If you spent last month huddled under a duvet, Independent Venue Week at the end of January is always the perfect way to dive straight back into gig life. The #IVW initiative sheds light on the challenges faced by grassroots venues, urging us all to show support, ‘buy a fucking ticket’, shell out for some lovely merch and generally enjoy ourselves.
I spent the week at Hebden Bridge’s The Trades Club which kicked off #IVW25 on Tuesday with an intimate seated performance by Illinois guitarist Ryley Walker, showcasing his emotional and beautifully crafted compositions – and closed on Sunday with a party atmosphere, courtesy of joyous Afro-funk collective Ibibio Sound Machine.
Hull band LIFE played on Thursday; the band’s front man Mez is an expressive presence on stage and their performance managed to be powerful yet still intimate. They played several tracks from their latest album, North East Coastal Town closing with Friends Without Names and they’ve definitely gained a new fan.
I also chatted with one of the IVW volunteers, Eva Kiss. She’s on stage at the Trades next Saturday as part of Electric Bloom.
On Saturday, the excellent Sun King band played all out rock that shifts from retro to now. The Lounge Society played to an ecstatic hometown crowd with fans at the front moshing during the closer, Generation Game. The band has grown in maturity, and they’ve mastered the art of building excitement on stage.
Ibibio Sound Machine cranked things up another notch on Sunday and everyone was bouncing by the time they played Fire. Vocalist Eno Williams was genuinely thrilled by the reception from the Trades crowd. She signed albums after the show and gave fans as much time as they needed to chat and pose for photos. The collective are also playing a second, sold out night on Monday, giving them plenty of time to soak up the joys of a day in Hebden Bridge.
Main photo: Sun King on stage at The Trades Club. All photography ©oliviarosen/gourmetgigs