Big Jeff Johns Unveils His First Exhibition of Artworks
Our first ever non-artist IVW ambassador, legendary Bristol gig-goer and wonderful member of the IVW family Big Jeff Johns has announced his first very own exhibition of artworks which is online now for you to see.
“Independent venues provided the foundations for my life journey” – Arlo Parks Exclusive
Ahead of the release of her debut album “Collapsed In Sunbeams”, 2021 IVW Arlo Parks explains how grassroots gigs have helped shape her creativity and ability. “I was quite young and I hadn’t developed that sense of confidence in my work. It was nerve wracking, but it was also amazing to have that platform, to be able to…
Announcing our #IVW21 Ambassador for Scotland – Amy Macdonald
INDEPENDENT VENUE WEEK 2021 ANNOUNCES AMY MACDONALD AS NATIONAL AMBASSADOR FOR SCOTLAND She joins Arlo Parks, Gruff Rhys & Jordan Adetunji to complete the lineup of representatives for the UK’s biggest celebration of independent venues and their communities IVW 2021 AMBASSADOR FOR SCOTLAND: AMY MACDONALD For the first time in its eight-year history, Independent Venue…
Announcing our #IVW21 Ambassador for Wales – Gruff Rhys
“We need to give a voice for those people to be heard” – Gruff Rhys, 2021 Independent Venue Week Ambassador for Wales
#TheBigJeffChat with Nathan (Brudenell Social Club)
Welcome to the thirteenth Big Jeff Chat, which we’ll be hosting here and on our YouTube channel every Thursday at 5pm GMT. This week Jeff was joined by venue owner Nathan Clarke, who runs the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. The pair had a big geek out about their favourite bands and gigs, the atmosphere…
#TheBigJeffChat – Maita
Welcome to the twelfth Big Jeff Chat, which we’ll be hosting here and on our YouTube channel every Thursday at 5pm GMT. This week Jeff was joined by up and coming American indie musician MAITA, who chatted about what music she’ll be releasing next and how important it is to represent different perspectives in music….
Grassroots Music Venues To Be Saved by Government Cash
First portion of £1.57 billion culture recovery package will go towards saving music venues from insolvency £2.25 million emergency support expected to benefit 150 venues across the country The fund opens today, Saturday 24th July at midday and closes at midday, Monday 3rd August The first tranche of funding from the Government’s £1.57 billion cultural…
#TheBigJeffChat with Alicia Gaines of Ganser
Welcome to the ninth Big Jeff Chat, which we’ll be hosting here and on our YouTube channel every Thursday at 5pm GMT. This week Jeff was joined by Alicia Gaines of New York post-punk band Ganser. The pair chatted about chatting about the band’s influences, their style and the power music has to unify people…
#TheBigJeffChat – Tim Burgess
Welcome to the seventh Big Jeff Chat, which we’ll be hosting here and on our YouTube channel every Thursday at 5pm GMT. This week Jeff was joined by Charlatans frontman, solo artist, former IVW ambassador and master of Twitter listening parties: Tim Burgess. The pair chatted about gig going, listening parties and lockdown and their…
#TheBigJeffChat – Nadine Shah
Welcome to the sixth Big Jeff Chat, which we’ll be hosting here and on our YouTube channel every Thursday at 5pm GMT. This week Jeff was joined by singer-songwriter Nadine Shah ahead of the release of her new album Kitchen Sink. She and Jeff had a right laugh and Jeff’s mum even made a cameo…
The Big Jeff Chat – Jeff Barrett (Heavenly Recordings)
Welcome to the third Big Jeff Chat, which we’ll be hosting here and on our YouTube channel every Thursday at 5pm UK Time. This week Jeff was joined by founder of Heavenly Recordings, Jeff Barrett for a Jeff x Jeff special! Jeff and Jeff chatted together about Bristol, how Heavenly was founded, and the record…
#TheBigJeffChat with Kate Stables (This Is The Kit)
