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Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

no votes
? by sean
Hey All,

After talking to various people last night at the DiS gig who said they'd never been to 93ft East before, they were saying what a lovely venue it is.

Which, on a slight tangent, got me thinking, what are peoples favourite venues and why?

Sean
sean | 02 Apr '04, 09:43 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

it's a bitch to get to, but Pompey pyramids is probably the best all-rounder in my opinon - it's a nice size, not too stuffy, and gets a lot ofdamn good bands - for a large conference room in a leisure centre
mooseman | 2 Apr '04, 09:46 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

pyramids is crap. it's horrible and completely void of atmosphere.
chris_undereducated | 2 Apr '04, 10:29 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

And it's in Portsmouth....

Ba-ZING!!!
Smileadelic | 2 Apr '04, 11:41 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

I'm always going to plump for Blackpool Empress Ballroom. I think the fact that I saw two of my top three gigs there helps it's cause, but I also think it is a cracking venue. Large hall, but it still feels really intimate, as you're not actually that far from the stage. and of course the spring-loaded floor, which was mental when I saw The Music (and KoL!).

and to that the fact you are never that far from a bar, and that the lovely young lady on the cloakroom let us steal the bell, and I rest my case!
danfeeneyuk | 2 Apr '04, 10:26 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

The Buffalo Bar is pretty ace. There's some amazing bands playing there tonight actually ;-)

> THE FOG BAND
+
> WHITE SPORT
+
> [CULTUREINDUSTRY]
----------------------------------------------
+ DJs Stuart Plimsoles
+ Tom Artrocker

>>> FRIDAY 2ND OF APRIL
at
>>>The Buffalo Bar
259 Upper Street N1 020 7359 6191

8.30pm - 1am
£4 OR FREE TO ARTROCKER MEMBERS -
Membership available on INFO@ARTROCKER.COM <mailto:INFO@ARTROCKER.COM>

limo | 2 Apr '04, 11:32 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

and obviously you can't forget machester academy 3/hop and grape. yet again, a very intimite venue, and you will usually find yourself hanging out with the band for a while before/after their set
danfeeneyuk | 2 Apr '04, 13:21 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

yeah i do love the hop&grape.
good memories of being 15 and sneaking past the security guards into the bands area, and hanging outside the dressing room with a bottle of vodka. god we were lame.
goodtimes


rock city in nottingham as possibly the worst all-round venue.
daragh | 3 Apr '04, 21:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

Hop and grape is a fantastic venue i've seen some great gigs there lately including 22-20's, stellastarr* just to name two, but in Manchester i think the night and day is a cooler venue. Much more intimate. Although the hop and grape is cool for the cheap student union drinks downstairs beforehand.
Eltel | 10 Apr '04, 13:32 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

In Brisbane - I really like the Arena & The Waterloo Hotel...

Anyother Brisbane people agree with that? Are there even any other Brisbane ppl on DiS?
Ezra | 2 Apr '04, 11:54 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

93ft east is great. so's the buffalo bar. but i went to the betsy trotwood last year and it's tiny and so so good. surrounded by about 50 other people all REALLY enjoying what's going on, that's what makes a good venue.
chris_undereducated | 2 Apr '04, 12:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

Nottingham Rock City has a really good atmosphere and layout and sound - you just need to get past the scary, hard-as-fuck door staff. Also:

The Charlotte, Leicester
The Freebutt, Brighton
The Louisiana, Bristol
Dudley JBs (yes, of all places..)
Esplanade Hotel, Melbourne

Not sure what it is about these places - they're all small and intimate and a bit grubby, and the atmosphere of years of good times seeps from the walls...
DeadSeaNavigator | 2 Apr '04, 12:45 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

The Windmill, Brixton. Fuckin' triffik.
Ta-raa
Truman_Hooman | 2 Apr '04, 20:53 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

In Glasgow,King Tuts Wah Wah Hut,The QMU,The 13th Note,Mono,Stereo,Nice'n'Sleazys,Barrowlands Ballroom,Academy,etc.Was in a really funny pub gig a couple of weeks ago.It was in a tiny room upstairs.It had a raised stage,with a staircase going diagonally up the front of it,to the womens toilet.As it was a punk type gig,a few of the older women from the pub downstairs turned back rather than walk past the stage.Probably expecting a shower of spit from the crowd.It was in a pub called the Vale,in Queen Street.Seems they put on regular gigs,about £3 for a couple of bands.The guy who's doing it seemed somebody genuinely into it for the music.Edinburghs Mercat Bar is good,nice and loud and bands can stay on later than Glasgow,huzzah.
cadd | 2 Apr '04, 22:07 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

i take it that the JBs in Dudley that was mentioned is the new one...It's shit!!!

the old one was so much better. it was tiny, smelled and at the end of the night your feet were stuck to the floor.

