BBC Radio 6 Music to celebrate 10 years of Independent Venue Week

Steve Lamacq is to take his 6 Music show on the road as the station celebrates 10 years of Independent Venue Week.

The event is the UK’s annual seven-day celebration of independent music and arts venues and the people that own, run and work in them. This year, it takes place from Monday 30 January to Friday 3 February.

Announcing it on air this evening, Steve said that he’ll take his tour bus around the UK for a series of special shows, featuring performances in independent venues from Sprints, Grove, Young Fathers, The Murder Capital and Suede.

The tour will see Steve broadcasting from a different venue in a UK town or city each day – Ramsgate Music Hall (Monday 30 January), Hare and Hounds in Birmingham (Tuesday 31 January), Norwich Arts Centre (Wednesday 1 February), KU Stockton (Thursday 2 February) and Stereo in Glasgow (Friday 3 February). All of the artists will join Steve in conversation before performing at each of these venues.

Steve Lamacq says: “Independent Venue Week has always played a vital role in helping grassroots venues at a financially perilous time of year. But it’s even more essential now, as venues try and bounce back from the COVID lockdowns and cope with the pressures of the current cost of living situation. But it’s also a great time to get out and see some new and emerging artists before they hit the summer festival stages. There’s a terrific variety of music on offer.

“We’ve also lined up some of our own favourite new and established acts for a week of gigs in small independent venues around the country and will be touring the UK, presenting the BBC Radio 6 Music radio show from a different location every day.”

Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music, says: “So many of 6 Music’s favourite emerging and established artists started out performing in small independent venues across the UK.

“In a post-pandemic music industry, it’s never been more important to support these venues and showcase the vital role and space they provide for musicians and fans alike.

“I’m incredibly proud that Lammo is on the road for a week, across the UK, shining a light on such an integral part of our music eco-system.”

Independent Venue Week will also be marked on BBC Radio 6 Music by Chris Hawkins and Craig Charles.

Chris will host weekly MySpace audio tours of venues across the UK in the run-up to Independent Venue Week on his weekday 5-7.30am show and Craig will have takeovers of his usual daily features in his weekday 1-4pm show, from five eclectic independent venues across the week.