Best Live Venue

[HarperPR]

What's the preference: small, intimate, hot and sticky? Seated theatre style? Open-air festival?

And what helps make a good night out, apart from the artist natch?

[SteveT]

Now that the smoking ban is here it has to be small and intimate but I can do without the hot and sticky bit thanks.

[fickle_Witch]

in the round at mr kyps is great, one of the best type a gigs i've been too, not that i get out much any more, but i used to, in my last life BC :p

amor mundi

hatty :)

[HarperPR]

I like Kyps too.

Probably my favourite place of all is Marr's Bar at Worcester.:blushing: Nicest owner ever there in Brian. Nice atmosphere and all dark and cool little tables with candles on and everyone near to the stage, relatively. My kinda place.

I also now love the Half Moon, because the management is very friendly.:)

I don't like seeing Nick in the sit-down theatre style venues. Lacks appeal for me. Same with larger venues.

[SteveT]

I suppose it depends largely on who's playing. I tend to only want to see people who hold court in smaller venues, even kitchens :)

[dim]

nicest venues weve been to....

small venues: community hall, knighton in north wales, just a really nice venue... thought the citadel in st helens was great when we went there last year, althouth not brilliant accustically, and do like academy 3 in mancs, great sound and lighting.. natural levs related softspot for opera house in buxton.. theyre probably our four favourites... :D

[DJ Burnham]

Ah, the Gardener Arts Centre in Brighton was lully - great acoustics and cumfy seats.

Sadly they went a bit overly 'theatrical' and music steadily slipped from their program...they're just about to shut their doors for the last time.

They also had a bit of an issue about smoking (back in '94, long before the smoking ban kicked in), which caused some fun when Roy played there...

[Barry]

Was that more about what was being smoked?

[dim]

actually best gig i think weve ever done, although not sure the venue really compares with proper venues, was actually the driftwood spars pub/restuarant/music place in st agnes...

going off slightly on a tangent, but the weirdest and most drunken gig we have ever done... 3 daft monkeys in st agnes...

We booked a very random b&B over the internet and spoke to the lady there who was slightly insane over the phone but insisted we couldnt miss it, as it was just by the welcome to st agnes sign... arrived in Ag, and she was right... massive grey house, covered head to toe in the deadest ivy you have ever seen... we eventually got into the house and wandered around trying to find someone to actually help us.. .eventually this little old lady appeared clutching a cat, mumbled "aaaaah.. you must be the guests" (you have to put on a voice thats a mixture of long john silver and the witches in macbeth to get the full effect), handed us three keys, and said "you have a choice, pick your room and leave the other two at reception"... wandering through extremely dark corridors with waiting staff and hotel staff wearing french maids outfits we checked out the first roo... double room, with the scariest furniture you have ever seen... wardrobe covered in gargoyles, and various bits of wooden chests of drawers that must be a hundred years old if they where a day... if we had woken up in the night we would have had a heart attack... second room, was pleasant, scary, but pleasant but was single beds so that was out... carried on down the pitch black, scary corridors with the creaking floorboards to the third room... absoF'inglutely bizzare.. white melamine units, fluffy duvet, heart shaped pillows, like it had been decorated by barbie on acid... settled into our room and saw our freinds pull up in the car park.. .to say natalie our freind looked scared was an understatement, the colour drained from her face when she saw the house.. after finally hunting down the little old lady (who now refused to budge from her drawing room cos the cat was on her lap) and got two keys...scarey wardrobe room was immediately turned down, so plans of sex for them went out the window with the room with the single beds...
The house got stranger... as we had the video camera to record a few bits at the gig we did our usual quick bit of filming of various things to use as an intro... our room, the hallways, the drawing room, back up the hall, back to our room... watched the video back..... :( our room, fine, hallway, did not come out, other rooms, did not come out, back in our room, video appeared again... SCARY AS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

had a couple (maybe a few more than a couple) of bottles (maybe flaggons) of scrumpy and headed to the venue... a 3 mile walk!!!!!!! got to the venue at around half five and decided to have dinner prior to the gig which was starting, we assumed around half eight... as soon as we got to the bar we where greated by "aaaah.. you must be mrs wilkinsons (name changed cos i cant remember her name) guests...." that kinda scared us more, he whole village knew who we where and said it in such a way that made us feel like it was possibly our last night on the earth.... had dinner, several, maybe an awful lot of the local scrumpy on draught, and waited... and waited.... and waited... and waited...
about nine got a little worried, where we in the right place, had we got the day wrong... so texted tim... "Did we not tell you... its a late gig.. starting about half ten or so" he texted back....

