BBC RADIO legend Steve Lamacq visited Southampton to return to one of his all-time favourite live music haunts.

The popular 6 Music host broadcast his drive time show from the city’s BBC studios before racing over to The Joiners on St Mary Street to meet music fans and see a fantastic sold out set from band of the moment Eliza and the Bear.

The visit was part of a week-long nationwide tour by Steve to promote some of Britain’s best venues during Independent Music Venue Week.

The Southern Daily Echo caught up with the former Radio 1 Evening Session star and influential Joiners promoter Ricky Bates before the evening’s headliners took to the stage.

“Our road trip around the country has been brilliant” said Steve.

“While it’s easy to have an impression of places and their music, there is always so much more great stuff to hear when you go there and meet everyone. I’ve heard some terrific music this week.

“I love gigs in tiny venues, I go on tour for fun so to be able to be watching bands as part of work this week is a dream.

“When I was running a record label back in the 1990s, The Joiners was always one of those places you wanted your bands to play. The fact that it is still going strong is a huge credit to everyone who has worked here.

“It does two jobs, it nurtures local talent, and it’s crucial in doing that, and it also gives other up-and-coming bands the chance to sharpen their craft on tour. There have been some brilliant shows here over the years.

“The first time I came here was to see Scarfo, which was Jamie Hince of The Kills’ first band. The stage was in a different place then!

“More recently, I saw Catfish and the Bottlemen. The Joiners was one of the best gigs on that tour; the band and the audience all had such a great time.”

The time between when successful bands like Catfish play places like The Joiners and when they go on to sell out huge arenas can be astonishingly short. Spotting the best bands at the right time is what The Joiners is famous for.

“Being able to predict and book which acts are on the cusp of being massive is what makes venues like The Joiners special” said promoter Ricky.

“Rat Boy is a great recent example of how quickly things can happen. We knew last year his music was going to blow up. He’s Jamie T for the next generation. He did a brilliant show here in October and is now set to headline Shepherds Bush Empire in May. That’s how fast things can move.

“We also have The Sherlocks here soon who are huge in the North and are now breaking through in the South as an unsigned band. They are definitely one to see.”

“Ricky and others like him are the unsung heroes and taste makers of the music industry” saidSteve.

“So much of the music industry is down to trust. We have listeners who email and tell us that they come here to see new acts sometimes solely because they know if they have been booked at The Joiners then they will be worth seeing.

“People like Ricky and places like The Joiners are playing a huge part in the future of British music.”

Steve stayed on to watch Eliza and the Bear’s bouncing headline show which followed some terrific support from fellow Londoners Slow Lights.

Listen to the best new music with Steve Lamacq every weekday on BBC 6 Music 4pm-7pm. The Sherlocks play The Joiners on Thursday.

RICHARD DERBYSHIRE