A tragic story continues to unfold across the UK as a seemingly endless string of independent music venues are getting closed down (Sticky Mike’s anyone?). The cause is almost always soul-crushingly the same; a thriving venue is devoured by the relentless “progress” of an unstoppable developer whilst local protest groups and councils stand by, powerless to stop them.

Independent Music Venues Week aims to highlight the cultural vitality of these places and the crucial role they play not only in local music scenes, but in our national one too. The event runs from 31st January to 6th February with more than 120 independent music venues across the country signed up, and our fair city is certainly playing its part.

Things kick off on Thursday 3rd February at Green Door Store where So Young are putting on a triple header with London’s nicely angular Deep Tan headlining. There’s a tricky choice to be made on Saturday 5th February as there are three shows (we really are doing our bit in this town!) to go see. The wonderfully intense Charlotte Carpenter graces The Folklore Rooms whilst down at the Hope & Ruin, The Shakes serve up some surf-swaggerjagger. Meanwhile Acid Box throw a big old party at Komedia with a showcase headlined by local psycehedlic freakmachine Skinny Milk. And what better way to bring down the curtain on the week than with an evening of laid-back Americana courtesy of Ags Connolly at The Brunswick on Sunday 6th February.

Brighton is blessed with a host of fabulous independent music venues and it may be that compared to other cities, we don’t know how lucky we all are. Our advice? Use ’em before we lose ’em. See you there!

You can read more about Independent Music Venues week on their website here. And for a deeper dive, definitely investigate campaigning group, Music Venues Trust.

Photo by Time for Heroes