’s close to their hearts, or Brògeal and Eve veering away from the UK’s major cities to play in music-loving towns such as Galashiels, Dumfries and Mold. That’s such an important aspect of what we’re aiming to achieve, and we can’t wait for the 13th consecutive edition of IVW to kick off on January 26th.”
Initially established in 2013, Independent Venue Week has evolved into one of the most important and celebratory events in the UK music calendar - encouraging fans to start the year by buying a ticket, getting together with friends and having a great night out supporting their local independent venue and discovering amazing music.
Since launch, more than 1m tickets have been purchased for IVW events - helping fill venues at a traditionally quiet time of year, providing performance and direct fan-building opportunities for artists, and offering cultural engagement and excitement for audiences.
In 2026, 236 UK venues will participate in the celebration, situated everywhere from Belfast to John O’Groats to Cornwall and in all cities, towns and villages in between.
Details of all participating IVW venues and the shows they are hosting are available on the IVW website.
Just some of the amazing artists performing during the week include Dove Ellis, Sorry, The Bug Club, Eliza Carthy, Brown Horse, Shovel Dance Collective, Future Utopia, Annie & The Caldwells, Naima Bock, Buzzcocks, The Clause, Antony Szmierek, Cherise, Corto Alto, Pigs x 7, Dream Wife, Gia Ford, Girlband!, HotWax, She Drew The Gun, The Molotovs, The Orielles, Insecure Men, Ren Harvieu & Romeo Stodart, The Pill , thistle, Will Varley, Silver Gore, Cordelia, Extinction Of Mankind, Mike Joyce, David Rowntree, Walt Disco, Nyah Grace, Stick In The Wheel, Steve Knightley, Kofi Stone, Olugbenga (Metronomy) DJ Set, Tamer Nafar, Hedera, Disgusting Sisters, On Wednesdays We Wear Black, Jah Wobble & Invaders Of the Heart, Heavy Wild, Big Sexy Noise (Lydia Lunch with Gallon Drunk), Lucy Spraggan, Matilda Finn Frances, Skinny Living, James Walsh, Dodgy, Pale Blue Eyes, The Dunwells, Pete Roth Trio ft Bill Bruford, Retrofile, Matt Storm, Scott Lavene, The Dunwells, Oslo Twins, Dylan LeBlanc, Tom Hingley, Nick Harper, 808 State (DJ Set), Chris Hawkins (DJ Set), Mad Professor, The Beat (ft Ranking Jr), Youth Sector, The Gentle Good, Gwenifer Raymond, John Bramwell and many many more.
This year, IVW is also partnering with PRS Foundation and their Early Career Promoter Fund - supporting five previous ECPF grantees to promote their own shows around the country during the week.
These shows are as follows, with tickets available on the respective venues websites:
-
28th January: Hare & Hounds, Birmingham - Ni Maxine + Some Honey (promoted by Variations, Toni Grehan)
-
28th January: Carlton Club, Manchester - Manchester Improvisation Festival (promoted by Will Tang)
-
29th January: Alphabet, Brighton - FACESOUL + Hutch (promoted by Mines called Basics, JED)
-
1st February: The Crescent, York - FEET + Bull Gorgeous (promoted by Road Less Travelled, Niamh Bramley)
-
7th February: The Old Blue Last, London - Ottomani Parker / Carre / Aloka + Kincaid (promoted by Seasoning, Fraser Dahdouh)
IVW26 is supported by a range of partners, including Arts Council England, Beavertown, BBC 6 Music, the Welsh Government via Creative Wales and by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland and PPL.
