This year I’ve joined the team behind Independent Venue Week to manage their digital editorial and social media. The event, now in its fourth, is a little bit like a Record Store Day for live music. Every year in January (23-29 2017), IVW supports Independent venues across the UK, helping them to stage, promote and publicise special gigs that not only reminds their local communities that they’re still there but also showcase the spectrum of character, quirks and musical taste that’s behind our independently run venues. It’s not about saying this venues are better than arenas or chain run venues – they have their place too – but without the independent concert halls many acts would never get their first gigs while the music scene would be a lot less interesting. They’re a key part of the music industry and an important foundation of our culture, so having one week a year to celebrate them is the least they deserve. On 29 November we announced the first acts who are taking part in 2017, plus we introduced the IVW Ambassador for 2017, Tim Burgess, who follows in the footsteps of Radiohead, Wolf Alice and Frank Turner.

Full information can found at Independentvenueweek.com – see you in an independent venue in January.