“I’ve spent a lot of time in independent venues around the world, onstage and as the fan in the crowd. No matter if you’re a superstar or underground act, these places bring music to the people outside of the corporate lines. Let’s celebrate them, not just this week but every day.”
—Chuck D, honorary ambassador for the first year of Independent Venue Week’s US edition
“It’s a first step, but I’m a believer that venues should try to work together, as I think there are a lot of benefits to be had if we do…[Independent Venue Week] helps highlight that, although we are locally owned and operated, we’re not alone in this pursuit to bring great artists to our local communities.”
—Glenn Boothe, marketing director for Durham, NC venue Motorco, as told to Indy Week
“We all want to live in a non-homogenous society. We believe one of the ways to do that is to foster a vibrant independent music scene with venues that have their own voice and initiatives like Independent Venue Week help fuel this.”
—Andrew Dreskin, Eventbrite’s President of Music, as told to Pollstar
Independent Venue Week has announced that its second annual US edition will take place July 8-14, 2019. This news follows the conclusion of Independent Venue Week’s thrillingly successful US debut, which ran July 9-15, 2018 as featured in Pollstar. Independent Venue Week’s debut US edition also received the massive blessing of the legendary Chuck D—social activist, author, and co-founder of legendary group Public Enemy and member of Prophets of Rage—as its honorary artist ambassador. Venues are welcome to apply to participate in next year’s edition of Independent Venue Week by following the link below.
2019 Venue Sign-up Form
More about Independent Venue Week’s US Debut
Independent Venue Week is the first multinational event to join the Keychange initiative, which invests in emerging female talent whilst encouraging festivals to sign up to a 50:50 gender balance pledge by 2022. In Keychange’s words, “It’s important we acknowledge and represent all genders, our aim is to address the imbalance between those who are currently represented and those who are consistently underrepresented.”
Of the US launch, Rev. Moose, managing partner of Marauder, which produces the US edition of Independent Venue Week, recently said to Pollstar:
“Our main goal is to be able to support business owners, the people that own, run and spend their days in these independently owned venues, and try to give them a bigger mouthpiece. I think it’s important for small business owners to have infrastructure that continues to give them support, so that they can continue in their own local markets.”
Independent Venue Week founder Sybil Bell recently said to BTRtoday:
“These venues open their doors regardless of knowing if people are going to actually come, if it’s going to be busy or if the band is even going to have a good show…It’s a tough business to be in—it’s not an area of the industry that gets a lot of recognition, but it’s a very vital part of the whole ecosystem for artists.”
Independent Venue Week officially welcomed Eventbrite and Songtrust as founding year partners for the US launch. Eventbrite partners with over 2,000 of the top independent promoters, venues, and festivals across North America. Songtrust provides a technology platform for music publishing and royalty collection services to help simplify music rights management.
Below is the list of venues and shows that participated in the debut US edition of Independent Venue Week:
Date: City – Venue (Artist)
July 9: Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry/First Avenue (Cut Worms)
July 9: Boston, MA – The Middle East (Zonez, Blueberry Syrup, Mokamazo)
July 10: Berkeley, CA – The UC Theatre (Neurosis)
July 10: Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live (Bombino)
July 11: Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum Art Co. (Lev)
July 11: Los Angeles, CA – The Echo (Liily)
July 11: Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge (Jeremy Enigk)
July 12: Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom (Falling Stars)
July 12: New York, NY – Pianos (Night Screams, Grim Streaker, Dead Stars, more)
July 12: Seattle, WA – The Crocodile (Phoebe Bridgers)
July 13: Chicago, IL – Schubas (TV Girl)
July 13: Jersey City, NJ – White Eagle Hall (The Get Up Kids)
July 13: Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge/The High Watt (Western Medication)
July 13: Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls (The Lone Bellow)
July 14: Austin, TX – Mohawk (Deafheaven)
July 14: Nederland, CO – Caribou Room (Flow Tribe)
July 14: San Francisco, CA – Cafe du Nord (Brigid Mae Power)
July 15: Durham, NC – Motorco (River Whyless)
July 15: St. Paul, MN – The Turf Club/First Avenue (Unsane)
July 15: Washington, DC – 9:30 Club (The Get Up Kids)
