We are super chuffed to once again be part of Independent Venue Week.

Now in its third year, Independent Venue Week is back with a week-long series of gigs from Monday 25th to Sunday 31st January 2016 all across the UK.  The seven day campaign, which runs nationally but with a local grassroots focus, has grown again from last year with 120 venues now taking part, from Aberdeen to Exeter and Belfast to Norwich.  The Rising Sun is one of several venues taking part in the south east, but the only one in Reading.

The Rising Sun's contribution to IVW comes in the form of a special Club Velocity double bill aross the last weekend of January, showcasing a diverse selection of our most exciting locally based bands:

• Friday 29 January - Club Velocity presents Quiet Quiet Band + Big Zero + Matt Maltese - advance tickets available here;
• Saturday 30 January - Club Velocity presents Vienna Ditto + Pink Diamond Revue + Juliet & The Raging Romeos - advance tickets available here.

Please join us and support not only the bands and the Rising Sun, but small, independent venues everywhere.

This year's official IVW ambassadors are Mercury Prize nominees Wolf Alice, seizing the baton from Frank Turner (2015) and Radiohead's Colin Greenwood (2014).  Additionally, IVW is partnering with two charities: Attitude Is Everything, which works to improve access to live music for deaf and physically impaired people; and Stay Up Late, which does the same for people with learning disabilities by pairing them up with support volunteers with similar tastes in music through their 'gig buddy scheme'.  Improving inclusivity and participation in the arts is close to the Rising Sun's heart.

Website: www.independentvenueweek.com

Facebook: @independentvenueweek

Twitter: #IVW16

Instagram: @IVW_UK