Steve Lamacq: Last News

BBC Radio 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, who is the Chair of LIVE, said: “You cannot underestimate the importance and value of live music to the UK, both culturally and economically. It is part of the fabric of who we are, producing world class artists and providing enjoyment for millions of people.

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”.

Stephen Fry, Eddie Marsan and Carey Mulligan are among the entertainment figures included in the New Years Honours list for 2025.The list of honours, which celebrates individual outstanding achievements and contributions to British society, was revealed earlier today (December 31) to mark the new year.The veteran music broadcaster Lamacq receives an OBE for his services to broadcasting and music venues. He started out as a music journalist in the 1980s, including becoming a celebrated writer for NME for many years, and later became best known for his long career on BBC Radio, launching the Radio 1 Evening Session show with Jo Whiley in 1993.

The Charlatans have annoucned an expanded reissue of ‘Up To Our Hips’ in celebration of the album’s 30th anniversary.The new expanded edition of the band’s third album will be available in various formats including 2XLP, CD and digitally and will feature the original album as well as 10 bonus tracks which were all curated by the band’s frontman Tim Burgess. The bonus tracks also include two BBC live session songs recorded for the Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley Show, plus B-sides, alternate mixes and outtakes.The ‘Up To Our Hips’ 30th-anniversary reissue will also come with special packaging that consists of brand new re-imagined artwork by Nik Void. The LP will be pressed on petrol blue bio-vinyl.

Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq will present their BBC 6 Music Shows from a different grassroots venue every day of Independent Venue Week.Lamacq was joined by Stephens on the first instalment of his new weekly Teatime Session, which airs on Mondays from 4-7pm, to announce the initiative in celebration of the UK’s weeklong event to recognise the importance of independent music venues.Between January 29 and February 2, the presenters will be hitting the road to broadcast their shows from grassroots venues across the country and will also host performances from different artists each day.Lamacq will host from Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast on January 29 ahead of an Independent Venue Week performance from Ash.Stephens will be presenting his show from Edinburgh’s Whistle Binkies on January 30, where 86TVs will perform later that night; The Fulford Arms in York on January 31 ahead of a gig from NewDad; Polar Bear Music Club in Hull on February 1 where English Teacher will be playing; The Rockin’ Chair in Wrexham (Friday 2nd February) before a live set from Antony Szmierek.Those artists will join Lamacq and Stephens for intimate live performances and interviews across the week.Listeners can attend two exclusive intimate live performances with Ash in Belfast on January 29 and Antony Szmierek in Wrexham on February 2. You can apply to attend via a free ballot here, which will be open till January 15.

Clara Amfo, the host of BBC Radio 1's Future Sounds show, has announced she will be stepping down next year to focus on new projects with the network. Jack Saunders, who currently presents Future Artists and The Official Chart shows, will take over from April 15.

Clara Amfo, who danced her way into our hearts on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, has decided to say goodbye to her BBC Radio 1's Future Sounds show after two years.The DJ announced that she'll be leaving the show in 2024 to take on new exciting projects. Jack Saunders, known for presenting Future Artists and The Official Chart shows, will be stepping into Clara's shoes from April 15. Clara shared a heartfelt message saying how proud she was of her work on the station and how grateful she was for her listeners.The show has seen some big names like Zane Lowe, Annie Mac and Steve Lamacq at the helm before.

Music Venue Trust (MVT) – a leading charity devoted to protecting, securing and improving UK Grassroots Music Venues across the country – detailing that the UK is set to lose 10 per cent of its grassroots music venues in 2023 due to issues such as the cost of living crisis.Now, to help save grassroots music venues across the country from closure, taxi app FREENOW has launched a new ‘Ride for Music’ initiative – pledging £1 for each taxi ride to Music Venue Trust.Already, the music industry has rallied behind the initiative, and the likes of Ed Sheeran, Steve Lamacq, Ticketmaster and Academy Music Group (AMG) have all come forward to pledge their support.With the ‘Ride For Music’ incentive, FREENOW has guaranteed a minimum commitment of £200,000 to be donated to the cause, and all users need to do to ensure the donation is made is top ‘opt in’, at no extra cost to them.“Like so many musicians, I started out playing in grassroots music venues. They are such a vital part of the music ecosystem.

