Independent Venue Week 2025 kicks off across the UK

Independent Venue Week (IVW), the UK`s annual celebration of independent music and arts venues, begins today, Monday, January 27th. Now in its 12th year, the week-long event runs until Sunday, February 2nd, showcasing the vibrancy and diversity of the UK’s live music scene. This year, 214 venues are participating, ranging from intimate spaces to historic landmarks, hosting hundreds of events spanning genres from reggae and black metal to comedy and spoken word. Since its inception in 2014, IVW has sold over 1 million tickets, highlighting its impact on the live events industry. Four venues that opened in the past year—Soul Mama (Stratford), LVLS (Hackney), KOLA (Portsmouth), and The Rat & Pigeon (Manchester)—will join the festivities. Meanwhile, several longstanding venues, such as Strongroom Bar in London (40 years) and Bedford Esquires (35 years), will celebrate milestone anniversaries in 2025. BBC Radio 6 Music will feature IVW throughout the week, including broadcasts from Leeds and Margate. BBC Introducing will also host special events in Colchester, Stockton, and Clitheroe. IVW ambassadors, including YolanDa Brown, Gwenno, and rEDOLENT, will perform across the UK, with highlights such as Loose Articles’ "Kicks Like a Girl" workshop in Preston and a jazz series at the Royal Albert Hall. For the full schedule of shows and venues, visit www.independentvenueweek.com