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YolanDa Brown unveiled as Artist Ambassador for Independent Venue Week 2025



 

  • The acclaimed saxophonist - and now venue owner - will champion the UK’s annual celebration of independent venues when it returns between 27th January and 2nd February 2025

  • YolanDa will play a special show, celebrating the music of Bob Marley, at her Soul Mama venue on Saturday 1st February 

  • More than 200 venues around the UK are expected to take part in IVW25, hosting a huge range of music and other live events - including some truly special headline shows

  • Artists already confirmed to perform over the week include Ibibio Sound Machine, Gilles Peterson, The Bug Club, Dodgy, The Blockheads, C Duncan, Lizzie Esau + Dirty Blonde, and Do Nothing 

  • Gabby Chelmicka, formerly at Robbie Williams’ management company, joins the IVW team as Head of Operations and Partnerships

  • Confirmed partners for IVW25 include Arts Council England, Beavertown, TuneCore, PPL,  Rockbox and the Welsh Government via Creative Wales 

www.independentvenueweek.com

@IVW_UK (Twitter and Instagram) @independentvenueweek (Facebook)

#IVW25   

 

Independent Venue Week (IVW), the UK’s annual 7-day celebration of independent music and arts venues and the people that own, run and work in them, will return next year from January 27th to February 2nd 2025. 

Our Artist Ambassador for IVW2025 is the acclaimed jazz musician, broadcaster, philanthropist and author YolanDa Brown OBE DL, who this year opened a new independent music venue and restaurant, Soul Mama, based in Stratford, London.  

IVW encourages music fans to get on the good foot, and start the new year by buying a ticket and attending a live show. Over the course of the week, independent venues come together with artists, promoters, agents, record labels and media to create a unique series of special live events across the UK to highlight and celebrate the work these venues do year-round. 

By doing so, local communities can celebrate these special places with thousands of artists playing hundreds of shows in villages, towns and cities all around the UK. 

In 2024, more than 200 venues took part, hosting over 800 events. 

We are beyond excited to welcome YolanDa Brown as IVW’s Artist Ambassador for 2025. 

A musician, first and foremost, YolanDa is widely acknowledged as the UK’s premier female saxophonist. Her albums April Showers, May Flowers (2013) and Love Politics War (2017) have topped the UK Jazz Charts, while she was also the first artist to win a “Best Jazz” MOBO award over two consecutive years.  An acclaimed live performer, YolanDa has toured with legends including The Temptations, Billy Ocean and Jools Holland, and collaborated extensively with the likes of Dave Stewart, Kelly Jones and Rick Astley

As a broadcaster and educator, YolanDa has made great strides to bring music to new audiences, notably with her BAFTA-nominated CBeebies series YolanDa’s Band Jam, a weekly Saturday show on Jazz FM, and a weekly classical music show on Magic Classical, alongside numerous other radio and TV projects, including regular appearances as co-presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Loose Ends.

She is currently composing music for the iconic Sesame Street, animated series called Bea’s Block on Sky Kids, as well as the Netflix Series CocoMelon Lane. 

YolanDa is also a respected spokeswoman and industry voice, currently serving as Chair of the BPI (Brit Awards, Mercury Prize), as an ambassador for the King’s Trust and the London Music Fund, as a trustee of the PRS Foundation, on the National Council at Arts Council England and a board member London Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also a trustee of Independent Venue Community, the new charity established by Independent Venue Week in 2024. 

A former Chair of leading music charity Youth Music, YolanDa was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of East London and became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Northern College of Music. 

In 2023, she received an OBE for services to music, music education and broadcasting. 

And to this long, long list of achievements, another hat can now be added: independent venue owner.

Following a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign, YolanDa opened Soul Mama earlier this year - a brand new live music venue and restaurant in Stratford, London. 

The line up so far has been eclectic from the likes of Mica Paris, Omar, Bill Laurance from Snarky Puppy and Yellowjackets. Upcoming shows at Soul Mama include emerging artists such as All Day Breakfast Cafe, Jon Onabowu and special exclusive intimate performances from artists you wouldn’t usually see, so up close and personal - including Katherine Jenkins, Raul Midón and many more to be announced.

