Live music fan Tim Hughes tells why it is so important to support Independent Venue Week

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of watching a new band in a friendly, interesting venue.

The paint may be peeling, the floor a little sticky and the WCs in need of some urgent attention (if not a thorough decontamination) but our independent venues play an essential role in staging up-and-coming acts, and giving gig-goers what they want.

The corporate chains may be okay at what they do, but there is no substitute for a reasonably-priced pint of something decent served by cheeky bar staff who remember your face, in a backroom, top-room or basement – all to the soundtrack of a local hero or next year’s big thing, playing for their mates.

The venues support the bands, the bands back the venues, and the punters ensure they both survive. It’s a virtuous loving triangle of joy – but one under strain, as the reality of 21st century economics kicks in.

Sadly, our independent venues are at risk. Many have gone, and it’s up to music-lovers to support those which remain – which is why Independent Venue Week is so important.

For the second year running, the week will be celebrated at Oxford’s oldest, if not only, purpose-built, stand-alone independent venue – The Cellar.

Run by father and son Adrian and Tim Hopkins, The Cellar, tucked away down Frewin Court, off Cornmarket, is the very definition of ‘independent’.

A magnet for new bands, DJs, party people and music-lovers for more than 30 years, the venue, which started life as a rockers’ pub called The Corn Dolly, has remained fiercely independent and is the perfect place to launch a celebration of non-corporate venues. It begins, on Monday, with a show by local acts busy making names for themselves, Maiians, Cassels and Rosie Caldicot.

The night is a joint venture between the venue and BBC Introducing.

“It’s a typically varied line-up for us,” says Tim Hopkins.

“It starts with delicate folkie music from Rosie, to provide a chilled out start to the evening, before moving into Cassels, with energetic indie-rock to blow our socks off, and then Maiians who play electronica with live drums – who will hopefully allow us to find our socks before dancing them off again!”

And Tim insists there is no better venue for the night.

“This is the perfect place to celebrate Independent Venue Week,” he says. “If you’ve been, you’ll know. If you haven’t yet, come along and see. There’s always something for everyone — it just depends what night you come.

“We are the only truly independent dedicated music venue in Oxford. All the rest are rooms above, or behind, pubs. We are the only real family-owned venue I know.”

He goes on: “If you like live music it’s always worth a shout as you never know what you’re going to see. You rarely see the same show twice. It’s always a unique experience.

“The Cellar is a family business, which has been serving the Oxford music scene for decades, and hopefully for years to come.”

The club has played host to early shows by Mumford and Sons, Blood Red Shoes and Friendly Fires, along with some of our finest local acts - bands like Foals, Fixers, Stornoway, The Young Knives and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, who played his first ever live show there.”

The venue is also a long-running host venue for The Oxford Punt, Nightshift magazine’s annual showcase of new, local talent.

Oxford Mail:

  • Indie-rock rising stars: Cassels

“You can’t walk into a venue anywhere else in the world like The Cellar,” Tim goes on. “It makes you feel alive. Chain places all look the same, but that dampens down people’s brains. You need alternative music and alternative places. The world would be a blander place without us.”

One fan of The Cellar, who is never far from the action, is Aidan Larkin – otherwise known as Count Skylarkin’. He says: “I’ve been running Skylarkin’ Soundsystem on the first Friday of every month at The Cellar since 2008. All the acts I’ve invited to come and play in those years have fallen in love with the place.

“King Salami & The Cumberland Three (wild and crazy rock ‘n roll four-piece and sausage enthusiasts) have toured the whole world and still say that their gig at The Cellar in 2013 was their favourite.

“Dawn Penn, the Jamaican hitmaker, still talks of her two-night stint for me in 2011 (with Lee Scratch Perry’s Upsetters). In 2010 Andrew Weatherall came down in secret to play a killer rockabilly set. And Deemas J & Wrongtom premiered their live show not in London, but right here, in Oxford’s favourite musical bunker.

“Bristol heavyweights Laid Blak call me up if I don’t book them at least twice a year. Like the punters, the artists recognise a genuine place when they see it. The soundsystem, for a venue of its size, is pretty incredible. Unsalubrious it might be, but The Cellar is still by far and away the best night out in Oxford. Long may it remain so.”

Colin Greenwoood of Radiohead is also a fan. He said: “Some of my favourite musical memories are from these independent venues and the dedicated promoters and local crew who run them.

“See you down the front!”

SEE IT
The Cellar’s Independent Venue Week launch takes place on Thursday with Cassels, Maiians and Rosie Caldecot. Tickets: £6 from WeGotTickets