they got cocky and built a bigger one (cool for a while) but then they expanded it, now it only really gets tribute bands because most bands play in Birmingham or Wolverhampton.
disco-magnet | 4 Apr '04, 21:09 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

the 9:30 in Washington, DC. I used to work there and it is run very well. It has been named nightclub of the year by Pollstar something like three out of the last five years. I think the best clubs have good sound and a balcony as well as nice dressing rooms for the acts. Acts also like it when the support act has a dressing room (the support act paticuarly) and showers are a big plus in a dressing room. Also a good nightclub should have a kitchen, spread out bars and good staff and security.
jrak | 2 Apr '04, 23:22 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

i'd probably say the Joiners Arms in Southampton but i'd be biased seeing as i've seen a lot of my favourite gigs ever there (and it helps being nearby). but the sound's good, great atmosphere, intimate enough size and they put on a lot of fabulous bands.

thommo | 3 Apr '04, 00:45 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

the joiners is good, but i've not been there for a while. BSP were ace there last year and it's dead easy to get on the stage.
chris_undereducated | 3 Apr '04, 09:18 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

Leeds Cockpit best all round venue by far..
Ramzy_ | 3 Apr '04, 12:28 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

*BSP were ace there last year and it's dead easy to get on the stage.*

even with all that foliage about?
thommo | 3 Apr '04, 18:04 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

that's why i was up there! aw bless em
chris_undereducated | 5 Apr '04, 10:42 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

Southend Chinnerys
Coventry Coliseum
London Barfly
Wolverhampton Little Civic
Stoke Sugarmill
Leicester Sumo

These places have the best sound, atmosphere, facilities and people working there.
TheDevilsAvocado | 3 Apr '04, 15:00 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

The Norwich Arts Centre is just perfect in every possible way! I just love it to bits.
rubbafish | 3 Apr '04, 17:20 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

I lived in Stoke for three years and I thought the Sugarmill was a right shithole, it's better than the Void though (possibly the worst music venue ever).

Of the venues I've been to I like the Boardwalk in Sheffield, the Cavern in Liverpool (and I dislike the Beatles!) and Upstairs at the Garage in London....
Jared | 3 Apr '04, 18:35 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

London Barfly is cool, it's so tiny and dingy and that's what i love about it.
calling3 | 5 Apr '04, 01:39 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

the Leadmill in sheffield gets my vote, the right size and great atmosphere.

The Foundry at Sheffield Uni is cool on a thursday when they have the Fuzz Club. It's really cheap ,I've gone out with a fiver and seen touring bands had some drinks and danced my ass off.
disco-magnet | 4 Apr '04, 21:14 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

I've gotta go with the 12 Bar on Denmark St in London. It's dingy, cramped and has a funny smell, but I love it!
resident_weevil | 5 Apr '04, 11:56 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

after going to the NEC, webley arena, reading festival to name a few i have to conclude that brixton academy beats the hell out of all the rest the atmosphere in there is jsut amazing, floor sloping towards stage with no bariers just little resting points, the lighting everything in that place is just amazing. except of course the area.
R_A_G_E | 7 Apr '04, 23:24 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

I agree with R_A_G_E about The Brixton Academy. I love it there, seen some good bands.....and theres a really cheap offie right near the place so theres no boredom-whilst-queing!
Truman_Hooman | 9 Apr '04, 13:41 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

since I moved to London my favourite venue is the Forum in Kentish Town.... the sound is great and theres plenty space while still being able to get close to the band (for a 2000 vanue..) AND... I met Lemmy there.. hehee... (ok maybe thats the main reason!)
poppunkrocker | 8 Apr '04, 16:35 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

Melbourne - The Corner Hotel
Brighton - Concorde 2
London - Astoria
stubryce | 8 Apr '04, 22:20 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

How can anyone say the Concorde? Its not even the best venue in Brighton. Pavillion Theatre is brilliant but apparently its really expensive to book so not many bands play there anymore.

My all time favourit is downsatirs at the Garage in Highburythough. The blackness is important as is the decent size bar. Always seems to be a good vibe in there and its easy to find a spot you like whether thats getting sweaty down the front or looking cool at the back.
crosbysleftear | 9 Apr '04, 14:30 | Send note | Report this | Reply

Re: Favourite Venues / What Makes a Great Venue?

my knowledge is only of cardiff, but The Engine Rooms down in the bay is nice even if it is hidden away. Cardiff barfly has reinvigorated live music here, and most of the barmaids are quite fit, but the pillers are really obstructive and the stage is to small. Clwb Ifor Bach don't put on a lot of gigs but when they do it's usually good, BSP were great there and I think it's Mclusky's spiritual home.
monpot | 9 Apr '04, 22:21 | Send note | Report this | Reply


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