Heartland

Big Si wrote:"The Barras" (except for the current crop of bouncers )

I've always feared the bouncers there.

I second The Newcastle Mayfair, sadly now an odeon cinema/tiger tiger mall thing. A nice big, balconied, underground wide venue. Saw loads there...

Planet Dave wrote:Leeds Town & Country remains(ed) my favourite, just a great vibe there always, and great sound. So of course they turned it into a nightclub. Tools.

It's back!

http://www.academy-music-group.co.uk/leeds.php

Newcastle Mayfair (RIP, basids ).

Middlesbrough Town Hall

Newcastle City Hall.

Glasgow Barrowlands (Never got the chance to go to the Apollo, so can't compare).

Anywhere sweaty really

Rock City - I went to the first ever gig there on Dec 11th 1980 - The Undertones. It was supposed to open earlier in Dec (had tix for Human League, Echo & The Bunnymen + Iron Maiden) but the electrics didn't work so opening was delayed.

The sound is always brilliant, the bouncers at first were not but it's got better over the years (or have I just managed to avoid being next to troublemakers?)

I've seen some corkers of gigs there - I *heart* Rock City - it's the Heart of The Midlands, tha knows.

Debaser wrote:Rock City - I went to the first ever gig there on Dec 11th 1980 - The Undertones. It was supposed to open earlier in Dec (had tix for Human League, Echo & The Bunnymen + Iron Maiden) but the electrics didn't work so opening was delayed.

The sound is always brilliant, the bouncers at first were not but it's got better over the years (or have I just managed to avoid being next to troublemakers?)

I've seen some corkers of gigs there - I *heart* Rock City - it's the Heart of The Midlands, tha knows.

....and Copey was stormin' when I saw him there in about....ooh..'94 I think. Yeah - it's a good venue alright.

Okay so living in the Netherlands and close to Amsterdam I'd say my favourite venues are....

~ Paradiso (the old church)
~ Melkweg (for the bands)
~ club11 (for the groovy vibe when in that mood for clubing)

In Utrecht

~ Tivoli (for bands)
~ Winkel van Sinkel (for an amazing club venue)

In S.A. what I can remember from that past..

In downtown JHB

~ AliceDee (club for the oh so goth/punk/skinhead)
~ The Doors (club with upstairs and downstairs)
~ Another Club I forget the name of in walking distance first from The Doors to AliceDee to then this club...
~ Le Club (different vibe)
~ That warehouse that was put up for raves of industrial music...the old butchery warehouse, were many a rave was held on different theme eveings....

HEE!!!!

Blimey, no idea! I quite liked Brixton Academy though. Does Norwich Waterfront count?

The most bizarre has to be the Milton Keynes sort of sports hall type place that I saw Laibach play at last year. There were people rolling out of the gym and playing tennis etc when we were standing around trying to look uber

Pat wrote:

weebleswobble wrote:

Pat wrote:Weebles mentions the Barras but it was always very lame compared to the Apollo,sound is always touch and go,and a lot of the performers seem to have trouble remembering what town they're in.The crowd always waits to be entertained rather than becoming part of the show

Apollo just before my time but I've seen some storming sets at the barras-cult Electric tour/Lorries~m*****n/Suede/Furs to name but a few

Or was it the drugs (or lack of them)?

I suspect your specticales are rose tinted.
The Cult gig was a cracker though

Will you stop going to the same gigs i was at FFS!!

Barra's was my fave decent sized venue just for the shear number of cracking bands i've seen there over the past 20+ years...but sound wise it's gotta be Brixton Academy...

the Venue in Edinburgh was good for the time it was open...but La Sorbone in the CowGate was ma fave haunt...

I gotta admit that Rock City in Nottingham is brilliant as was The Mayfair in Newcastle and the Forum (Town & Country) Kentish Town is still good for a decent night out...

Loch Lomond with Run Rig rates as ma best outside venue

You mentioned "The Scottish Band", I prophesy disaster!

Planet Dave wrote:Brixton Academy is very groovy, as is the Manc Apollo for similar reasons (no seating (any more) and sloping floor). Any stage at Glastonbury, irrespective of performer. But the Leeds Town & Country remains(ed) my favourite, just a great vibe there always, and great sound. So of course they turned it into a nightclub. Tools.

Another vote for Manchester Apollo.

Leeds T&C is reopening as a gig venue; 'Leeds Carling Academy' I believe.

*Edit: note to self: chack page two of a thread before posting. Scardy's beaten me to it.

If we're doing club venues as well as gig venues:

Manchester: Banshee
Leeds: Phono

Both the sort of place where you would stick to the floor if you stood still too long. Ah, my misspent youth.