NME partners with Jack Daniels to find Britain's Best Small Venue

NME has announced a 2013 cross-platform partnership with J.D. Roots to raise the profile of local music scenes across the country in the search for Britain's Best Small Venue.

NME's search in association with J.D. Roots - Jack Daniel's music campaign that celebrates the importance of where you're from and the role home plays in the creative process - will celebrate local music scenes, with a raft of coverage across multiple platforms, putting a spotlight on the unsung heroes that are allowing the stars of tomorrow to prosper.

As part of the campaign, J.D. Roots will host a series of shows across the UK which takes alternative music acts - including Miles Kane and Maximo Park with more to be announced - back to their hometowns for one-off intimate gigs in order to recognise and celebrate the people and places that make the UK music scene the thriving melting pot it is.

The partnership was orchestrated by media agency UM London and Adam Bulleid from IPC Men & Music's Creative Media team.

Adam Bulleid said: "It's more important now than ever to ensure that we celebrate and continue to raise awareness of the small venues that work tirelessly to deliver the most exciting new artists on our doorsteps nationwide. Everyone from Blur to Radiohead, the Strokes to the Libertines would not be the bands they are today without the local music venues that supported them in their early days. Britain's Best Small Venue in association with JD Roots stands alone as a campaign that truly serves to protect and preserve one of the most important aspects of music still alive today".

Michael Boaler, Jack Daniel's brand manager, said: "Jack Daniel's and music go way back which is why I believe the people and places responsible for the stars of tomorrow being able to learn their craft are worth recognising and celebrating. Local music scenes and the venues that are part of them are crucial to the continuation of the UK's great musical output which is why we are very proud to be a part of this campaign".

Music fans will be invited to nominate their favourite small venue. The entries will be judged not just on the building itself, but also on the music scenes they encourage, in the search for the venue that goes that extra mile for fans and bands alike.

Regional winning venues will form a shortlist of ten from which Britain's Best Venue will be chosen by an NME assembled panel of experts, including artists, promoters and agents.

NME editor Mike Williams said: "Small venues are the lifeblood of the live music scene in the UK, and it's never been more important to support them and help them thrive. The search for Britain's Best Small Venue is a campaign that NME feels incredibly passionate about, and we're proud to take it into its third year. We know that the NME audience cares about the future of all the brilliant small venues up and down the UK as much as we do, so we're looking forward to this year's competition being our most supported and exciting yet".

As well as being named Britain's Best Small Venue, the winning venue will also play host to a popular band who will perform as part of a special celebration later in the year.