BBC 6 Music to mark Independent Venue Week with week of programming and Big Special Leeds gig

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.

• READ MORE: Big Special – ‘Post Industrial Hometown Blues’ review: a heady dose of heart and reality

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”. This will kick off next Monday on Steve Lamacq’s show (4pm-7pm GMT), continuing on Huw Stephens’ slot at the same time from Tuesday to Friday.

“‘State Of Independent Venues’ sees Steve and Huw shine a light on the British live music industry in 2025,” a description reads. “Marking BBC Radio 6 Music’s long-standing partnership with Independent Venue Week, they will celebrate our independent venues, nightclubs, festivals and the artists who make the music we love and explore how we can protect it all for the future.”

Lamacq explained: “Britain’s grassroots independent venues are so often the unsung heroes of our music industry, discovering and nurturing the big artists of tomorrow while bringing the joy of live music to their local communities. So it’s always a pleasure to celebrate their contribution to the music scene and explore what makes them tick.”

The DJ, who has long championed new music and artists, also confirmed a Big Special gig at “one of [his] favourite venues, Brudenell Social Club in Leeds”. The punk duo will deliver a performance on Monday in partnership with BBC Introducing in Leeds. Sheffield act Gia Ford are due to open for the band.

Additionally, Big Special are scheduled to play in a session on 6 Music from 6:30pm GMT that evening, with Lamacq’s show broadcasting live from the Brudenell.

Lamacq went on to say that he had “seen so many great gigs [at the Brudenell] over the years”, and credited the venue with “helping to launch the careers of local bands like Yard Act and Mercury Prize-winners English Teacher“.

“It’s the sort of place which, if it was round the corner from me, I’d probably be in every night of the week!” he said.

The DJ will also be joined in conversation by Yard Act, Utah Saints, and 6 Music/BBC Introducing Leeds and Sheffield presenter Emily Pilbeam.

Fans can apply for ballot tickets to the Big Special session on 6 Music. Registration is now open and will close at 7pm GMT on January 20. Successful applicants will be selected at random and notified once the registration period has closed.

Tickets for their full intimate gig at the in Leeds are priced at £10. You can find any remaining tickets here.

In a statement, Big Special said: “Independent and grassroots venues are the cornerstone of this country’s live music scene, and under constant threat of closure thanks to lack of funding, daft high rents, and greedy developers clawing at the very ground they stand on.

“Without these hubs of community, bands like us and other up and comers wouldn’t have spaces to hone our sound or build up a fanbase. Your Local music scene depends on them.”

Stephens added: “For venues, festivals and promoters, record labels, shops and schemes, everything in independent music is connected. By talking to those actually doing it, we’ll hopefully bring some interesting and some inspiring stories to 6 Music throughout the week.”

• READ MORE: Big Special make vulnerable, soulful punk that needs to be heard

Samantha Moy, Head Of BBC Radio 6 Music, commented: “At 6 Music we are passionate about the vital role independent venues play in the industry – opening doors of opportunity for artistic expression across all musical genres. State of Independent Venues is a chance for us to bring their frustrations, stories and fantastic work to light.”

For the rest of 6 Music’s IVW 2025 series (Tuesday January 28 to Friday January 31), Stephens will be delving into the triumphs and challenges facing artists, venues, festivals and clubs. He’ll be joined by 6 Music presenter Matt Everitt, who will “explore different elements of the live music industry and independent venues, such as silent cities – what happens when there is no live music left – the UK festival scene in 2025, club culture and more”.

Stephens’ show on January 31 will be broadcast live from Margate Arts Club – a queer-run, intersectional, community-focused, grassroots arts and music venue, with a stripped-back performance from Låpsley (4.30pm). He’ll bring listeners a live DJ set from 6 Music’s Gilles Peterson too (6:30pm), ahead of the latter’s own club night at Margate Arts Club that evening.

Fans will be able to listen back to all programmes via BBC Sounds for 30 days after their initial broadcast.

Big Special released their debut studio album ‘Post Industrial Hometown Blues’ last May. In a four-star review, NME called it “a heady dose of heart and reality”. Their 2025 tour dates also include slots at SXSW and Dot To Dot.

In other news, BBC Radio 6 Music recently announced its new daytime schedule. It’ll see Lauren Laverne return to the station’s mid-morning slot to present a new weekday programme, with Nick Grimshaw replacing her on the Breakfast Show.