****!

Its nine o clock, were in some sort of witches coven, we are completely and utterly slaughtered off our faces, the gig doesnt start for about two more hours and weve got a three mile walk back to the scariest house on earth....

about 2am we finally prepared to leave (we could barely walk by this point), and we decided to enquire about the possibility of take-outs... why, i will never know, but we did... landlady happily obliged taking an old 1.5 litre jd bottle and filling it with ciderand handing it to me, then a 1.5l smirnoff bottle, filling it with cider and handing it to andy... sadly it did not seem to concern her to wash them, nor to pour away what was actually in the bottle... so clutching 3 litres of 7% cider mixed with JD and Vodka we decided to head home.. it was at that point that we realised we didnt have a CLUE where we where...

thankfully a very nice helpful man came over... "aaaaahhh your mrs wilkinsons guests arnt you" he said in a slightly knowing way... just go up the cliff path.. straight up, and you cant miss it...

I dont know if you have ever tried to climb a very narrow cliff path, overgrown with thorns, in the pitch black, with no torch, hammered to the point where you cant walk, clutching 3 litres of cider and vodka, in a place you dont know... its interesting to say the least, especially when the path keeps splitting in two and the wrong turn will end you up in newquay...
interestingly we bumped into a fair few people on that path, to each we asked directions, and from each we got the same reply...."aaaaahhh your mrs wilkinsons guests arnt you" they all said in a slightly knowing way... "just carry on the way you are going.. straight up, and you cant miss it..."

amazingly they where correct... we found the house, probbaly about 6am, crawled along the scary corridors and collapsed in our rooms (the mad ladys cat then decided to eat all our milk portions meant for our morning coffee)...
checkout was 11am, we surfaced about 2, hunted down the old lady who was once more in the drawing room cradling her cat... she explained to us how the till worked and asked us if we could go to reception, write ourselves out a bill, and put the money in the till (how trusting, or insane is that)

scariest place we have ever been, and probably the longest recovery time we have ever needed afterwards, but if you ever see anyone you know or like playing in st agnes, GO...

there we are... complete and utter sideways tangent...

best venue in the world... the driftwood spars... :D

(as a sidenote, at 3dm in falmouth was chatting to someone and a fellow came over and enquired if we had found our b&b in st agnes... twas the git who had sent us up the cliffpath for a bit of laugh.... :()

[bigchris]

One of the best venues I've seen Nick at ... has to be the Pitt near Farnham .... and I actually mean outside in the actual pit ... not crammed into the barn !!

[scotpaulabear]

One of the best venues I've seen Nick at ... has to be the Pitt near Farnham .... and I actually mean outside in the actual pit ... not crammed into the barn !!

Hmmm, I might have to agree with the big man there, even thought I've only seen him in the barn that was very special too!

But Castlekirk by candlelight would be right up there too... decisions, decisions :biggrin:

[MarkFerres]

I would have to agree with Paula - the Castlekirk was a bit special (despite the midgies).

Never been a fan of the Half Moon I must admit but I seem to be alone on this one. Although Nick performing in a caravan at a free festival in Watford was quite amusing - I don' think he would necessarily claim it was a career high point but hey....

[scotpaulabear]

I would have to agree with Paula - the Castlekirk was a bit special (despite the midgies).

Mark, have we formally met? I'd hate to be impolite and not say hello just cos I'm a bit slow :blushing: it's hard to miss anyone at Castlekirk LOL!

[KarinB]

Here in the north east of England I think the best place to see Nick is The Buddle, Wallsend. It's very intimate with tables and chairs where people can relax whilst enjoying the entertainment.

[katrina]

I do like the cambridge junction - its quite close - nice little place to see bands and a great shape to be able to see even at the back. The staff are lovely too.

Also Colchester Arts Centre and the Point at Cardiff are pretty cool to as they are old churches.

[HarperPR]

Do you know Matt at the Junction, K? Nice guy.

Union Chapel in Islington is another atmospheric former churchy place.

[katrina]

No I dont linn but all the staff are lovely...

