BBC 6 Music to mark Independent Venue Week with week of programming and Big Special Leeds gig

nme.com:

BBC Radio 6 Music has announced a series of programming and a one-off Leeds show from Big Special to celebrate Independent Venue Week 2025.This year’s IVW will run across seven days between January 27 to February 2, with hundreds of live shows set to take place across the UK.

Gwenno and rEDOLENT were announced as official ambassadors last month.Now, 6 Music has shared details of a week of programs to coincide with the celebrations – including “a five-day deep-dive into the UK’s independent, live music industry”.

This will kick off next Monday on Steve Lamacq’s show (4pm-7pm GMT), continuing on Huw Stephens’ slot at the same time from Tuesday to Friday.“‘State Of Independent Venues’ sees Steve and Huw shine a light on the British live music industry in 2025,” a description reads. “Marking BBC Radio 6 Music’s long-standing partnership with Independent Venue Week, they will celebrate our independent venues, nightclubs, festivals and the artists who make the music we love and explore how we can protect it all for the future.”Lamacq explained: “Britain’s grassroots independent venues are so often the unsung heroes of our music industry, discovering and nurturing the big artists of tomorrow while bringing the joy of live music to their local communities.

So it’s always a pleasure to celebrate their contribution to the music scene and explore what makes them tick.”A post shared by BBC Radio 6 Music (@bbc6music)The DJ, who has long championed new music and artists, also confirmed a Big Special gig at “one of [his] favourite venues, Brudenell Social Club in Leeds”.