'Against the odds': How the Lubber Fiend made Newcastle's music scene exciting again
![a young woman performs on stage at The Lubber Fiend in Newcastle](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Lubber-Fiend-hero.jpg?w=768)
'Against the odds': How the Lubber Fiend made Newcastle's music scene exciting again
'This is not the end': Experimental arts venue Iklectik fights to survive after shock eviction
![Female experimental musician plays at Iklectik](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Iklectic-hero-Nkisi-credit-Matt-Favero.jpg?w=768)
'This is not the end': Experimental arts venue Iklectik fights to survive after shock eviction
Street Soccer Scotland founder David Duke: 'You don't get anything in life without sacrifice'
![David Duke, Street Soccer Scotland founder](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1602_DavidDuke_IMG_4131.jpeg?w=768)
Street Soccer Scotland founder David Duke: 'You don't get anything in life without sacrifice'
This grassroots venue brings 'astonishing' music and mental wellbeing to rural Wales
![Tivoli grassroots venue north Wales - Martin Kemp onstage pointing at the crowd](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/tivoli-martin-kemp-credit-Swillys-Photography-Service.jpg?w=768)
This grassroots venue brings 'astonishing' music and mental wellbeing to rural Wales
The Smiley Charity Film Awards present — a powerful minute against immigration misconceptions
![Four individuals from the Welsh Refugee Council pose together at the Charity Film Awards, standing in front of a backdrop featuring sponsor logos. From left to right: a jubilant woman holding an award, raising her arm in celebration; a woman with a short hairstyle, dressed in a black outfit with a printed scarf; a smiling man in a tweed jacket and glasses; and a man with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing a blazer over a casual shirt. All look thrilled to have just won an award.](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1602_SmileyAwards_CFA-Welsh-Refugee-Council-win.jpg?w=768)
The Smiley Charity Film Awards present — a powerful minute against immigration misconceptions
Celebrating the career of Yoko Ono – a resilient artist who's so much more than John Lennon's wife
![Yoko Ono retrospctive](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1601_YOKOUNO_1968_Acorns_Keith-McMillan_Dirt-Tate.jpg?w=768)
Celebrating the career of Yoko Ono – a resilient artist who's so much more than John Lennon's wife
Michael Winterbottom on new film Shoshana, Israel's war and how violence makes people 'take sides'
![Michael Winterbottom](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1602_Arts_F53PHE.jpg?w=768)
Michael Winterbottom on new film Shoshana, Israel's war and how violence makes people 'take sides'
Grassroots venue Off the Cuff is home to UK's biggest youth open mic – and it needs your help
![Band Hardillica have been performing at JOM for 2 years. Drummer Malachi has been performing as a solo drummer at JOM since 2019. His cousin Saffiyah is on vocals. Photo by Rod Main](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/JOM.jpg?w=768)
Grassroots venue Off the Cuff is home to UK's biggest youth open mic – and it needs your help
Former Big Issue vendor-turned film star Earl Charlton describes a day in his life
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1601_cover-feature_Earl_2_-Darren-Earl-and-Lorna.jpg?w=768)
Former Big Issue vendor-turned film star Earl Charlton describes a day in his life
Big Issue's Venue Watch helps save Woking's only grassroots music venue: 'It's a big win'
![Live band on stage at the rescued grassroots music venue Phoenix Cultural Centre](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Phoenix-Cultural-Centre-hero.jpg?w=768)
Big Issue's Venue Watch helps save Woking's only grassroots music venue: 'It's a big win'
English Teacher on the power of diversity and how grassroots venues keep music from becoming boring
![English Teacher - 2024's Independent Venue Week ambassadors](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/English-Teacher-Hero-credit-Tatiana-Pozuelo.jpg?w=768)
English Teacher on the power of diversity and how grassroots venues keep music from becoming boring
Independent Venue Week 2024: Without grassroots music venues, there'd be no Madonna
![](https://www.bigissue.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1600_venue-watch_English-Teacher-3.jpeg?w=768)