The chapel at islington is great too - to be honest been to quite a lot of nice venues - also like glasgow academy which is the old cinema and the amsterdam paradiso is spectular - again an old church :D

However, top of snowdon is bad either lol :rofl:

[HarperPR]

Best on this tour - Komedia, Brighton. I would like to package that whole Upstairs ambience and transport it around the country.

[Linda]

Have to agree - Komedia far the best I've seen on this tour and maybe any time....although 12th June 1998 supporting Roy at the Spitz still holds special memories for me.
With just two nights of this tour to go, the last night could be extra special. I'm trying to figure out how to get back from Cambridge as the last train leaves at 11.03 and I'm sure Nick'll still be going strong then...any one know of cheap b & b's there ?

[HarperPR]

Have to agree - Komedia far the best I've seen on this tour and maybe any time....although 12th June 1998 supporting Roy at the Spitz still holds special memories for me.
With just two nights of this tour to go, the last night could be extra special. I'm trying to figure out how to get back from Cambridge as the last train leaves at 11.03 and I'm sure Nick'll still be going strong then...any one know of cheap b & b's there ?

I know the answer to this one! There's a Travelodge in the Junction complex - but currently £70! Probably half that a few weeks ago! Otherwise Iceni in Coleridge Road, Abbeyfield in Rustat Road, Hamilton in Chesterton Road - all around £30-£35. I am not sure if I'm staying. Would like to get home if possible, but...

[scotpaulabear]

My fave cheap booking site:
http://www.smoothhound.co.uk/cambridg.html

Linda, Sleeperz is near the train station if I remember correctly, maybe check them out? They looked okay but I've only ever stayed at the YHA, which is decidedly cheap and semi-cheerful :w00t:

[aspwatterson]

One of the best venues I've seen Nick at ... has to be the Pitt near Farnham .... and I actually mean outside in the actual pit ... not crammed into the barn !!

Definitely Llantwit Major Atlantic College [it's on google website] South Wales.
The barn type building is attached to the castle and there are about five large stepped down gardens of different geometrical designs going down to the river Severn and a swimming pool & lifeboat station. Off to one side of the gardens is a wooded valley and an ancient church with three dead trees struck by lightning.... I took an American tourist there oneday skunked out of his head and pointed down the valley and said 'look there's the crucifixtion'.
His face went white as he visualised something in his head and had to drive him home sick as a hangdog!

andi

[telemonster]

seated theatre style for me... every time. at least then, you don't get the obligatory 7 foot retard stood right in front of you!

[HarperPR]

seated theatre style for me... every time. at least then, you don't get the obligatory 7 foot retard stood right in front of you!

Nay, nay and thrice nay. Have to disagree, although I do prefer seeing Roy in a theatre. But what if you get the 7-footer sat in front of you, eh?

But Nick, no. Give me the little clubs every time. The worst seated on the last tour was the Junction in Cambridge. If you sat right back in the seats then your feet were swinging inches off the ground; sit forward and you slanted. Unfortunately, when I did the latter my phone fell off my lap into 3 bits down in between the seats in front! What made it worse was to retrieve it I had to uproot the whole row and get down on my hands and knees to rummage for it! It's kinda of funny now, but wasn't then. As I had to depart downstairs before he finished to set up the merch, I couldn't find a moment in the set to create a disturbance. In the end I did at the start of the penultimate number - and then fled.:blushing:

[telemonster]

Nay, nay and thrice nay. Have to disagree, although I do prefer seeing Roy in a theatre. But what if you get the 7-footer sat in front of you, eh?

But Nick, no. Give me the little clubs every time. The worst seated on the last tour was the Junction in Cambridge. If you sat right back in the seats then your feet were swinging inches off the ground; sit forward and you slanted. Unfortunately, when I did the latter my phone fell off my lap into 3 bits down in between the seats in front! What made it worse was to retrieve it I had to uproot the whole row and get down on my hands and knees to rummage for it! It's kinda of funny now, but wasn't then. As I had to depart downstairs before he finished to set up the merch, I couldn't find a moment in the set to create a disturbance. In the end I did at the start of the penultimate number - and then fled.:blushing:

can't beat a bit of frankie howerd, can ye! well, i like a theatre style place (the floor slopes down toward the front). i find i can see quite well, but then i'm about 6 foot. my favourite just lately is sheffield city hall. and i'm getting too old to stand up. and i find that in seated venues, people shut the f... up and actually listen to the turn. i've got thoroughly sick of club gigs where all the kids stand around in groups shouting at each other.

i'm turning into an old fart, aren't i...?

so when's harper junior coming back up north-ish?