YolanDa will play a special IVW show at the venue on Saturday 1st February, when she will perform her new show "Bob Marley Songbook”, in celebration of what would have been Bob Marley's 80th birthday year. Other IVW shows at Soul Mama include Omar Puente Charanga Sextet (January 31st) with more to be announced.  

Previous IVW Artist Ambassadors have included 2024 Mercury Prize winners English Teacher, as well as Wet Leg, beabadoobee, Philip Selway, Arlo Parks, Anna Calvi, Wolf Alice, Nadine Shah, Colin Greenwood, Adrian Utley and Novelist

Sybil Bell, IVW Founder and CEO:
“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a really broad range of IVW Ambassadors over the years including those at the start of their careers to household names, as well as a wide range of genres. This year, with YolanDa, we’re honoured to not only have such an accomplished musician but also an esteemed industry figure and new venue owner.”

“Many of YolanDa’s fans and followers will be new to Independent Venue Week and it’s incredibly exciting for us to bring a new audience to our celebration and share some wonderful stories of our amazing community.”

YolanDa Brown OBE DL: 
“Independent venues are, and will always remain important to the music ecosystem. They are the heartbeat of the live experience, not just for artists but for audiences as well. Within these intimate spaces, countless stories are told - some songs and performances may never transcend the walls, yet they leave a lasting mark, offering hope, joy, inspiration, and sometimes even tears. These venues are the breeding grounds and an important outlet for creativity and expression. As a new venue owner, it is important to have more diversity in music venue ownership in order to create a platform for new stories to be told.”

To date, 149 venues have already confirmed to participate in #IVW25 - with over 200 expected to sign up by the deadline of December 6th 2024. Of those, six are located in villages, 38 in towns and 70 in cities, all supported by a network of IVW reps in every region and nation across the UK. 

In addition to Soul Mama, there are also 23 other venues who will take part in IVW for first time, including:

Artisan Tap, Stoke-on-Trent

Billy Bootleggers, Nottingham

Dingwalls, London

DIVE, Wolverhampton

Full Of Noises, Barrow-in-Furness

Granary Arts Cafe, Nantwich

Hangover Hill, Poole

Hootananny Brixton, London

Jacaranda Baltic, Liverpool

Paradise Palms, Edinburgh

Pocklington Arts Centre, York

Saltbox, Nottingham

The Boat Shack Cafe, Bromsgrove

The Drill, Lincoln

The Garibaldi Hotel, Northampton 

The Hallamshire Hotel, Sheffield

The Hive, Edinburgh 

The Love Inn, Bristol

The Old Cold Store, Nottingham

The Studio, Nantwich

The Vinyl Whistle, Leeds

The White Room Music Café, Co Durham

Walthamstow Trades Hall, East London

 

New shows will also be added regularly and presented on the IVW website

Artists already confirmed to appear during the week include Ibibio Sound Machine, The Lounge Society, Gilles Peterson, The Bug Club, Dodgy, Heavy Lungs, The Blockheads, C Duncan, Lizzie Esau + Dirty Blonde, E L U C I D, Avalanche Party, Do Nothing and Utah Saints, demonstrating the rich diversity of programming IVW venues offer.There are also comedy nights and documentaries and there will bemany more shows announced in the weeks leading up to January 27th, including some truly special headline events.  

Since 2014, more than 1m tickets have been sold for IVW events. 

To help make 2025 our most successful event yet, IVW are also delighted to welcome Gabby Chelmicka to the team as Head of Operations and Partnerships. 

With over 25 years’ experience of working in the creative industries, Gabby played a key role in Robbie Williams’ management for over 10 years and was integral in the organisation of his early tours, including his seminal gigs at Slane Castle in 1999 and his Knebworth gigs in 2003. She was co-Executive Producer on the 2023 Netflix series, Robbie Williams.

