Independent Venue Week (IVW), beginning on Mon 30 Jan and ending on Sun 5 Feb in 2023, is reaching its 10th anniversary this year. For those who don’t know, IVW is a celebration of independent music and arts venues and the people that keep them going, making them the venues we know and love.

2023’s IVW ambassadors for Wales are Welsh language postpunk group Adwaith, who are making waves domestically and indeed adding a fresh, exciting angle to the postpunk genre as a whole. Adwaith will be playing a gig at Cwrw, in their home town of Carmarthen, as part of IVW – more info below.

Wales is home to an array of independent music and arts venues, 17 of which are taking part in Independent Venue Week. You can find the full list of Wales venues here; Buzz has selected six, and here are their IVW 2023 events to check out. 

CLWB IFOR BACH

It would be downright blasphemous to rave about Welsh indie venues and not kick start the conversation with Cardiff’s local hero: Clwb Ifor Bach. This venue boasts a lineup of five gigs to support you in all your IVW needs. Kicking off the week (fashionably late on a Tuesday) is Leeds four-piece English Teacher, followed on subsequent days by The Subways, Rozi Plain and Trampolene, before easing into the weekend with contemporary folk band Bwncath. Well and truly your sign to visit Clwb if you haven’t already…

English Teacher, Tue 31 Jan. Tickets: £10. Info: here

The Subways, Wed 1 Feb. Tickets: £22.50. Info: here

Rozi Plain, Thurs 2 Feb. Tickets: £12.50. Info: here

Trampolene, Fri 3 Feb. Tickets: £10. Info: here

Bwncath, Sat 4 Feb. Tickets: £10. Info: here

CWRW

Cwrw is a cosy and colourful pub in Carmarthen that hosts regular live music events and serves an extensive selection of craft beers. They are jumping on the IVW bandwagon with a weekend of live music: garage rock trio The Bug Club are playing on Saturday, and the aforementioned Adwaith treating us to a Sunday slot. 

The Bug Club, Sat 4 Feb. Tickets: £13.20. Info: here

Adwaith, Sun 5 Feb. Tickets: £8.80. Info: here

THE LOST ARC

This mid-Wales arts venue dedicates its space to music, film and theatre with regular live shows and a comfy cafe for good measure. For IVW The Lost Arc is treating us to two live gigs, with The Bug Club on the Wednesday (giving you another option of where you can catch the Welsh trio) and reggae/ska/soul group Captain Accident & The Disasters on the Saturday.

The Bug Club, Wed 1 Feb. Tickets: £8. Info: here

Captain Accident & The Disasters, Sat 2 Feb. Tickets: £8. Info: here

THE MOON

Cardiff’s Moon comes in at a close second to Clwb for the amount of events held during IVW: the city centre venue is treating us to three midweek gigs and a Saturday slot for good measure. Amber Arcades, Tokky Horror and Colour TV will be the Tuesday-Thursday pick-me-ups, before a weekend blowout to alternative rock band Poly-math. 

Amber Arcades, Tue 31 Jan. Tickets: £12. Info: here

Tokky Horror, Wed 1 Feb. Tickets: £10. Info: here

Colour TV, Thu 2 Feb. Tickets: £8. Info: here

Poly-math, Sat 4 Feb. Tickets: £8. Info: here

TIVOLI

Known as the home of live music in north Wales, the Tivoli is an old cinema turned music venue that hosts cult favourite bands in a relaxed and intimate setting. The Tivoli has your IVW weekend sorted with Friday night music from 80s hard rock band Alcatrazz and the all-female metal combo of over 40 years standing, Girlschool – before rocky Merthyr Tydfil newcomers Florence Black on the Saturday.

Alcatrazz + Girlschool, Fri 3 Feb. Tickets: £25. Info: here

Florence Black, Sat 4 Feb. Tickets: £15. Info: here

TŶ TAWE

This Swansea venue is a Welsh language centre that homes three live music spaces, a charity bookshop and a cafe. For IVW, Tŷ Tawe is celebrating Welsh language music with performances from two Welsh language folk bands: Bwncath on the Friday and Pedair on the Saturday.

Bwncath, Fri 3 Feb. Tickets: £8. Info: here

Pedair, Sat 4 Feb. Tickets: £10. Info: here

words ELIZABETH MORRIS