Independent Venue Week has announced English Teacher as its Artist Ambassador for 2024. The band, who formed in 2020 after meeting at Leeds Conservatoire, follow in the footsteps of artists including Wet Leg, beabadoobee, Arlo Parks, Nadine Shah, Anna Calvi and Wolf Alice by leading the UK’s annual 7-day celebration of independent music and arts venues.
Independent Venue Week, which returns on 29 January 2024, encourages music fans to start the new year by visiting their local venue and experiencing a live show. During the week, independent venues come together with artists, promoters, agents, record labels and media to create a unique series of special live events across the UK to highlight and celebrate the work these venues do year-round.
English Teacher. Photo credit: Tatiana Pozuelo
English Teacher are one of the UK’s most talked-about upcoming bands - consisting of Leeds Conservatoire graduates Lily Fontaine (vocals, rhythm guitar, synth), Douglas Frost (drums, vocals), Nicholas Eden (bass), and Lewis Whiting (lead guitar).
The band has released a well-received string of singles, gigged extensively across the UK and Europe, and supported acts including Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Paolo Nutini and Yard Act, in addition to notable slots at Glastonbury, SXSW and Reading & Leeds.
Recently signed to Island Records, and coming off of their biggest UK headlining tour to date, last week English Teacher made their national TV debut on Later…with Jools Holland playing the BBC 6 Music-playlisted single, ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab.’
English Teacher will play a special show at Hull’s Polar Bear Music Club on 1 February 2024 as part of a tour across the week. Tickets go on sale at 10:00AM on Monday 20 November 2023 on the Independent Venue Week website.
Sybil Bell, founder of Independent Venue Week, said:
“We’re so excited to have English Teacher as our IVW24 Ambassadors. They are an incredible live band, who have built their reputation through playing independent venues. They also have a strong affinity with IVW having played numerous shows over the years, including a brilliant gig for BBC Music Introducing in West Yorkshire earlier this year at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge – a true ‘I was there’ moment for me. We are really honoured to have their continued support, and I can’t wait to see them perform again at The Polar Bear in Hull.”
Lily Fontaine from English Teacher added:
“We’re delighted to be the Ambassadors for next year’s Independent Venue Week. Over the years that we’ve developed as a band, we’ve always tried to be vocal about our relationship with the local venues, organisations and scenes that have supported us in our careers and practice, and that continues next year with our tour of some of the most vital grassroots music halls in the country.”
