Independent Venue Week 2021 has announced its full schedule for its eighth edition, which started Monday 25 January and runs until Sunday 31 January.
Independent Venue Week is a seven-day nationwide celebration of music venues around the country and the people that own, run and work in them. The venues give artists their first experience of playing live to an audience and allow fans to get up close to artists who may one day be playing stadiums and festival main stages.
They also provide those wanting a career in music, off the stage, the chance to learn their craft up close in a small venue. IVW highlights why they are also cultural hubs for learning, creativity, arts and culture more widely in the local community for people from all walks of life. IVW brings together venues with breaking and established artists, promoters, labels, media and tastemakers to create a nationwide series of gigs.
This year will be digital to prioritise the health and well-being of the community, but still with over 141 virtual events taking place across the nations. Over 110 venues across the UK have signed up to take part playing host to performances, ‘In Conversation’ interviews, panel discussions with industry professionals, the official IVW Quiz hosted by Duglas Stewart of BMX Bandits and the online premiere screening of ‘On The Road with Independent Venue Week’, with a live Q&A.
Independent Venue Week 2021 is the official venue for Music Feeds, the original at-home charity music festival supporting FareShare to help fight food poverty. The festival gives access to performances specially recorded by more than 40 artists to raise funds for charities FareShare, Stagehand and Help Musicians.
Music Feeds festival is the latest official partnership for the week bringing a massive line-up of performances from the likes of Sam Smith, Liam Gallagher, Fontaines D.C and many more. It is supported by Co-op, the ethical UK retailer, and is presented Everybody Belongs Here, the music event promoter who is working for positive societal change.
On Tuesday 26 January, Gruff Rhys, Independent Venue Week 2021’s Welsh ambassador has specially curated Ara Deg, an online festival streamed from Neuadd Ogwen, Bethesda featuring performances from artists Gruff Rhys, Brìghde Chaimbeul, N’famady Kouyate, Cerys Hafana and Rhodri Davies.