[critch]

If it's an act i like, then i don't mind standing, otherwise i just go to the bar and prop that up.

I've always liked lazy festivals where everyone just sits around in the sun on the grass drinking fosters or other, from cans with their sun hats on.

The other bonus is that if people wanna talk they just head to the back of the field and don't disturb anyone.

[telemonster]

yeah, festival's ok. no argument there. i'm just right off club gigs lately due to bad experiences over the last year or 2.... and the fact that i'm turning into a grumpy old fart....:nopity:

[HarperPR]

Am I the only one who hates festivals then?:confused1:

The only one I am (semi) looking forward to is V at Chelmsford: The Twang, Kings of Leon, The Verve, The Feeling, Jack McManus. Nectar!

[telemonster]

Am I the only one who hates festivals then?:confused1:

The only one I am (semi) looking forward to is V at Chelmsford: The Twang, Kings of Leon, The Verve, The Feeling, Jack McManus. Nectar!


give cambridge folk fest a go-it's great!

[HarperPR]

Are The Twang on there?:biggrin::biggrinjester:

[telemonster]

i thought you'd know that better than me....

[critch]

Are The Twang on there?:biggrin::biggrinjester:

You're obsessed woman!

I'm not keen on all festivals. I like the chilled ones with no mud, fair prices, and no camping! Even though i like camping on the whole!

[Bob Jacobs]

give cambridge folk fest a go-it's great!

It was amusing when I first read it but it takes up acres and it's a complete waste thereafter. See how short your messages are without it!

Bob

[telemonster]

hi,
sorry mate, i must be a bit slow tonight, but i just don't get what you're trying to say to me.

have another go, would you, please....

[telemonster]

got you, now...

well, i think that's my business, don't you? you do your thing and i'll do mine, eh! peaceful co-existence and all that ****e.....

[Bob Jacobs]

got you, now...

well, i think that's my business, don't you?

Well no. That's my point. It's a pain in the arse, not just your business. But if that's what you want to be, go on.

Bob

[wobbly bob]

do you smoke a pipe and wear a cardigan, bob?

[HarperPR]

Has anyone been to the Wedgewood Rooms in Southsea, and if so, is it a good venue?

I am thinking this might be a SteveT/Watford Pete one! Is it in same direction as The Cellars?

Decided I can't wait the extra 2 days to London to see The Twang, so looking at this first. Maybe meet for a drink, Steve, if you're around? It'll be 13th.

[SteveT]

It's a lot bigger than the Cellars. 400 capacity I think and more of a standard , square-ish room with a proper stage and small bar off to one side. It's on the main drinking/eating road in the city so there's plenty of choice for refreshments. Parking can be a nightmare round there because all the side streets are residential. It's probably less than a mile from Fratton station.

I hadn't thought about going because to be honest, I don't look at the Wedge's listings that much these days. There used to be loads of stuff on there that I went to (Roy played a few times) but it seems to go for acts that attract a much younger crowd than the stuff that appeals to me. Also I've managed to avoid all the entreaties to listen to The Twang of late. Are they any good? :biggrin:

[aspwatterson]

If she's offering to buy you a drink with such scintillating company for the evening I wouldn't pass up on such an opportunity! :wink: Just imagine if yer mates saw you with such a posh diva on yer Pompey arm alnite?!

Actually it looks tempting [The Twang that is!]..are there tickets left?

andi

[HarperPR]

Hey Steve, I wasn't trying to force you into The Twang! Meant before, but if you feel like letting your hair down...

That sounds quite an 'intimate' venue for them. I like it. After 3000 they pulled in at Brum the other week.

'Are they any good?' Just a bit. Sold out the Liverpool Academy last night, along with three other dates on tour. But to Andi, yes I believe there are still tickets at Wedgewoods. Come on down! Let's be 'avin it.:D

[pete c]

Liverpool Academy is my least favourite venue. Crap sound and restricted view unless you're at the front. Salford Lowry is my favourite. Far more civilised!

[SteveT]

Hey Steve, I wasn't trying to force you into The Twang! Meant before, but if you feel like letting your hair down...:D

I can probably join you for a swifty beforehand. Letting my hair down would depend on how work is likely to be the following day. I'll PM you a couple of contact numbers.



