"Every gig became crazier, sweatier": bands pay homage to their favourite venues

Oasis’ first ever gig was at Boardwalk in Manchester, a venue that could pack in around 250 people. Arctic Monkeys’ first was The Grapes in Sheffield. Its upstairs room for bands could hold 60. Fontaines D.C. played their first gig to 25 people. And The Last Dinner Party took to The George in London, fitting in 150. 

The importance of independent, grassroots venues can not be understated. Without these spaces that create, nurture, and build up our cherished music scenes, who knows how much music we’d have missed out on? 

And that’s what Independent Venue Week is all about - giving flowers to our essential venues across the UK.

To celebrate the independent venues we hold dear to our hearts, Alien Chicks, Dream Wife, and Disgusting Sisters penned letters to the venues that raised them. Let’s see what they had to say… 

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Dear The Windmill Brixton,

We are addressing this love letter to you because without you, we would not be the band we are. In fact, we might not even be a band at all. 

The Windmill has the best sound, the best atmosphere and most importantly, the best people. We have met some of our closest friends there, and being able to watch and play alongside so many unbelievable bands there is a real honour. It’s no wonder that countless bands who have influenced us were birthed there. We’re so lucky to be part of the best music community in the world!

The stage you have given us over the years has been incredible. In our early days, we were lucky enough to play there almost every week, and every gig seemed to be better and better, each becoming crazier, sweatier and louder. The rush that each of us gets from playing on that stage cannot be described and compares to no other feeling. The feelings that you give us are unlike any other, and we wish that everyone could experience the thrill of playing on your stage. 

Even though we don’t play there quite as often now, going to The Windmill still feels like home after all these years. Playing there still fills us with more excitement than anywhere else, and everywhere we go, people ask us about you; we won’t ever run out of adjectives to express our love for the place.

Whilst there are some great venues in London and around the country, nothing compares to you. 

To Tim, Seamus, Otis and everyone else who makes the place as special as it is, thank you for everything you’ve given us and for making The Windmill a place that is so special to so many people. WE LOVE YOU, WINDMILL BRIXTON!

Lots of love,

Alien Chicks xxx

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Haïku for a venue, for The George Tavern in London

In venues we find

A loving community

Beer, friends and music

A place to connect

Dance, sing, scream, cheer and party

A story to tell

Discover a band

Drunk cigs in the back garden

Karaoke nights

Band names, stickers, jokes

Etched upon the bathroom walls

Scribbled memories

How lucky we are

To have there at our doorsteps

Such friendship and warmth

Oh, where would we be

Without these nights we hold dear

And moments cherished?

Artist or punter

We need these local venues

And they need us too

So go to that gig

In the pub ‘round the corner

Before it’s too late

We love IVW

One hundred and fifty-three

Syllables for you

by Disgusting Sisters

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The Green Door Store, Brighton, 

A staple for nights out when we were at art school, and the place where Dream Wife played some of our earliest gigs. 

Many nights were spent dancing on the cobblestones, discovering (at the time) new artists like Mikki Blanco and Nova Twins, to name just a couple. The place all of your friends naturally congregated by the end of the night without ever planning it. 

Nestled under the train tracks of Brighton Station, occasionally everything would shudder, the trains above contributing their vibrations to the revelry. Countless student nights hosted there by people who would come to be long-time collaborators of the band. Making friends with people you just met on the dance floor. 

Oh, Green Door Store, the joy of being able to just wander home after the night is through, feeling free as a bird and high from the music and dancing. 

The door was green, but it was solid gold within.  

Dream Wife

Independent Venue Week 2026 continues until Sunday. Join Alien Chicks, Disgusting Sisters, and Dream Wife in celebrating the scene builders, the community spaces, the good time providers, and find tickets for IVW gigs happening across the UK. 

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Header image credit: Dream Wife