Favourite Music Venues

[moseleyite]

Prompted by a couple of off-topic comments on the 'Bozos' thread, what are/were your favourite concert venues? They can be local or international; tiny or huge; purpose built or above-a-pub; past or present.

I think we're really lucky in the West Midlands - we have a really good selection of venues. For me:

Wolves Wulfrun Hall - I think it's better than the Civic upstairs and simply one of the counties best venues - we are truly blessed in Wolverhampton. Johnny Marr was out of this world here - so much better than at the Institute in Birmingham: better sound and better atmosphere.

Little Civic - Fantastic little venue where I've seen some great (Libertines almost wrecked the place)... and some awful bands (80s B-Line Matchbox Disaster were abysmal). Sadly missed.

Sheffield Leadmill - Classic venue

Hare & Hounds, Kings Heath, Brum - have some really interesting old and new bands on (Sylvain Sylvain formerly of New York Dolls played a while back) here - decent sized room above a pub with good sound.

Jug of Ale, Moseley, Brum - sadly missed (now an indian restaurant). It went downhill in its final couple of years but it had a load of great bands that were on their "way up".

Zodiac Oxford - This is the O2 now and so probably has the same problem as the Birmingham O2 i.e. terrible sound and TV screens showing adverts all over the place. Yuck. The O2's predecessor, the Zodiac was a proper venue though.

 

[albell]

My 2 favourites would have to be the Glasgow Barrowland and the Ulster Hall in Belfast.

I don't generally like huge outdoor festival type gigs but Slane Castle is about as good as I've seen.

 

[maws]

I love the slade rooms to be fair, and when the civic is bouncing boy it bounces. I've seen Ian Brown in Manchester and Little Man Tate in Sheffield so both in home ground, neither touched pop will eat itself at the old academy in brum, best gig ever, and a wolves head on the drum kit too

 

[Jonzy54]

Slightly unusual but The Minack theatre is a superb music auditorium.

 

[KiwiWolf]

By a country mile, House of Blues, Chicago.

 

[Netherton Wolf]

symphony hall superb venue, but the old JBs in king street was brilliant also loved the Robin in brierley hill

 

[tipton81]

I went to see Midlake at The Wulfrun Hall last night, agreed, it is a great venue! as is The Civic, how about The Varsity! the amount of top class bands that went through their was untrue

Also like:

The Apollo in Manchester
Kentish Town Forum in London (one of my mates is currently raving about Scala, supposed to be amazing, small but very good)
The Town Hall in Birmingham

The new O2 ones seem a bit plastic, the academy in brum is very sleek but boring, I also went down to the Indigo2 in Greenwich last year which was soul less, good sound though

I've played at both Little Civic and Jug of Ale, the onstage sound at Little Civic was excellent, nice room too. The Jug was good but got very warm upstairs in the summer if memory serves, the beer wasnt great either, shame it went though

 

[The_Blade]

Wulfrun hall gets my vote. Hare and hounds is round the corner from me. Great boozer.

 

[KiwiWolf]

I went to see Midlake at The Wulfrun Hall last night,

Damn, I love Midlake! I had no idea! :dong:

 

[North West Wanderer]

How easy is it to get to Kings Heath? The wonderful Courtney Barnett is playing there in May.

As for venues, we are seriously spoilt in Wolverhampton.

 

[RedFlagWolf]

Of those no longer in use i loved the original JB's in Dudley (by Pathfinder) and The Robin.



Not for its acoustics but for the atmosphere The Mitre in Stourbridge was superb....Neds, PWEI and the Stuffies in the early days, so memorable!



Now i still enjoy Robin 2 (Half Man Half Biscuit when Dean Friedman turned up to play) and the Civic (Morrissey 1st free gig, The Levellers, Chumbawamba et al).



Although Institute and O2 in Brum have decent acts i have never thought the acoustics are up to much!



Moochers in Stour is also a very good local venue! Oh and The Fall at the Riverrooms was so memorable (days they had original talent before the tributes took over).