'Are they any good?' Just a bit.:D

Not sure that's enough for my twelve and a half quid!:wink:

The best pub very close by is :

http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/31/31688/Phoenix/Southsea

[HarperPR]

Here's g twitpic from about an hour ago straight from the Derby stage via my friend (she's the drummer's gf)
http://twitpic.com/jzyrk

Saunders smashing the mic during Cloudy Room at Liverpool last night
http://tinyurl.com/yawtjen

And if you click on my mspace below and look at my top blog, there's a vid in that from Brum - where it pans round the 3000 and shows the atmosphere.

[SteveT]

Saunders smashing the mic during Cloudy Room at Liverpool last night
http://tinyurl.com/yawtjen



On that evidence I'm not sure I want to go in.

[HarperPR]

:biggrin: I know what you mean! The swagger, bravado and on stage attitude used to scare me a bit, to be honest, even though it was interesting to watch. Swore I never wanted to meet them in person. Then did. And whilst I still would never want to get on the wrong side of them, they are really okay, no bull**** down to earth guys - if a bit wild! Phil (you can read his tour tweets at http://www.twitter.com/the_twang) and Saunders are the two I actually get on best with. Maybe it's because the latter is a cat person - and they're always nice! :D (cat note to pd: it's a black shorthair, like ours, called Merlin!)

[aspwatterson]

FTKQRWfiSfU

cb6oV6VjQhY

4eGQ5VFt7P4

And, read this catpoo about Warner on the following link:

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/07/warner-music-group-deletes-keyboard-cat-track-from-youtube/

c/a

[HarperPR]

Steve, don't know whether I'm coming Porty or not tomorrow. If you haven't seen my FB, last night's and tonight's gigs pulled due to Phil's throat problem. Awaiting doc's report tomorrow for the eve and rest of week. Wedges, London and Brighton all sold out too, so it's gonna piss a lot of people, although can't be helped. The first time ever they've had this happen. So I may not know what I'm doing until the very last minute - then a frantic dash to Waterloo!:angry:

[SteveT]

OK. Pete F and myself are hanging on for your next bulletin.

[HarperPR]

Latest word got from manager is...looking good! Still gonna wait though, just in case. Will text you when I know def. I don't feel too good though: awake at 7am, which I never, never am - usually just going to bed!:biggrin:

[HarperPR]

Maybe we should keep a venue log here, so it can be a place to look if planning to go somewhere and not sure what the overall impression is? Perhaps a rating system for staff, main room, atmosphere, sound quality, bars + drinks prices, toilets, ease of getting to etc. What say you?

[bigchris]

Maybe we should keep a venue log here, so it can be a place to look if planning to go somewhere and not sure what the overall impression is? Perhaps a rating system for staff, main room, atmosphere, sound quality, bars + drinks prices, toilets, ease of getting to etc. What say you?

Personally I don't think this is a good idea !! If someone is interested in seeing an artist and they are playing a date that is good for them and a location that they can make and a ticket price they can afford - then I reckon 99% of the time they will go - doesn't really matter what the venue is like or the state of the toilets !!

[just jane]

Personally I don't think this is a good idea !! If someone is interested in seeing an artist and they are playing a date that is good for them and a location that they can make and a ticket price they can afford - then I reckon 99% of the time they will go - doesn't really matter what the venue is like or the state of the toilets !!

I think you might be wrong there. From my point of view I often need to consider disabled access so always research a venue before buying tickets.

I live nearer to Liverpool than Manchester but if an artist is playing both prefer to go to Manchester because of many bad experiences at various Liverpool venues. I was once involved in a bad crush(caused by the door staff) outside a Roy gig at The Adelphi whilst 6 months pregnant with twins, I have been refused disabled access at a Levs gig at the academy because they have 'rough' fans:m3: .
The best was when Montford Hall(I think its one of the academy's) told us the upstairs was seated and when we got there there were wooden benches which were about a foot high and they would not reserve a seat and let anybody up there so it was more crowded upstairs than down and we couldnt even use them. Then when we tried to get down using the back stage lift, as we had going up we got to the ground floor to be blocked in the lift by a trolley full of guitars and other stuff placed inches from the door, it just opened to a wall of equipment.

