The annual event which celebrates independent music and arts venues and the people who run them, Independent Venue Week is drawing to an end. Having ran throughout the week, the importance of playing live, especially at the beginning of any artist’s career, has been at the centre as local radio shows showed their massive support of their local singers, bands and independent venues.
As local independent venues are where many musicians find their feet, test out their early material and start to build their fanbases, they are at the core of local music scenes and are deeply significant in the journey of any future stars. So, to celebrate this, its 10th anniversary of showcasing the UK’s finest local venues, Independent Venue Week (IVW) saw more than 300 independent venues around the country take part, from The Troxy, in London, to the Grayston Unity in Halifax, West Yorkshire, Manchester’s New Century Hall, to Dros Ben Tan in Neath, in Wales, Edinburgh’s Leith Depot, plus far too many more to mention.
In marking such a celebrated milestone, IVW founder, Sybil Bell, said: “We’re beyond excited to have reached 10 years of shining a spotlight on our amazing community who work so tirelessly year-round. With such amazing support from our partners, we’ve been able to have a nationwide celebration of independent and unique spaces in every nook and cranny of the country whilst helping nurture new talent on and off stage.
She continued: “It was encouraging that so many people checked out shows in their local area, bought tickets and had a great night out with mates whilst supporting locally owned independent businesses. We’re already excited for the next 10 years.”
Independent Venue Week comes to a close tomorrow (Sunday, February 5).