NME journalist will begin a new weekly show, Steve Lamacq’s Teatime Session, on Monday, January 8 (4pm-7pm), while Huw Stephens will be taking the weekday slot Tuesday-Friday.“Steve Lamacq has decided to make a well-deserved change to his broadcasting career,” BBC 6 Music announced in a social post this weekend.It confirmed that Lamacq will present his final daily weekday show on Friday October, 20. Stephens will then begin his new show on Tuesday, January 9, after covering the show with other hosts in the interim.A post shared by BBC Radio 6 Music (@bbc6music)“Steve Lamacq’s Teatime Session will see Steve bring listeners his favourite new and classic tracks, as well as live sessions from established bands and emerging artists,” the post added.“Huw’s show will see him share the music he loves, past and present.

The 1990s were without a doubt an unforgettable decade for anyone living in Scotland.

NME about the new BBC podcast The Rise And Fall Of Britpop – and the chances of a similar cultural phenomenon taking place again today.Launched this week, the new eight-part series sees 6 Music DJ and former NME journalist Lamacq – along with fellow BBC DJ and former Evening Sessions co-host Jo Whiley – delve deep into the rise of UK indie in the ’90s with new interviews, archive interviews and more, featuring prominent artists from the scene.To get a feel for the new series, NME spoke to Lamacq about life before Britpop, how it wouldn’t have been possible without the death of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, the characters it gave us, and what caused the scene’s demise…Lamacq: “The start of the ‘90s was a little grim, grey and downtrodden. The rise of dance music through the late ‘80s and into the ‘90s was a reaction to that – and an escape from that. In musical terms, we had the shoegaze movement in the early ‘90s, which brought some quite good stuff.

The Rise And Fall Of Britpop is developed by Steve Lamacq and Jo Whiley, and explores how the genre first came into formation. Through the course of the series, the two hosts will also hold interviews with various musicians from across the scene, and delve into how the genre impacted both the music industry and UK pop culture.It also arrives on what the BBC is describing as the 30th anniversary of the genre, and seeks to not only detail how it rose to prominence but also dive into the archives and share never-before-heard stories from those who understand it best.“It’s easy to forget the environment Britpop landed in; The passing of power from Thatcher to Major, Britain embroiled in war and the Union Jack derided as a symbol of the far right.

The BBC has announced a major shake-up of its 6 Music schedule — meaning a Manc music legend will lose his standalone show.

Legendary DJ Steve Lamacq has paid tribute to the Scottish bands who have changed the face of British indie music. The Radio 6 Music veteran is fronting Independent Venue Week, whose Scottish leg kicks off in Glasgow on Monday.

The co-owner of an Ayr music venue has pleaded with bands and promoters to not forget about smaller town venues.

Frank Turner and Steve Lamacq and NME once again acting as media partner.Taking place at the newly-refurbished St John at Hackney Church in London on Tuesday October 18, the event will see delegates representing venues, promoters, agents, artists, government departments, funding bodies and more come together to “network, interact and share experiences”.NME will be acting as media partner for MVT’s Venues Day for the second time after doing so last year and chairing a panel at 2021’s hybrid event at London’s Earth in Hackney. DJ, journalist and MVT champion Steve Lamacq will also be sharing the stories and experiences of some of the UK’s premiere grassroots venues, while Frank Turner will be making this year’s introductory keynote speech.A post shared by Music Venue Trust (@musicvenuetrust)Beverley Whitrick, Chief Operating Officer at Music Venue Trust said: “It has become increasingly clear that after a tough couple of years there will be no return to the past, and it is now critical that new connections are made and that alternative ways of doing things are explored.