Most Manchester venues are much better with more friendly door staff and if you had been at the Levs gig I went to in Crewe earlier in the year(it was their last ever gig and they had the water turned off and just put it back on for the interval for some reason) you might be concerned about the state of the toilets :eek: Im glad they were using plastic glasses.

[bigchris]

I think you might be wrong there.

Well that could be true ... I have been wrong before !! Obviously I wasn't thinking about disabled access, but I'm sure the majority of people also don't think about such things and of course that will be a major influence for yourself, but I still think ( until someone else proves me wrong ! ) that the other factors aren't of interest to most people ( or is it just me, who isn't bothered ) - let's see what the other stormcock folk think ?

[HarperPR]

The Academies have to be some of the worst on the organisational and security side. Maybe because of their size, but they leave a lot to be desired.

Loos matter if you're a woman, Chris - and men don't have the inevitable queues either! I was quite impressed with Brighton's Concorde 2 for the sheer fact that they supply Molton Brown liquid soap AND hand cream! Such luxury.

[just jane]

The Academies have to be some of the worst on the organisational and security side. Maybe because of their size, but they leave a lot to be desired.

Loos matter if you're a woman, Chris - and men don't have the inevitable queues either! I was quite impressed with Brighton's Concorde 2 for the sheer fact that they supply Molton Brown liquid soap AND hand cream! Such luxury.

Liverpool academy is certainly crap but the Manchester academies are really friendly well organised and have great toilets.

On the whole I prefer smaller independent venues if possible

[just jane]

Well that could be true ... I have been wrong before !! Well you are definitely wrong in your dislike of Beautiful Days:17:

Obviously I wasn't thinking about disabled access, but I'm sure the majority of people also don't think about such things and of course that will be a major influence for yourself, but I still think ( until someone else proves me wrong ! ) that the other factors aren't of interest to most people ( or is it just me, who isn't bothered ) - let's see what the other stormcock folk think ?
Even without the access issue, I have turned down gigs in Liverpool because I dont want to see the act enough to be bothered with the security or the crowd

[scotpaulabear]

Even without the access issue, I have turned down gigs in Liverpool because I dont want to see the act enough to be bothered with the security or the crowd

Have to say, much as I love the city itself, Liverpool gigs do my head in for the same reasons... I've often gone, but sometimes regret it!

As for toilets, I have NEVER let the state of the toilet dissuade me from a gig I want to see - in fact my two fave ever Glasgow venues (the Barras and King Tuts) may have the most mingin' ladies' toilets in the whole Central Belt :puke: I may let that control my liquid consumption I guess, heh heh...

[HarperPR]

Liverpool academy is certainly crap but the Manchester academies are really friendly well organised and have great toilets.

On the whole I prefer smaller independent venues if possible

Me too. Can definitely recommend Bush Hall in London. Have been there four or five times now and it has fast become one of my favourite venues. In fact, I haven't heard a bad word about it from anyone who has been there.

http://www.bushhallmusic.co.uk/

Easily accessible - straight in from road through to bar and then to room with no steps - and very friendly. Lovely room with chandeliers. No seating however (only seats are a few in the upstairs bar and out on the roof terrace). I always make for the covered piano at the back for propping one's self against, piling coats, bags etc on, and handy as a drinks counter too. :biggrin:

I noted the drinks prices last night, which were £3.50 for wine and spirits, beers I think something like £2.95 (?).

Very easy to get to, situated on the Uxbridge Road (which in itself is a bit manky: loads of dodgy fast food places and convenience stores and not much else - that you might want to go in anyway) with buses running along outside and ten minutes walk to Shepherds Bush Green and the tube. Bush Hall is on the corner, so you have parking in that side turning and the others off of Uxbridge.

I would give Bush Hall 8/10 score.

[HarperPR]

Here's one we will not be going to anymore :(

The Luminaire, one of London’s
most popular independent music venues, is set to close later this year, it ’s been announced.
The Queen’s Head, which is
directly below the venue, will
also close its doors on December 31.
“It's been a labour of love for a
while now, and at this point it
makes no sense for us to
continue, ” a statement on The
Luminaire’s website said.
The owners extended their
“ grateful thanks” those who had supported the venue, situated on Kilburn High Road, since its opening in March 2005.
They also added that they hoped to stage some “final farewell shows” in late March 2011.
The decision to close the
Luminaire comes amid growing
uncertainty over the future of the 100 Club. Owners of the iconic Central London gig venue have hinted that it may have to close due to spiraling rent costs.