NEWS & PRESS
Ministry of Sound Undergoes Huge Renovation Ahead of 35th Anniversary Year
A new KV2 sound system, multi-dimensional light installation, and a fully redesigned dancefloor and DJ booth will be completed in January Ministry of Sound is set to undergo the most significant transformation since it opened in 1991. A complete reimagining of sound, space...more
Nightlife Bosses Push Back: ‘It’s Not Just Pubs Under Threat’ Says NTIA
Sector anger grows as government rhetoric suggests only pubs may receive business rates relief in today's media leak Nightlife operators and cultural venue owners have pushed back against government and media suggestions that only pubs will benefit from upcoming business rates reductions. Industry...more
Independent Venue Week 2026: January 26th - February 1st
IVW Artist Ambassadors’ Nova Twins, Brògeal and Eve Goodman announce exclusive live shows to celebrate the importance of independent venues Nova Twins play a hometown gig at London’s Amersham Arms on January 27th Brògeal perform two Scottish shows across the week at...more
Bank on it: FreshTunes Expands Payment Options for Artists
FreshTunes, the label services platform for artists everywhere, is rolling out a new option for royalty payments worldwide. Starting in Q1 2026, artists anywhere in the world will be able to receive their payouts directly to their Visa or Mastercard...more
The European Festival Report 2025: Festivals Still Thriving Despite Rising Production Costs and Boycott Pressure
The European Festival Report is the essential annual guide to the continent’s popular music festival industry, offering insights into current challenges, priorities for 2025, and developments in health, safety, and sustainability. Published by IQ Magazine in partnership with YOUROPE, the...more
Introducing Apple Music Integration for AlphaTheta’s CDJ-3000X
Apple Music has announced an update enabling Apple Music integration with AlphaTheta’s next-generation multi-player, the CDJ-3000X.With this update, the CDJ-3000X and its new StreamingDirectPlay feature give Apple Music subscribers access to over 100 million songs on Apple Music and the latest playlists on...more
ESNS The Key Exchange for Emerging New Music Is Gearing Up for Its 40th Edition
ESNS (Eurosonic Noorderslag), the key exchange for emerging European music talent is gearing up for its 40th edition, which will take place from 14th to 17th January 2026. The event has proven essential in breaking new acts into live music...more
SourceAudio Announces Long-Term AI Dataset Licensing Partnership with Native Instruments
Fully cleared audio dataset will advance next-generation creative tools for musicians SourceAudio, the music industry's most widely adopted sync platform and leading music-rights platform for large-scale AI dataset licensing, today announced a new long-term partnership with Native Instruments, a global leader in...more
NTIA calls for transport investment alongside proposed drink drive limit changes
Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, said: “Road safety has to come first, and the night-time economy absolutely supports efforts to reduce harm and save lives. No venue, operator or community wants to see people injured or killed...more
Streamed and retail entertainment sales grew four times faster than UK economy in 2025
Music, video and games revenues up 7.1% to £13.3bn Streaming services and retailers grew UK revenues from music, video and games by 7.1% in 2025 to a new all-time-record of £13,257.3m, according to interim annual figures published today (January 7) by...more
Save the date: Record Store Day - 18 April 2026
Celebrating 19 years of independent record shops and vinyl culture in the UK Record Store Day (RSD) returns on Saturday 18 April 2026 for its 19th edition, celebrating independent record shops and the people who support them. More than 280 UK...more
Soundstripe and PopArabia Launch First Sync Camp in Middle East
Soundstripe, the premier music licensing platform, is collaborating with Abu Dhabi-based independent music company PopArabia to create a series of songwriting camps for MENA based artists and songwriters. The first camp, Soundstripe’s first outside of the US, took place this October in...more
Universal Music Group to transform music experience for billions of fans with Nvidia AI
Leveraging NVIDIA AI infrastructure and drawing from the world’s leading music catalog comprising millions of culture-defining tracks, this collaboration aims to pioneer responsible AI for music discovery, creation, and engagement Universal Music Group (EURONEXT: UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, announced...more
Universal Music Group appoints James Steven as EVP & Chief Communications Officer
Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced the appointment of James Steven as its Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer. Steven will be responsible for leading the company’s internal and external communications, and oversee the communications...more
Warner Chappell Music strikes global publishing deal with Ziggy Alberts
Today, Warner Chappell Music expands its global roster with the signing of Australian singer-songwriter Ziggy Alberts to a worldwide publishing deal. Signed through Warner Chappell Music Australia, the agreement will encompass Alberts’ complete catalogue and future works, with a close collaborative partnership alongside Warner Chappell Music Nashville to support...more
IRMA announcement of Ireland’s recorded music consumption data for 2025: “Homegrown talent surges in popularity, propelling another year of solid growth for Ireland’s recorded music market”
Homegrown talent surges in popularity, propelling another year of solid growth for Ireland's recorded music market Releases from Fontaines DC, CMAT, Kingfishr, Amble, Hozier & Jazzy helped grow the Irish singles market by 7% and albums by 12% in 2025. Irish artists' market share...more
Italian annual official music charts 2025 celebrates Italian leadership
