IDLES, champions of the alternative music scene, have released ‘Carcinogenic’ to publicise Independent Venue Week.
The video sees the band members performing from separate venues across their hometown of Bristol, including The Louisiana, Exchange, The Mother’s Ruin, The Old Duke, and Trinity Centre.
Speaking about Independent Venue Week, guitarist Mark Bowen said:
“Now more than ever independent musicians and the music industry at large need to unite to keep from being decimated. Between the pandemic and a government who not only don’t care about the future of the arts (especially independence within the arts) but take a pro-active role in its diminishment, independent venues are at greatest risk because they are mostly small businesses, not interested in profit or investors but in the nourishment of creative, open-minded, critical thinking.
Independent venues are the fertile soil in which the future of the performing arts will grow. They are where your future favourite band will play, where the best song ever written will be tested out, where the new can bud and flourish.
They are also vital for a sense of community and union, something people sorely need and miss at this time, without them we’re all fucked.”
The band’s Ultra Mono lp currently sits at number one in the UK album chart.
And, clearly hoping to prevent the devil finding work for idle hands, the band announced a major UK and Ireland tour. Before that, in April, the group play at 11 independent record stores. Both tours are sold out.
Further information can be found at: idlesband.com
Main photo credit: Tom Ham