Venues
We asked you to recommend your favourite venues — and also let us know which ones to avoid.
Here’s what we’ve come up with so far. If you have any suggestions or comments, please post them below and we’ll add them to the list.
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Belfast
The Good: McHughs (SE), Black Box (SE), The Empire (@thesneakybandit says: “great for new talent, indie folk and alt country”)
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Bristol
The Good: Thekla (JC, BM), The Louisiana (JC, BM), Trinity Centre (@joe__collins says: “Little bit out of the city centre but definitely worth it a visit”), St Bonaventures (BM), St George’s Hall (BM), Rise (MK says: “a record shop that does good instores”)
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Leeds
The Good: Brudenell Social Club (AM, DOD), Holy Trinity Church (AM, DOD)
The Bad: Rios (DOD), The Well (DOD), Leeds University Union (DOD), Elbow Rooms (DOD)
The Both: The Faversham (Bad says AM, Good says DOD)
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London
The Good: The Distillers Pub Regal Room (@gtvone says: “a brilliant, cozy live music venue in Hammersmith”), Troubadour (BW), Betsey Trotwood (BW)
The Bad: Haverstock Arms (BW
Manchester
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Nottingham
The Good: The Rescue Rooms (WB), The Bodega Social Club (WB says: “with amazing ciders”)
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Wakefield
The Good: Escobar (DOD)
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York
The Bad: The Dutchess (AM)
Thanks to @joe__collins (JC), @gtvone (SP), @thesneakybandit (SE), @benwwalker (BW), Anna (AM), Daniel O’Dell (DOD), @bovinemammal (BM), @Damiani_band (DB), @chillyourbeans (CYB), @woodlandbear (WB), @matthewkingdon (MK)
The Old Queen’s Head and the Flowerpot!
To add to ‘The Good’ – The Farmhouse, Canterbury.
A lovely venue run by the same people who brought Lounge on the Farm to the UK festival scene. A superlative group of staff, a great selection of drinks (try the Brooklyn lager or one of the more locally sourced ales), and a tiny performance space that allows the audience to really connect with the artists, giving the venue a warm and friendly atmosphere*.
Kid Harpoon, Alessi’s Ark, Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, and Mumford and Sons have graced the stage in the past and last year the venue hosted the start of the most recent Shred Yr Face tour featuring Woods, Espers, and The Cave Singers.
It’s well worth a visit, just not tonight, tickets have been sold out for a while, Cocos Lovers and Fionn Regan are in town!
* And when I say ‘really connect’ I do mean REALLY connect. When Cocos Lovers have performed, one of the band has had to stand and play in the audience.
Birmingham
The Good: Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath (folk, psych, indie etc), The Glee Club (Leisure Society, Erland and the Carnival, 6 Day Riot, Jesca Hoop all there recently)
Newcastle
The Good: Tyne Theatre, it’s beautiful, loved watching Laura Marling play there.
The Union Chapel – surely the best venue for folky stuff in London!!!!! The Antlers there – amazing, First Aid Kit – sublime, Daylight Pyjama Party – sleepy…
The Good: The Black Swan, York