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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | Andrew Hickey <stealthmunchkin@gmail.com> |
| Subject | Re: UK tour contacts |
| Date | Thu, 26 Aug 2004 23:36:10 +0100 |
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>> I know
> > there
> >> are touring musicians aplenty on this list, and also some UK nationals, so
> > I
> >> thought I'd put the word out -- if you have any suggestions for venues and
> >> maybe (even better) some contacts at those venues, I'd be deeply grateful.
Here's a list of contact information for venues in Manchester and
nearby (Manchester is about 30 miles from Liverpool). I must warn you
though that most of these venues book artists many months in advance,
and so it's unlikely you'll be able to do much at short notice -
Manchester has a large student population and music scene, and so
there are far more bands than there are gigs...
This list is taken from manchestermusic.co.uk . I've removed those
venues which only have huge acts, or those venues that are so small
I've never been there, and added comments based on my own experiences.
Manchester Academy
Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PR
Tel : (0161) 275 2930
The Academy itself usually hosts fairly big artists (eg They Might Be
Giants, David Byrne, Arthur Lee), but it has two smaller venues
attached which have artists ranging from the fairly well-known (Glenn
Tilbrook, Nick Harper, Jonathan Richman) to utter unknowns (one of my
old band Stealth Munchkin's first gigs was playing a benefit at one of
the smaller venues at the Academy). The Academy is actually part of
the university campus, so it has huge audiences for EVERYTHING.
Attic
Archway, 50 New Wakefield Street, Manchester, M1 5NP
Tel: (0161) 236 6071
This venue usually has a fairly large audience for unsigned bands, but
has lousy acoustics, dreadful promoters (the promoter who put us on
here spends all the gate money on heroin. I think he's been replaced,
but still...) and no promotion. Tiny stage as well.
Band on the Wall
25 Swan Street, Manchester, M4
Tel : (0161) 832 6625
Lovely venue, but devoted mostly to jazz, folk and world music
(Waterson:Carthy and people like that play there), but occasionally
branching out to rock & pop stuff (Paul McNulty, who's playing IPO,
played there last year for example). Great acoustics because of the
type of music, so if you CAN get booked there it's well worth it.
Big Hands
Oxford Road, Manchester
Tel: (0161) 272 7779
Never been here, but have heard good things about it. Oxford Road
venues generally get a lot of students, because it's the road the
university is on. Strictly unknowns play here, no big names at all.
The Castle (Oldham)
38 Union Street, Oldham
Tel: 01706 882 759
Again, never played here, but heard good things. Strictly unknowns.
Contact Theatre
Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6JA
Tel: (0161) 274 0621
I don't remember ever seeing a band play here, but it's listed for
completeness. Again, on campus so lots of students.
Dancehouse Cafe Bar
Dancehouse, Oxford Road, Manchester , M1 5QA
Tel : (0161) 237 9753
Mostly jazz and similar stuff - if you'd hear it in Starbucks, you'll
hear it here, but played by unknowns.
Jilly's Rockworld
Oxford Road, M1
Tel: (0161) 236 9971
Hard rock stuff mostly, but a little indie - all unknowns, no big
names. Comparatively large audiences, but horrible venue.
The Lowry
Pier 8, Salford Quays, Manchester, M5 2AZ
Tel: (0161) 876 2020
Very classy overpriced theatre venue. Large venue that hosts
everything from the Ladyboys of Bangkok to Billy Bragg to the Solid
Silver Merseybeat Show. Probably not suited for anyone here, but you
never know...
Manchester University (Hop&Grape)
Students Union, Oxford Road
Tel : (0161) 275 2930
Manchester University (Main Debating Hall)
University Of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PR
Tel : (0161) 275 2930
These are both now renamed Academy 2 and Academy 3. See the Academy above.
Matt & Phreds
Oldham Street, Manchester 4
Tel : (0161) 834 4266
Strictly jazz, but if anyone plays more than one kind of music...
The Met
Market Street, Bury
Tel : (0161) 761 7101
I've been here once, to see Glenn Tilbrook play. Not a very good
venue, but decent sound engineer as I recall.
Middleton Civic Hall
Fountain Street, Middleton
Tel : (0161) 643 2470
Never been here, but I've heard they're DESPERATE for bands, will book
anyone, and always get a good audience (Middleton's a horrible little
suburb and all the buses finish before any gigs in the city centre
end, so they're desperate for entertainment).
Night and Day Cafe
Oldham Street, Manchester
Tel : (0161) 236 4597
Great sound engineer, horrible promoters, nice atmosphere, low
turnout. Don't expect to be paid. Occasionally has fairly biggish
names (Jonathan Richman) but mostly puts on
four-unsigned-bands-a-night things,
The Palace Nightclub
Farmside Place, Levenshulme, Manchester 19
Tel : (0161) 257 2484
Nice promoter, but only puts on about two actual gigs a year, and you
have to have some Irish descent to get on those.
The Retro Bar
Charles Street, Manchester
Tel: (0161) tbc
I can get the number for this if anyone's interested, but basically
you have to put on your own night, which costs £60 - you get the door,
they get the bar. Crap acoustics, no real lighting or sound people,
stage slightly smaller than my table, no promoter. Occasionally still
sometimes manages to get a good audience, somehow (mostly because it's
across from UMIST, one of the universities).
The Ritz
Whitworth Street West, M1 5NQ
Tel : (0161) 236 4355
An absolute hole, but the Stone Roses played their first gig here so
people still occasionally expect something interesting to happen.
Roadhouse
8-10 Newton Street, Piccadilly Manchester, M1
Tel : (0161) 237 9789
Fax : (0161) 236 9289
Not a great venue, but it seems to book the more popular unsigned acts
- those who actually have a following - thus people are more likely to
take a chance on a gig here than they are at most other venues. You
need to guarantee a fairly substantial audience though, which isn't
true for many of the other venues.
Star and Garter
Fairfield Street, Manchester, M1 2QF
Tel : (0161) 273 6726
An absolute hole. Avoid. Not only is the clientele horrible, the sound
poor, and the atmosphere nonexistent, but something about this venue
saps the spirit to the extent that I've never seen anyone do a good
gig here. The only times I've ever seriously considered giving up
music have been when I've just played a gig at the S&G. They will,
however, put anyone who'll guarantee to sell £25 worth of tickets, so
it might be acceptable as an absolute last resort.
UMIST Underground
Sackville Street, Manchester, M60 1QD
Tel: (0161) 200 3286
Almost always puts on tribute bands and suchlike when it puts anyone
on at all - run by UMIST Student Association who are a bunch of
incompetents - but VERY occasionally will put someone different on (I
saw Roy Harper there a few years ago). Nice acoustics though.
Witchwood
152 Old Street, Ashton-u-Lyne
Tel : (0161) 344 0321
Always gets a good audience, acts range from local unsigned bands to
Glenn Tilbrook and people of his level. But there are apparently plans
to demolish the venue, so its future is in question at the moment.
Hope that helps. But like I say, many if not all of these will have
all their spots in October fully booked...
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