Since moving back to her hometown of Bristol in 2009, Gabby has worked on a wide range of projects and events. She has been Music Business lecturer at BIMM, spent 3 years working for Arts Council England, played a key role in events including Glastonbury and Banksy’s Dismaland as well as mentoring young people on various talent development programmes across the South West. 

IVW would be impossible without outside support, and we can also confirm today that Arts Council England, Beavertown, TuneCore, PPL,  Rockboxand the Welsh Government via Creative Wales will all be official partners in 2025, helping us to deliver a truly nationwide event.

Claire Mera-Nelson, Director, Music, Arts Council England said: 
"Independent venues - and the people that run them - are vital to the UK's music scene. It's in these dynamic spaces that many artists find their first audiences, share their passion with fans and develop their creative skill. Arts Council England is proud to be a lead funding partner of Independent Venue Week and I look forward to an exciting event in 2025!"

With venues already registered from Aberystwyth (Bank Vault), Cardiff (Tramshed & The Globe), Port Talbot (Afan Ales), St Davids (Grain) and Swansea (Tŷ Tawe) Minister for Creative, Jack Sargeant, said:
"Creative Wales is excited to be a prominent supporter of this year’s Independent Venue Week and to see Welsh venues taking part in an event that shines a light on the vital role independent venues play in shaping our music landscape.

“These venues are where communities can come together through a shared love of live music and discover new talent - what an opportunity we will all have to support and celebrate their importance during IVW."

 

The full list of venues signed up is as follows:

Venue

Place

Region/Nation

Aces & Eights

London (North)

London

Afan Ales

Port Talbot

Wales

Albert's Shed Shrewsbury

Shrewsbury

West Midlands

Alfie and Fin's

North Shields

North East

AMP Studios

London (South)

London

Artisan Tap

Staffordshire

West Midlands

Arts Bar Baltic

Liverpool

North West

Arts Bar Hope Street

Liverpool

North West

Belgrave Music Hall

Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside

Billy Bootleggers

Nottingham

East Midlands

Brudenell Social Club

Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside

Bush Hall Music

London (West)

London

Café 1001

London (East)

London

Cambridge Junction 

Cambridge

East of England

Chaplin's & The Cellar Bar

Dorset

South West

Dingwalls

London (North)

London

Disorder

Manchester

North West

Dive

Wolverhampton

West Midlands

Drummonds

Worcester

West Midlands

Faith In Strangers

Margate

South East

Full of Noises

Barrow, Cumbria

North West

Future Yard CIC

Birkenhead

North West

Gosforth Civic Theatre

Gosforth

North East

Granary Arts Café

Cheshire

North West

Gullivers

Manchester

North West

Half Moon Putney

London (South)

London

Handyman Bar and Brewery

Liverpool

North West

Hangover Hill

Dorset

South West

Hare and Hounds

Kings Heath

West Midlands

Headrow House

Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside

Heartbreakers

Southampton

South East

HERE at Outernet

London (Central)

London

Hootananny Brixton

London (South)

London

Hotbox Live

Chelmsford

East of England

Hyde Park Book Club

Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside

Independent

Sunderland

North East

Jacaranda Baltic

Liverpool

North West

John Peel Centre for Creative Arts

Stowmarket

East of England

Just Dropped In Records

Coventry

West Midlands

Komedia

Bath

South West

KU Stockton

Stockton-on-Tees

North East

Lafayette

London (Central)

London

Leith Depot

Edinburgh

Scotland

MacArts

Galashiels

Scotland

Marine Theatre

Lyme Regis

South West

McChuills Music Bar & Venue

Glasgow

Scotland

Morocco Bound

London (South)

London

NE Volume Music Bar

Stockton-on-Tees

North East

New Century

Manchester

North West

North Street Social

Wolverhampton

West Midlands

Northern Guitars

Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside

Northern Quarter

Huddersfield

Yorkshire and Humberside

Norwich Arts Centre

Norwich

East of England

Oh Yeah Music Centre

Belfast

N. Ireland

Old Bakery Studios

Truro

South West

Old Woollen

Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside

Omeara

London (Central)

London

Oporto

Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside

Paper Dress Vintage

London (East)

