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Festival to celebrate independent venues

Lucy Tegg
BBC News, West of England
The Louisiana The Louisiana pub in Bristol, taken on a sunny day. It has a 'Mississippi-style' exterior, painted white, with painted iron balconies on the first floor. There are people outside next to benches and tables.The Louisiana
Local venues, like The Louisiana in Bristol, will be showcasing talent across the week

A festival taking place across multiple cities and towns will celebrate independent venues.

Bars and art centres based around the West Country will be taking part in Independent Venue Week, which is running between 27 January to 2 February.

The UK-wide event, which began in 2013, will see live performances in Bristol, Bath, Corsham, and Cheltenham.

Mig Schillace, who runs Bristol's The Louisiana, said: "Grass roots venues are the foundation of the music industry in the UK. Without them, there wouldn't be a music industry."

Mr Schillace added that independent venues "need all the support they can get".

"We've always tried to encourage artists - booking original acts, and supporting talent.

"We've seen the likes of Coldplay, Amy Winehouse and Dua Lipa performing here," he said.

The Pound Arts Centre Russ Tunney is looking into the camera with a slight smile. His hair and beard is greying. He is wearing a shirt with a fine blue and white stripe.The Pound Arts Centre
Russ Tunney from Pound Arts Centre said it was "great to feel like we're part of something bigger"

Events will also take place at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham, Wiltshire, where Russ Tunney is director.

"Initiatives which really celebrate locations in the heart of the community are so important, they throw a real spotlight onto these venues, which is quite rare," he added.

"Often it's artists at the beginning of their career that depends on venues like this and that's really important to us. Without the energy and entrepreneurialism of these venues there wouldn't be a music industry."

Bass player Joe Barton, who also works at Cheltenham's The Frog and Fiddle, is performing at the festival with his band Lickshot.

He said: "Grassroots venues are the research and development of the music industry. Without weeks like this celebrating independent bands and venues, there wouldn't a pipeline for the next Oasis, Idles or Bob Dylan."

The eight venues taking part locally are:

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