Independent venues are the backbone of Cardiff's live music scene and Cardiff Music Board are calling on music lovers across the city to get out and support local grassroots venues during Independent Venue Week (IVW).

Chair of Cardiff Music Board, Cllr Huw Thomas said: "Independent venues have really been through the mill over the last few years, but they remain vital to Cardiff's music scene. We understand times are hard right now, but the best way most people can support venues in the city, and the artists who perform in them, is by going to a gig, buying a drink, maybe even picking up a t-shirt from the band."

Now in its 10^thyear, the annual celebration takes place across the UK from January 30^thand will see gigs taking place in Cardiff at Clwb Ifor Bach, Made, Porter's, The Gate, The Moon and Norwegian Church Arts Centre.

The line-up includes SJ Hill's combination of R&B soul and pop, contemporary folk band Bwncath, experimental pop musician Amber Arcades, Welsh alternative rock band Trampolene, Grammy nominated artist Manu Delago, post-punk quartet English Teacher, and more.

Cllr Thomas continued: "You only have to walk into Clwb Ifor Bach and see the names of all the bands that have played there to understand the significant role grassroots venues play in developing early career musicians and helping them find their audiences, but their impact goes even wider - they make the city a vibrant place to live, work and visit; they support a whole eco-system of promoters, engineers, rehearsal studios and labels, and ultimately they're at the heart of a whole community."

"Much of the first couple of years of Cardiff Music Board's existence has been focussed on supporting venues through the existential threat to their existence caused by the pandemic. Things have improved since those dark days, and I know the Music Board is looking forward to starting to really deliver on some of the key recommendations in Cardiff's Music Strategy, but venues still face significant challenges, which is why we're calling on music lovers across the city to get out and see a show during Independent Venue Week, support their local venues, and hopefully discover their new favourite artist."

Cardiff Music Board Member and co-owner of The Moon on Womanby Street, Liz Hunt, said: "Cardiff's community has always been at the heart of The Moon, and we've always enjoyed Independent Venue Week as a time where we can bring in talent from further afield as well as celebrating the talent on our home turf. The Moon has been home to everything from the earliest of starts to the ‘had-to-be-there' moments from artists about to break big. We're excited to be part of IVW again this year, opening the doors to all to celebrate brilliant live music"

A full list of all the gigs taking place in Cardiff, along with lots of ideas for places to meet your friends for food and drink ahead of the show, is available on the Visit Cardiff website, https://www.visitcardiff.com/independent-venues-week/

You can find out more about Independent Venue Week here: https://independentvenueweek.com/uk/