Independent Venue Week: What events are happening across Newcastle to mark the celebration of live music?

This year’s Independent Venue Week falls between January 31 and February 6 2022, and there are lots of opportunities for Tyneside locals to support cultural hubs.

Over 450 events are planned across the UK over the course of the week with world renowned acts such as Years and Years and IDLES getting involved.

Seven venues across Newcastle are opening their doors for artists and fans over the next week and Little Building is the busiest of them all, hosting five gigs from the Monday through to the Saturday. They are opening the week with a sold out night for Bear Park and The Redrooms before Sarah Johnsone headlines on the Wednesday.

That starts four nights of live music at the Ouseburn venue with Vindicter playing on the Thursday with the weekend starting courtesy of Holly Rees, Mollie Nature and The Samphires. The week at Little Buildings comes to an end on Saturday February 5 when Scrannabis, Kate Bond and Thomas Walliker entertaining crowds.

Staying in Ouseburn, Cobalt Studios on Boyd Street is hosting two gigs – Amy Thatcher and Fran Knowles with support from Sarah Heneghan on February 3 and Onipa with support from Bert Verso on Friday February 4.

The site is also hosting an afternoon of life drawing on the Saturday with participant also being treated to live music from Lindsay Hannon and Martin Douglas.

Heading north to Jesmond, one of the city’s newest venues, Bobiks, is hosting music on Friday February 4 and 5, with Elizabeth Liddle and Don Coyote playing respectively.

Overlooking Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, The Globe on Railway Street is hosting gigs from Cat Ryan and Rafe’s Dilemma over the weekend of Independent Venue Week while, closer to the city centre, Waves of Dread are headlining Head of Steam’s Neville Street venue on Friday February 4.

South of the Tyne, The Dirty Habit on Front Street in Whickham is hosting a three set night with Elephant Memiors, Polyinyl and Vice Killer all playing on the evening of the Friday.

To round the week off, Ouseburn’s Cumberland Arms is hosting three gigs in three days with The Bug Club playing on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 before John Francis Lynn closes the week on the Sunday.