Independent Venue Week has hit another high for its fifth year in the U.S. with a record number of shows and venues. The 2022 edition – taking place July 11-17 – will feature more than 400 participating venues across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. and host over 1,100 shows.
This year’s lineup of shows include Spoon at The Englert Theatre in Iowa City, Iowa; The Mountain Goats at Wichita’s Wave Wichita, Kan.; Femi Kuti & the Positive Force at D.C.’s 9:30 Club; GZA at New York City’s Le Poisson Rouge; and Japanese Breakfast with The Linda Lindas at Minnesota’s First Avenue.
“A lot has happened in these first five years. We launched in the States with only 20 venues. Independent Venue Week is now the largest national event celebrating independent live music, comedy, and performing arts around the world,” says Cecilie Nielsen, senior director of special projects at Marauder, the firm that runs Independent Venue Week in the U.S.
She continues: “No longer is the locally owned or operated room or festival solely on their own; this event serves to unite the individuals within our many communities, reminding those on and in front of the stage what makes these places so special, and of course worthy of a week-long celebration.”
Artists including Circle Jerks, Kurt Vile and the Violators, Talib Kweli, Josh Groban, Maren Morris and Jack Johnson are also set to perform across the country for Independent Venue Week.
Fresh off her performance on Beyonce’s “Break My Soul,” New Orleans bounce icon Big Freedia will join Independent Venue Week as its 2022 Artist Ambassador, as previously announced. Big Freedia is set to perform a special show during Independent Venue Week at the NIVA ’22 Official Closing Party at Cleveland’s Grog Shop.
“Even as we celebrate, independent venues continue to deal with the negative and costly effects of these last few years,” said Boris Patronoff, CEO of See Tickets North America, an IVW partner. “Showing up is the best way to help ensure that these important community centers are here tomorrow.”
Notable participating venues include the famed Hotel Café and The Troubadour in Los Angeles, Mississippi Studios in Portland, Tipitina’s in New Orleans, The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, Exit/In and The Basement in Nashville, The Crocodile in Seattle, and many more.
Check out a full list of participating venues and shows here.