IDLES played a surprise set at Glastonbury 2022 today (Saturday June 25), performing their debut album ‘Brutalism’ in full.Taking to the stage in the 12.30pm slot on the BBC Introducing Stage, the Bristol band tore through the entirety of their 2017 debut, described at the time by NME as “an expletive-laden, punk triumph that tackles the current Tory rule, toxic masculinity and mental health.”They were introduced onstage by radio legend Steve Lamacq, who labelled them “one of the most Incendiary, caring and thought-provoking bands of the last decade”. The group paid him back in kind with a dedication ahead of ‘Well Done’, before breaking into an impromptu verse of Green Day’s ‘Basket Case’.During ‘Exeter’,  a young fan named Daisy was pulled out of the crowd to play guitar.

BBC has announced that it will broadcast sets live from Glastonbury Festival‘s Pyramid Stage in Ultra High Definition (UHD) for the first time.In addition to the news that will bring fans watching at home closer to the action, BBC Music has also announced its presenters including Lauren Laverne, Jo Wiley, Clara Amfo, Jack Saunders and Huw Stephens.Audiences will be able to watch headline sets by Billie Eilish, Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar and Diana Ross (legends slot) in UMD aired live on BBC One/Two as well as BBC iPlayer and online from Friday, June 24 to Sunday, June 26.For the first time, BBC iPlayer’s dedicated Glastonbury channel will be live from Thursday, June 23 through to the Sunday, guiding viewers through the hundreds of performances taking place at Worthy Farm.Also on the presenter line-up across TV and radio is: AFRODEUTSCHE, Cerys Matthews, Danny Howard, Dermot O’Leary, DJ Target, Jaguar, Jamz Supernova, Matt Everitt, Sian Eleri, Steve Lamacq, Tiffany Calver, Tom Ravenscroft, Vick Hope and Zoe Ball.BBC Radio 1, Radio 1 Dance, Radio 1Xtra and Radio 2 will all provide coverage of the festival, which returns after three years following the COVID pandemic.BBC Radio 6 Music will be the festival’s radio home, providing all-day Glastonbury coverage from Wednesday, June 22 through to Sunday, June 26.The BBC’s celebration of Glastonbury 2022 will begin earlier than in previous years.

Ride are set to join Richard Ashcroft at this year’s South Facing Festival.Back in March, it was announced that the former Verve frontman would make a headline appearance at the festival at Crystal Palace Bowl on Saturday, August 6.Now, Ride have been announced as Ashcroft’s “special guests” on the day, alongside Steve Lamacq, BDRMM, Tess Parks and Alan McGee.At the event, Ride will celebrate the 30th anniversary release their classic 1990 debut album ‘Nowhere’ and will perform the album in full at the event.South Facing Festival, which launched last year, runs between July 29 and August 21. The open-air concert series will also host performances from the likes of London Grammar, Bombay Bicycle Club, Jungle and Becky Hill.Tickets for the event are on sale now – buy yours here.Last year’s inaugural South Facing Festival included sets from Dizzee Rascal, Supergrass and The Streets.Ashcroft, who released his latest album ‘Acoustic Hymns Vol.1’ last October, is also due to perform at Millennium Square in Leeds this summer.

Wet Leg, Years & Years and James Bay.The ninth consecutive edition of IVW will take place across over 210 independent UK venues between Monday (January 31) and Sunday, February 6. It’ll host more than 485 performances, including live gigs, comedy shows, Q&A sessions, films and documentaries.BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Steve Lamacq will celebrate Independent Venue Week 2022 by presenting a series of one-off shows between January 31 and February 4.It’ll kick off with Franz Ferdinand at PJ Molloys in Dunfermline ahead of Yard Act performing a hometown gig at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds on February 1.

Wet Leg have been announced as next year’s ambassadors of Independent Venue Week.The 2022 event, which champions the annual celebration of independent music venues, will take place across the UK from January 31 to February 6.BBC 6 Music and former NME writer Steve Lamacq took to the stage at The 229 Club in London today (October 27) to unveil Wet Leg as this year’s ambassadors.“We grew up in a place where we had no music venues at all and after living in Bristol and London, it’s been incredible to experience what it’s like to be a part of a scene; to feel that sense of community that you can pin point geographically to a place, to a venue, I think is quite important and quite special particularly for emerging bands and artists,” Wet Leg