Sybil Bell, founder of Independent Venue Week, explains how she created an annual celebration of independent music venues modeled after Record Store Day. After owning a venue and witnessing how undervalued and pitted-against-each-other they were, she realized venues naturally want to collaborate. Starting with 17 venues in 2014, the week captures the full spectrum of programming (Monday open mics through weekend touring acts and Sunday acoustic returns). Colin Greenwood from Radiohead became year-one ambassador, sharing how the band started in a post office van—embodying the origin stories Independent Venue Week celebrates. Now in its 13th year, the movement positions venues as cultural influencers determining what art communities discover. Sybil argues that live gigs create unrepeatable moments no algorithm can generate, and encourages people to get off digital platforms and into venues to meet humans, experience art authentically, and build industry connections through venue door work.
