All great things must come to an end, and last week’s incredible #IVW25 festivities inevitably came to a close last night. It’s always bittersweet when we reach the final Sunday, and the team felt that same feeling throughout yesterday as they ventured around the country for one last time this Independent Venue Week.

We began our Sunday evening at The Jacaranda in Liverpool, for the final headline show of The Lounge Society’s #IVW25 tour. Hailing from Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire, the four-piece have been making their way around the country’s independent venues this week, with their final tour date in the North West. Liverpool’s The Lounge Society certainly rose to the occasion and delivered a performance that lived up to expectations for the musically-iconic city. Despite a snug 80 cap, the basement venue seemed larger than life as the post-punk quartet threw themselves around the stage with impeccable confidence that their #IVW25 had been a roaring success. There’s nothing more inspiring than watching a band that have incredible chemistry, and it was obvious that the band were immensely proud of one another as they passed beaming glances at each other throughout their performance. It might be early days for the outfit, but if they keep pulling off headlines like the one at The Jacaranda yesterday, a promising future surely lies ahead for them.

It wouldn’t be the final night of #IVW25 without a party, and electronic afro-funk band, Ibibio Sound Machine, achieved a euphoric performance at The Trades Club in Hebden Bridge on Sunday. With only a 200 capacity, The Trades Club has a legendary status in Yorkshire and is the perfect alternative for gig punters wanting to escape from the bustling hives of surrounding cities like Leeds, Sheffield, and Manchester and their many independent venues. For a small valley in West Yorkshire, its independent venue and music scene has a huge impact on the local community and their access to the best-emerging sounds, with renowned artists such as Rich Hawley, This Is The Kit, The Orielles, and The Miki Berenyi Trio having previously graced the venue’s stage. Armed with evocative vocal flare, vibrant harmonies, and mesmerising percussive rhythms, the band commanded the huge Trades Club crowd. Ibibio carried the #IVW25 team over the finish line last night, as their performance generated an infectious energy that radiated throughout the West Yorkshire venue. The #IVW25 team asked for a celebration, and the Ibibio Sound Machine at The Trades Club certainly delivered.

Arch Femmesis at The New Adelphi Club by Luke Hallett

We couldn’t bring #IVW25 to a close without a trip to Hull in East Yorkshire, as we paid both The Polar Bear Music Club and The New Adelphi Club a visit last night. Offering a completely different experience to their usual raucous music nights throughout the week, The Polar Bear Music Club hosted its monthly Sonic Union night on the last Sunday of Independent Venue Week, with artists Fiona-Lee, Max Leo, and Yasmin Coe billed for the evening. Sonic Union provides a quiet performance space, limited to 80 people, supporting atmospheric artists in an environment they deserve to be listened to. Having recently stunned the singer-songwriter world with her long-awaited singles ‘Mother’, ‘Nothing Compares To Nineteen’, and ‘When I Wake Up I’m Sad’, it was an enormous pleasure to watch headliner Fiona-Lee captivate an intimate audience with her dreamy tones and hauntingly powerful melodies. Dream-pop artists Yasmin Coe and Max Leo equally delivered two hypnotic performances, as they offered us some beautifully alternative acoustic arrangements to their usual full-band songs.

Brilliant Bar Team Members in Hull by Luke Hallett

Only a mile up the road from The Polar Bear Music Club, we arrived at our final stop of the #IVW25 team’s independent venue tour: The Adelphi Club. After a pint and catch-up with venue owner and local Hull legend Paul Jackson, or “Jacko” as he’s more commonly known, the team were treated to an all-day event hosted by new Hull-based promoter, Twisted Nipple. All-day music events in independent venues like this are like Christmas day for the #IVW25 team, and music lovers alike, as they offer a non-stop platter of sounds and performances from bands that are desperate for an initial platform to share their music. If you’re hungry to discover new music, then these events offer just that! Artists included in the fem-presenting, queer, or non-binary line-up for Sunday’s all-dayer were Loose Articles, Bureau De Change, Arch Femmesis, Jodie Langford, Under The Influence, Wench, Snakes with Tits, and Haldern. With a great variety of sounds, from punk-rock to electronic beats, there really was something for everyone at The Adelphi Club on Sunday afternoon, and that’s exactly what Independent Venue Week aims to achieve. Ending the day in a packed-out Adelphi Club, the #IVW25 team couldn’t have been more grateful for their phenomenal week visiting the country’s amazing independent venues and their incredible staff, reps, promoters, owners, and artists.

Year 12 of Independent Venue Week has certainly been the most unforgettable celebration of independence yet, and we’re already excited for next year…