Welcome to the second Big Jeff Chat, which we’ll be hosting here and on our YouTube channel every Thursday at 5pm UK Time. This week Jeff was joined by musician Kate Stables of This Is The Kit. She and Jeff had a lovely long chat about Bristol, the atmosphere, joy and community spirit of live…
#TheBigJeffChat with Bill Ryder-Jones
Welcome to the first Big Jeff Chat, which we’ll be hosting here and on our YouTube channel every Thursday at 5pm UK Time. This week Jeff was joined by singer-songwriter and producer Bill Ryder-Jones and you can hear the really moving conversation they had with one another covering the value of art, mental health, self-doubt…
‘I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for independent venues’ – Anna Calvi exclusive
‘I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for independent venues’ Ahead of her Homecoming Tour show at Brixton’s Windmill, 2020 IVW ambassador Anna Calvi explains how grassroots gigs made her the kind of artist who scores Peaky Blinders, croons with Jeff Goulburn and makes “quite intense, in a good way” Mercury Prize-nominated music. Ambassador for IVW…
Today is the day, #IVW20 kicks off in full force
Thank you all SO much for helping get Independent Venue Week off to the most incredible start this year. I know you are all in different parts of the country, some having travelled overnight on that AMAZING BBC 6 Music bus. This IVW is set to be the biggest year yet and we’re grateful to…
Lamacq Announces Homecoming Tour For IVW
The BBC 6 Music Homecoming Tour with Steve Lamacq for Independent Venue Week announcement We are excited to finally announce Steve Lamacq‘s plans for IVW, his fifth year going out on the road and travelling across the UK. On his ‘Homecoming Tour’, Lamacq will be visiting the hometowns, and consequently the infamous venues, of…
IVW is getting closer, and we’re getting excited
#IVW20 keeps getting closer and closer, it’s brilliant looking at what everyone’s got planned for the week. We’re very excited to see what Anna Calvi has planned as our ambassador too. Have a look at what everyone was excited about at our launch below.
IVW 19 – A Celebration Of Creativity and Generosity
What a week it’s been. The 6th Independent Venue Week has been an incredible show of creativity and generosity all across the country. From the venues and promoters that put shows on, the artists that play and the people that go to gigs, the whole country has come together to celebrate these amazing places. The…
When Sam Met Ade: Portishead’s Adrian Utley opens his home studio to Sam Barnett
When Sam Barnett, a young jazz saxophonist, was invited to play a show in Bristol for Independent Venue Week, even he couldn’t have imagined what would happen. Here, he tells the story of how he ended up in Portishead’s Adrian Utley’s home studio and his plans for the future – with a few words from…
Announcing our fifth ambassador: Big Jeff Johns
We’re over the moon to announce renowned Bristol gig-goer Big Jeff Johns as our fifth and final ambassador for Independent Venue Week.
Pushing On: A Conversation about confidence with Big Jeff Johns
We’re thrilled to have Big Jeff Johns on board. Here he talks a little about his early experiences with music, finding ways of working with his autism, and how Bristol’s independent venues saved him.
Changing cultural currents: A conversation about independence with Jamie Cullum
Joe Zadeh speaks to Jamie Cullum about his early starts making music, about recording, and about his mission to change the cultural currents for music in hard-hit areas across the UK. Words by Joe Zadeh 19 years ago, a 20-year-old Jamie Cullum decided to put aside £480 (which was probably around two months rent at…
Frank Turner talks on IVW…
Thanks Frank!
Independent Venue Week 2015 Launches…
85 Venues with Frank Turner as Ambassador Monday 26th Jan – Sunday 2nd Feb 2015 Following a hugely successful first year, Independent Venue Week is back in 2015 with 5 times as many venues taking part all around the UK. Frank Turner has taken over the mantle as this year’s Ambassador from Radiohead’s Colin Greenwood. Supported…