[HarperPR]

Those who saw Nick at the Freebutt in Brighton earlier this year - another with stage obliterating pillar stuck bang in centre of room - well, you won't again, not there anyway. Another to have gone under.

[HarperPR]

Those who saw Nick at the Freebutt in Brighton earlier this year - another with stage obliterating pillar stuck bang in centre of room - well, you won't again, not there anyway. Another to have gone under.

but rising it seems from the ashes, having been bought by Soton's Joiners and relaunching Jan 24. Hope they're doing something about that pillar. And the PA.

[Roydan]

I loved the old(ish) days of The Witchwood. I remember watching Roy play there and I was sat about 10cm away from his monitor speaker we were the cramped in. I remember nick in his early days before Seed was released when he used to sit down when he did his gigs. Oh how times have changed, he was dancing at Selby last year??

[Dr_Doom_The_Optimist]

I loved the old(ish) days of The Witchwood. I remember watching Roy play there and I was sat about 10cm away from his monitor speaker we were the cramped in. I remember nick in his early days before Seed was released when he used to sit down when he did his gigs. Oh how times have changed, he was dancing at Selby last year??

Being an Ashton resident and Harper fan, I was at all (most) of those gigs too. Probably drunkenly going on about Budgie. Roy seemed to be on at The Witchwood 2 or 3 times a year in the '90s. I saw you support him a few times too - Burnley Mechanics was it? Late '80s?

+A

[HarperPR]

Found a new nice little venue last week. St Pancras Old Church in London. Anyone else been?

Tiny - about a quarter the size of Union Chapel - great acoustics, lit with tealights. And, you can take your own alcohol and consume in your seat (chairs, not pews), or I think they do a wine box and teas.

They are starting to have some good artists there - James Blake played night before I went. So if you are wondering whether to go there, I would say definitely yes.

[HarperPR]

Got a favourite small venue? Here's the chance to vote for them:

http://www.nme.com/news/friendly-fires/56424

[HarperPR]

Some familiar names in the shortlist - vote your favourite!
http://bit.ly/mN1G1v

[bigchris]

I notice the Boardwalk in Sheffield has made the shortlist ... would be great & rather silly if that won the best small venue in the UK ... especially as it's now closed down !!

[HarperPR]

Back to that nice Pompey Wedge Rooms in October for er, 'that band I talk a lot about', ha! Can I tempt you, Steve, to a bit of Chapel Club on 15th? If not, catch you for a drink in the usual? :wink:

[HarperPR]

Got a favourite small venue? Here's the chance to vote for them:

http://www.nme.com/news/friendly-fires/56424

Brudenell Social Club, Leeds voted best small regional venue.

[HarperPR]

Brudenell in north east region. Manchester in north west, think Band on the Wall. Not heard rest. Hoping Concorde 2 won south east. Great venue and already won another best venue award this year.

[HarperPR]

King Tut's, Glasgow named NME's best small UK venue.

[bigchris]

I wouldn't go as far and say that the Greystones in Sheffield (http://www.mygreystones.co.uk/) is the BEST live venue ... but it's certainly a little cracker ... and the beer ( the original reason why I travelled 165 miles to see Nick ) is from the fantastic Thornbridge Brewery (http://www.thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/) - but they have just had a write-up in the latest edition of R2 magazine (http://www.rock-n-reel.co.uk/) and it mentions the history of the venue - that was all new to me !!

I lived in sheffield for 4 years in the late 80's ( studying at Sheff Poly ) and at one point less than 1.5 miles from the venue that had such artists as Wizz Jones, The Watersons, Christy Moore, Tony Capstick(!), Billy Connolly, Bert Jansch and apparently a regular visitor was the late great John Martyn .... I must have been studying too hard to realise what was happening on my doorstep !!!??

[just jane]

I would like to nominate the lift at the Festival Hall as the best lift at a venue, in fact the best lift Ive ever been in.
It was the one at the back of the building which went the full height(from the lower ground level).

As we were waiting for it and some people got in then went up only to come back to the same level looking confused before they went down as they wanted to. We realised the reason for the confusion when we used it ourselves, it seemed to go up no matter what direction button was pressed but as it did it let out a sort of ghostly operatic wail that got higher and higher as we went up and again as we went down, with full effect getting lower and deeper as we went down. It was so funny we were all so confused by it :14: