Norwich Arts Centre is joining a host of places across the country to celebrate the great value of independent venues in championing the emerging music scene.

The St Benedicts Street venue is one of 18 places nationwide hosting a gig for Independent Venue Week which runs from January 28 until February 2 and has the support of Radiohead's Phil Selway.

He said: 'Independent Venue Week is a fantastic idea. Small venues are the lifeblood of British music. There's a particular kind of excitement when you go to a gig at these venues. They're visceral and intimate.'

Norwich Arts Centre's electronic music night Spectro - on Tuesday, January 28 - will feature London-based audio-visual act The Soft along with a selection of some of Norwich's new music producers.

19-year-old electronic music producer Lyam Brewry, known as Unix, will be playing at the night alongside fellow acts Mammal Hands and The Boy With Two Heads, both of Norwich.

Liam Roberts, known as OYOH, will be providing visual projections to accompany the music and SHhhh/Tropico DJs will also be taking part in the night.

Rosie Arnold, the music talent development coordinator at Norwich Arts Centre, said: 'Norwich Arts Centre is pivotal to Norwich's cultural scene and has always had a progressive approach to the arts and the development of artists. We've worked for many years to support both established and emerging artists as well as creative producers. Our aim is to present a programme that is accessible to people from all walks of life in a safe and innovative environment.

'Independent Venue Week supports these forward thinking values and asks the local community to pause and spend a moment remembering what Norwich Arts Centre is to the arts in Norwich and beyond.

'We value people's continued support and appreciation and strive to present interesting, accessible events to eclectic audiences for years to come.'

Among the other venues hosting nights across the country for Independent Venue Week are fellow NME Best Regional Small Venue winners King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow and The Forum in Tunbridge Wells.

Norwich Arts Centre's director Pasco-Q Kevlin said: 'I'm very proud that Independent Venue Week are celebrating what we do. 'It's a fantastic time for initiatives like this, they highlight exciting new music but also the venues that work hard to support that music.'

Independent Venue Week is supported by PRS for Music.

• Spectro is a Norwich Arts Centre on Tuesday, January 28 from 8pm. Tickets £5.

For more information and to book call the box office on 01603 660352 or visit www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

• For more on Independent Venue Week visit www.independentvenueweek.com

• Do you have a story about the arts in Norwich? Email arts correspondent Emma Knights at emma.knights@archant.co.uk