NEN Places // Unusual gig venues
We’re getting harder to please these days, that is certain. No longer happy with now ‘large-scale’ gigs at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo or your local Carling Academy, music fans are flocking in droves to independent venues for a bit of something unsponsored and different. We’ve listed some of the best UK venues/events.
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Bandstand Busking, London
Take a band, and shove ‘em on one of London’s many unused bandstands. Invite people, sorted. Bandstand Busking prides itself on bringing London’s most up-and-coming folk acts to the fore.
The Band Room, North Yorkshire
Huddled away in the North York Moors 35 miles north of York, The Band Room is basically a corrugated iron shed (built for the local silver band in the 1920s) hosting sets from Jools Holland, Alessi’s Ark, Cerys Matthews amongst many others. Whilst hosting jumble sales by day. With a bring-your-own-booze policy and unpretentious atmosphere, you’re guaranteed an unforgetting night in one of the UK’s smallest gig venues.
Get It Loud In Libraries, UK-wide
Get It Loud In Libraries aims to get people, er, back into libraries. Mainly Lancaster and Westminster Libraries. Acts such as Holly Miranda, Bat For Lashes and Florence & The Machine have graced the stages of libraries up and down the country, with the promise of no age restrictions and no spilt beer.
The Old Vic Tunnels
Situated directly underneath Waterloo Station (so much that you can hear the occasional rumbling of trains),here one can find a whole range of exhibitions and pop-up art installations. And now they’re doing gigs.
Hammersmith Working Mens’ Club, London
Usually the choice of big-time bands throwing ‘a secret gig’ whenever the feeling takes them, Hammersmith WMC relies on such bookings to keep it afloat. Manic Street Preachers recently played an intimate gig there, following in the footsteps of Oasis, Badly Drawn Boy and many others. Working Mens’ Clubs are making a considerable comeback: Bethnal Green and Brudenell (Leeds) are host a whole load of fab events.
Tamesis Dock, London
A gig on a boat is a novel idea. The Moonshine Jamboree has been hosting weekly folk nights on this floating ale hole all summer (situated between Lambeth and Vauxhall bridges in London). Expect cute folky bands, and probably a huge beard or two.
Ginglik, London
Ginglik is a basement bar/venue inside a public toilet. No joke. It’s in a (now-converted) underground Edwardian public convenience which was built to serve the spectators of the 1908 Olympic Games nearby at White City. Hammersmith & Fulham Council tried to close it but after much petitioning, the local area redevelopment plans appear to be on hold meaning Ginglik should still be with us for the foreseeable future. Get down there to see fab music, cabaret and comedy from acts warming up for UK gig tours.
Manchester Deaf Institute
A gig in a deaf institute? That surely can’t be very fair…Built in 1877, the club/gig venue occupies a building that was formerly the Adult Deaf and Dumb Institute. Now it’s a must-have location on any self-respecting band’s tour booking.
The Gate, Cardiff
The Gate is a community project housed inside a former church building (Plasnewydd Presbyterian Church). Gigs are few and far between, but The Divine Comedy and many more acts have graced its stage. Songs Of Praise has also been filmed here!
Union Chapel, London
This lovely chapel in Islington host a whole, er, host of regular gigs. Our favourites are that of Daylight Music and various others curated by Arctic Circle.
These are just some of the wonderous venues gracing our streets, back alleys and underneath our feet.
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