YOUNG ACT OLLY DOMINATES ALBUMS AND SINGLES, RAPPER CAPAREZZA TOPS THE PHYSICAL CHART Consumption, records and trends in the Italian music market in 2025 ALL THE CHARTS HERE The soundtrack of 2025 in Italy is strongly dominated by local music: it’s the result...more
Superstition is crowned ‘Your Ultimate Stevie Wonder Song’ by BBC Radio 2 listeners
BBC Radio 2 listeners have crowned Superstition as their ‘Ultimate Stevie Wonder Song’, following an audience vote from a long list of his 60 most played solo tracks on the station. The song, taken from Stevie’s 15th studio album Talking Book, was a hit...more
Christmas break 2025 - News
News from the break will appeared here from 20 December to 4 January.Most stories have now been moved to the 5 January daily email. ————————————————————NEWS Kylie Minogue scooped the festive No1 single, beating Wham! to the top spot. (Mail, Sun) The vibrant pulse...more
New wave of global British breakthrough talent helps UK recorded music grow for 11th consecutive year
UK recorded music consumption rises to 210 million albums, with over 200 billion audio streams generated for the first time and vinyl sales rising for an 18th consecutive year to keep physical formats in growth. British breakthrough artists including Olivia Dean, Lola...more
New Year's Honours list
OBEPhil Patterson, for services to Export and to the Music Industry. Karen Emanuel. Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Key Production Group, for services to Music. CBEComposer Max Richter, for services to Music. MBESinger Ellie Goulding, for services to biodiversity and the climate. Cynthia Erivo,...more
Karen Emanuel, Founder and CEO of Key Production Group, Awarded an OBE for Services to Music
Karen Emanuel named in The King’s 2025 New Year’s Honours List, announced today Karen set up Key Production in 1990 - now the biggest physical music manufacturing agency in Europe, servicing the music industry A significant figure in improving gender imbalances within...more
Universal Music Group and Roblox announce strategic agreement to expand creative and commercial music experiences on the platform for artists, labels and fans
Roblox will collaborate with UMG to introduce industry-leading integrations on the platform to music fans and Roblox users globally Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment and Roblox, an immersive gaming and creation platform, today announced a new strategic agreement...more
6 exceptional collaborative new music projects supported to tour across the UK and Republic of Ireland through PRS Foundation's Beyond Borders
PRS Foundation, together with Creative Scotland, Arts Council of Wales, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Ireland announce the UK and Ireland-based organisations, music groups and composers that will receive funding through the co-commissioning and touring programme Beyond Borders. The...more
PRS for Music and IPRS announce groundbreaking new licensing model to launch Apple Fitness+ in India
PRS for Music and the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) have today announced a landmark new licensing model to support the launch of Apple Fitness+ in India. The new initiative marks a significant step forward in how digital music rights are...more
North East Music Leader Named On Influential Government Creative Council
Generator CEO will sit among leading figures from film, TV, design and other creative sectors to champion regional music industry The leader of a North East headquartered music development organisation has been named on an influential Government-led body charged with developing...more
‘The Numbers No Longer Add Up’: Half of Night Time Venues Face 50%+ Business Rate Rises as 2026 Operating Costs Become Unsustainable
Britain’s nightclubs, live music venues, and late-night entertainment spaces are warning that 2026 will bring unsustainable operating costs, with nearly half of venues expecting business rates to rise by 50% or more, according to a flash poll of 345 nightlife business operators. Rising rates...more
Universal Music Group and Splice to Collaborate on the Next Generation of AI-powered Music Creation Tools for Artists
Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, and Splice, the world's most popular music creation platform, have agreed to collaborate on joint exploration of the next generation of AI-powered music creation tools for musical artists. UMG and Splice are...more
Global Nightlife Leaders from Over 30 Countries Converge on Liverpool for Night Time Economy Summit 2026
Liverpool will take centre stage in the global nightlife conversation as night-time economy leaders from more than 30 countries converge on the city for the Night-Time Economy Summit 2026, taking place on 11th and 12th February 2026. Hosted at Blackstock Market, the two-day Summit...more
European Talent Exchange presents final results 2025
ESNS Alumni make international impact across festivals in 2025 European Talent Exchange proudly presents the final results of 2025, a year in which emerging European artists crossed borders at an exceptional pace. Throughout the year, the programme supported 352 shows by 150...more
THE HEADLINES
Lucian Grainge outlines UMG's 2026 plans in staff memo (see News)
Skye Newman wins Radio 1's Sound of 2026 (see News)
Spotify now lets you share what you’re streaming in real time with friends (see Digital)
Streamed and retail entertainment sales grew four times faster than UK economy in 2025 (see News)
UMG announces collaboration with NVIDIA to pioneer responsible AI for music discovery, creation, and engagement (see News)
2026 music industry predictions (see Features)
New wave of global British breakthrough talent helps UK recorded music grow for 11th consecutive year (see News)
What’s going to give you the marketing edge in 2026? (see Features)
The global value of music copyright hits an all-time high (see Reports)
The 'metamorphosis' of Atlantic Records (see Features)
Looking ahead to 2026 (see Opinion)
Boost for artists in AI copyright battle as only 3% back UK active opt-out plan (see News)
Music discovery: More channels, more problems (see Reports)