Sent from my RM-892_eu_euro1_249 using Tapatalk

 

[moseleyite]

How easy is it to get to Kings Heath? The wonderful Courtney Barnett is playing there in May.

Not too bad - it's a couple of miles out of the centre via Digbeth and Highgate.

It's about a 15-20 minute bus ride or a ten quid black cab journey from Brum city centre. The bus stops virtually outside on the other side of the road.

From New Street: either grab a black cab from the taxi rank or, if you want to take the bus, follow the signs towards Moor Street Station (5-10 min walk) and, instead of crossing the road to the station, catch the bus (route 35 or 50 - the 50 is more regular) form outside the Selfridges building.

Tram: you could get the tram to Snow Hill and then take a quick 1-stop train ride to Moor Street, cross over the road and get the same bus to Kings Heath. There's also a black cab taxi rank at Snow Hill (on Colmore Row) and Moor Street (out of the station exit, turn left and then turn left again down the hill).

Getting home: the 50 runs pretty regularly but I think that the last one stops in Kings Heath around 2345 (the stop towards town is downhill from the pub a minute or two) so you'll need to be aware of the time. Plus, I don't know the time of the last train to Wolves as I live in Birmingham (about a mile towards the city centre in Moseley) and I'm a bit out of touch!

 

[Netherton Wolf]

Of those no longer in use i loved the original JB's in Dudley (by Pathfinder) and The Robin.



Not for its acoustics but for the atmosphere The Mitre in Stourbridge was superb....Neds, PWEI and the Stuffies in the early days, so memorable!



Now i still enjoy Robin 2 (Half Man Half Biscuit when Dean Friedman turned up to play) and the Civic (Morrissey 1st free gig, The Levellers, Chumbawamba et al).



Although Institute and O2 in Brum have decent acts i have never thought the acoustics are up to much!



Moochers in Stour is also a very good local venue! Oh and The Fall at the Riverrooms was so memorable (days they had original talent before the tributes took over).


Sent from my RM-892_eu_euro1_249 using Tapatalk

we must have been in the same venues at the same time RFW, JBs mid 70's onwards, not tried moochers yet, will have to have our next girls night out there

 

[North West Wanderer]

Not too bad - it's a couple of miles out of the centre via Digbeth and Highgate.

It's about a 15-20 minute bus ride or a ten quid black cab journey from Brum city centre. The bus stops virtually outside on the other side of the road.

From New Street: either grab a black cab from the taxi rank or, if you want to take the bus, follow the signs towards Moor Street Station (5-10 min walk) and, instead of crossing the road to the station, catch the bus (route 35 or 50 - the 50 is more regular) form outside the Selfridges building.

Tram: you could get the tram to Snow Hill and then take a quick 1-stop train ride to Moor Street, cross over the road and get the same bus to Kings Heath. There's also a black cab taxi rank at Snow Hill (on Colmore Row) and Moor Street (out of the station exit, turn left and then turn left again down the hill).

Getting home: the 50 runs pretty regularly but I think that the last one stops in Kings Heath around 2345 (the stop towards town is downhill from the pub a minute or two) so you'll need to be aware of the time. Plus, I don't know the time of the last train to Wolves as I live in Birmingham (about a mile towards the city centre in Moseley) and I'm a bit out of touch!

Excellent - thank you! It is a shame it is the Sunday, so may have to drive

 

[moseleyite]

Excellent - thank you! It is a shame it is the Sunday, so may have to drive

Probably for the best - I don't suppose there are too many late trains back to Wolves on a Sunday night.

 

[wolvesultra]

The Civic Hall for me its big enough to get a cracking atmosphear when its bouncing but small enough to keep a bit of an intimate feel. With the balcony etc its also nice and traditional (we should be glad we've kept a venue like this and not swallowed up by the o2 academys)

Manchester Apollo prob second favourite, again nice and traditional with a balcony not too big and the floors also slightly sloped top venue.

As mentioned above loved some of the small venues we've sadly lost little civic, varsity and the jug of ale. Don't really like the slade rooms personally when its used for full capacity its too wide if that makes sense.

For acoustics the royal albert hall is pretty special (even if it was £8 a pint)

 

[wolvesultra]

Not too bad - it's a couple of miles out of the centre via Digbeth and Highgate.

It's about a 15-20 minute bus ride or a ten quid black cab journey from Brum city centre. The bus stops virtually outside on the other side of the road.

From New Street: either grab a black cab from the taxi rank or, if you want to take the bus, follow the signs towards Moor Street Station (5-10 min walk) and, instead of crossing the road to the station, catch the bus (route 35 or 50 - the 50 is more regular) form outside the Selfridges building.

Tram: you could get the tram to Snow Hill and then take a quick 1-stop train ride to Moor Street, cross over the road and get the same bus to Kings Heath. There's also a black cab taxi rank at Snow Hill (on Colmore Row) and Moor Street (out of the station exit, turn left and then turn left again down the hill).

Getting home: the 50 runs pretty regularly but I think that the last one stops in Kings Heath around 2345 (the stop towards town is downhill from the pub a minute or two) so you'll need to be aware of the time. Plus, I don't know the time of the last train to Wolves as I live in Birmingham (about a mile towards the city centre in Moseley) and I'm a bit out of touch!

it really would be quicker to walk that bit

 

[wolvesultra]

I love the slade rooms to be fair, and when the civic is bouncing boy it bounces. I've seen Ian Brown in Manchester and Little Man Tate in Sheffield so both in home ground, neither touched pop will eat itself at the old academy in brum, best gig ever, and a wolves head on the drum kit too

I got $$$$ed for free with beer off their rider once....nice lads

 

[GoldenHorseshoe]

Massey Hall is good, saw Neil Young there. For a nice jazz evening, the Trumpet in Bilston (I'm talking mid 70's)

 

[moseleyite]

it really would be quicker to walk that bit

Actually, yeah, by the time you factor in buying tickets and waiting for a train to turn up, you could just walk the five minutes downhill to moor street.

 

[maws]

I got $$$$ed for free with beer off their rider once....nice lads

My mrs will be jealous she's got the hots for Jon Windle

 

[wolvesultra]

My mrs will be jealous she's got the hots for Jon Windle

my mates band gigged quite a lot with them and became pals so encountered them on a few occasions always sound.

I know many people critisiced them all for sounding like the Arctic Monkeys (at the time anyway) but i actually quite liked that crop of Sheffield/Yorkshire bands around that time, Little Man Tate and Milburn etc.

 

[wolvesultra]

Shameless selling but if any of you music fans are interested

I've got 2 spare tickets for Reverend & The Makers Birmingham Academy this Thursday (27/2/14)

Tickets are stalls standing and cost around £15 each with fees etc. Happy to sell for £10 each. I'm going myself so can easily meet there.

 

[maws]

my mates band gigged quite a lot with them and became pals so encountered them on a few occasions always sound.

I know many people critisiced them all for sounding like the Arctic Monkeys (at the time anyway) but i actually quite liked that crop of Sheffield/Yorkshire bands around that time, Little Man Tate and Milburn etc.

Which band mate? The 2 and 8's?

 

[PumpKing]

I know it`s years ago, but the Twisted Wheel in Manchester was brilliant. Northern Soul at its best.

My old blues band played till 11.00pm locally then we all drove up the M6 for the Saturday night all nighter. Got back at 8am the following morning, never understood why my Mother worried so much!!!!!

 

[Netherton Wolf]

I know it`s years ago, but the Twisted Wheel in Manchester was brilliant. Northern Soul at its best.

My old blues band played till 11.00pm locally then we all drove up the M6 for the Saturday night all nighter. Got back at 8am the following morning, never understood why my Mother worried so much!!!!!

Never told my Mom when we went to Wigan Casino straight after Tiffanys, just said I was staying at a mates

 

[wolvesultra]

Which band mate? The 2 and 8's?

The Lines mate, don't know the 2 n 8's personally although do know a few lads who do...small world eh.

 

[NSWolf]

I know it`s years ago, but the Twisted Wheel in Manchester was brilliant. Northern Soul at its best.

Green with envy that you went there!! Just missed out but was a regular at the Torch in Tunstall. Great for live acts too. Major Lance, Chi-Lites, Oscar Toney Jr, Edwin Starr - amazing nights.

 

[Mugwump]

JB's was a place i used to love. Any of the big open air festivals. The Civic.

 

[maws]

The Lines mate, don't know the 2 n 8's personally although do know a few lads who do...small world eh.

The lines were all set for big things what's happened? When Robert plant is name checking you!!!! Went to Sheffield last year to see 2 and 8's and Windle solo, plus Neville Staples and Paul Heaton was a great day

 

[BridgnorthWolf Inc]

Green with envy that you went there!! Just missed out but was a regular at the Torch in Tunstall. Great for live acts too. Major Lance, Chi-Lites, Oscar Toney Jr, Edwin Starr - amazing nights.

NSWolf & Pumpking,

You need to get down to The Falcon in Bridgnorth on a Saturday Night...Northern Soul & Motown 10.30-2pm with Piglit. Hots up about 11.30pm.

Northern Soul is something I 'got' about a year ago. Finally found some raw music with energy for the first time since punk!!! Love it!!!

Oh, and JB's in King Street was a special place!

We played there one night and our keyboard Players car broke down on the Birmingham New Road. When the police stopped and asked where he was going he mentioned JB's. The copper just laughed and said good luck. Said that when there are fights down there they just lock the doors, let them tire themselves out and then go in afterwards and deal with the aftermath!

Saw a fight there when watching The Godfathers play, it was pure western bar brawling, pure slapstick stuff!!!

 

[stever]

Wulfrun Hall
Kidderminster Market Tavern
Cannock Bowling Green

 

[Netherton Wolf]

NSWolf & Pumpking,

You need to get down to The Falcon in Bridgnorth on a Saturday Night...Northern Soul & Motown 10.30-2pm with Piglit. Hots up about 11.30pm.

Northern Soul is something I 'got' about a year ago. Finally found some raw music with energy for the first time since punk!!! Love it!!!

Oh, and JB's in King Street was a special place!

We played there one night and our keyboard Players car broke down on the Birmingham New Road. When the police stopped and asked where he was going he mentioned JB's. The copper just laughed and said good luck. Said that when there are fights down there they just lock the doors, let them tire themselves out and then go in afterwards and deal with the aftermath!

Saw a fight there when watching The Godfathers play, it was pure western bar brawling, pure slapstick stuff!!!

been there many a night when that's happened, lock the door and let 'Jimmy the Con' sort it owt ( god rest his soul) the good thing was it wasn't knives and guns just a good fist fight( with a few glasses being thrown)!!! Happy Days.

 

[PumpKing]

Green with envy that you went there!! Just missed out but was a regular at the Torch in Tunstall. Great for live acts too. Major Lance, Chi-Lites, Oscar Toney Jr, Edwin Starr - amazing nights.

I think it is still going but only one night a month or something now and I`m sure its not as good as I remember it was. Nothing ever is I guess.

How thet got away with safety in those days, packed out every Saturday night. To go in you went down into cellars via a narrow spiral staircase. These cellars were like rabbit runs, had there been a fire we`d all have been fried. No fire escapes at all, still we survived.

They were great times, we followed The Spencer Davis Group with Stevie Winwood`s incredible scat singing to his guitar every time they played there. Julie Driscoll and the Brian Auger Trinity another fantastic band live there. Plus all the ones you mentioned.

There is a web site going with a few photos if you`re interested.
.

 

[inaglasshouse]

Loved the old JB's, it defined me in many ways. I was so lucky to see so many great acts in a place smaller than the average shoe shop. Stone Roses, Manics, Blur, Neds to name but a few. Every night was a winner for me though as I just loved the live music. I also enjoyed the DJ on the Tuesday/ Friday indie nights, thanks Dermot.