London

Papillon

Southampton

South East

Paradise Palms

Edinburgh

Scotland

Peckham Levels

London (South)

London

Pocklington Arts Centre

York

Yorkshire and Humberside

Polar Bear Music Club

Hull

Yorkshire and Humberside

Pound Arts Centre

Corsham

South West

Rebellion

Manchester

North West

Retro

Manchester

North West

Rosslyn Court

Margate

South East

Royal Albert Hall - Elgar Room

London (Central)

London

Saltbox

Nottingham

East Midlands

Sebright Arms

London (East)

London

Social

Hull

Yorkshire and Humberside

Soul Mama

London (East)

London

Southern Maltings

Hertfordshire

East of England

St James

St Peter Port

South West

St Stephens Church

Ipswich

East of England

Stereo

Glasgow

Scotland

Stramash

Edinburgh

Scotland

Strings Bar & Venue

Newport

South East

Sunbird Records

Lancashire

North West

The Black Prince

Northampton

Midlands

The Blind Pig

Sowerby

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Boat Shack Cafe

Bromsgrove

West Midlands

The Boatyard at the Continental

Preston

North West

The Boileroom

Guildford

South East

The Brook

Southampton

South East

The Brunswick

Hove

South East

The Bunker CIC

Sunderland

North East

The Castle

Luton

East of England

The Castle Hotel

Manchester

North West

The Cavendish Arms

London (Central)

London

The Caves

Edinburgh

Scotland

The Central Bar (Gateshead)

Gateshead

North East

The Cornish Bank

Falmouth

South West

The Crescent

York

Yorkshire and Humberside

The David Hall

South Petherton

South West

The Drill

Lincolnshire

East Midlands

The Engine Room North Shields

North Shields

North East

The Engine Rooms

London (East)

London

The Face Bar

Reading

South East

The Ferret

Preston

North West

The Forum Music Studios

Darlington

North East

The Frog and Fiddle

Gloucestershire

South West

The Fulford Arms

York

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Garibaldi Hotel

Northampton

East Midlands

The Garrison

Barnsley

Yorkshire and Humberside

The George Tavern

London (East)

London

The Georgian Theatre

Stockton on Tees

North East

The Grand

Clitheroe

North West

The Grayston Unity

Halifax

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Hallamshire Hotel

Sheffield

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Hive

Edinburgh

Scotland

The Hug & Pint

Glasgow

Scotland

The Hull New Adelphi Club

Hull

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Jacaranda

Liverpool

North West

The Kings Lock

Cheshire

North West

The Lab

Northampton

East Midlands

The Louisiana

Bristol

South West

The Love inn

Bristol

South West

The Lower Third

London (Central)

London

The Old Blue Last

London (East)

London

The Old Cold Store

Nottingham

East Midlands

The Old Fire Station

Dorset

South West

The Parish, Hudersfield

Huddersfield

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Rat & Pigeon

Manchester

North West

The Smokehouse

Ipswich

East of England

The Social

London (Central)

London

The Soho Poly

London (Central)

London

The Studio

Cheshire

North West

The Sunflower Lounge

Birmingham

West Midlands

The Terrace

Dewsbury

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Trades Club

Hebden Bridge

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Triangle

Shipley

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Underground

Bradford

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Victoria

Birmingham

West Midlands

The Vinyl Whistle

Leeds

Yorkshire and Humberside

The Voodoo Rooms

Edinburgh

Scotland

The White Room Music Café

Stanley

North East

The Wight Bear

Bournemouth

South East

The Windmill

London (South)

London

Three Tanners Bank

North Shields

North East

Three Wise Monkeys Colchester

Colchester

East of England

Ty Tawe

Swansea

Wales

Voodoo Daddys

Norfolk

East of England

Wadsworth Community Centre

Hebden Bridge

Yorkshire and Humberside

Walthamstow Trades Hall

London (East)

London

Woolwich Works

London (South)

London

Yellow Arch Studios

Sheffield

Yorkshire and Humberside

YES

Manchester

North West

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