Venues

AREA 81
Between Holey Skin tattoo shop and the Packhorse pub, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, web: www.area81.co.uk • Bags of old school metal gigs but plenty more besides in this biker-run venue, plus open mic Thursdays.

ANSON ROOMS/AR2
Bristol University Students Union, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LN, tel: 0117 954 5810, web: www.ansonrooms.co.uk • Indie guitar haven based in Bristol University Students Union. The adjacent AR2, meanwhile, is a viable option for smaller-scale promoters.

BATH PAVILION
North Parade Rd, Bath BA2 4EU, tel: 01225 486902, web: www.aquaterra.org/BathNES/Pavilion/ • A complete multi-use venue situated in the centre of Bath. Ideal for hire for trade exhibitions, conferences, weddings, fairs and stage shows. Can accommodate up to 1,200 for music events. Good transport links and car park.

BIERKELLER
The Pithay, All Saints, Bristol BS1 2NA, tel: 0117 926 8514, fax: 0117 9251347, email: bs1bierkellar@aol.com, web: www.bristolbierkeller.co.uk • A major music venue whose sell-out shows have included acts such as The Feeling, Panic! At The Disco and Arctic Monkeys, as well as up-and-coming acts such as the Cold War Kids. They’ve got an in-house production team as well, who will help promoters of any size.

BLACK SWAN
438 Stapleton Rd, Eastville, Bristol, tel: 0117 939 3334 • Big on all-night messy mash-ups.

CARLING ACADEMY
Frogmore St, Bristol BS1 5NA, tel: 0870 771 2000, web: www.bristol-academy.co.uk • The Bristol branch of the nationwide Carling Academy circuit. Plays host to most of the major guitar, dance and R 'n' B players, with a smaller capacity room (the Carling Academy 2) as well.

COLSTON HALL
Colston St, Bristol BS1 5AR, tel: 0117 922 3682, web: www.bristol-city.gov.uk/colstonhall • Biggest venue in Bristol, welcoming a wide range of top-class international sounds from classical to leftfield. Currently undergoing a huge re-vamp but the venue is still open for now, with forthcoming attractions including Tinariwen, Cat Power and Polar Bear.

THE COOLER
Park St, Bristol, tel: 0117 945 0999 • The new home of Espionage and plenty more besides. Battles and Young Gods numbered among last year’s highlights.

THE CROFT
117-119 Stokes Croft, Bristol, tel: 0117 987 4144, mob: 07966 372445, email: matt_otridge@hotmail.com, web: www.the-croft.com • Live music seven days a week with club nights after the bands from Thursday to Saturday every week until 4am. Their eclectic music policy welcomes everything from punk and metal to drum & bass and hip-hop with occasional acoustic sets in the front bar. They’ve got a fair band payment policy, top sound system as well as a great atmosphere. Newly made over in the last year, with a new management team bringing in regular Croft acts, plus a whole new raft of traditional folk.

THE CUBE MICROPLEX
Dove St South, Bristol BS2 8JB. Postal address: 4 Princess Row, Kingsdown, Bristol BS2 8NQ, tel: 0117 907 4190, email: cubeadmin@microplex.cubecinema.com, web: www.cubecinema.com •Live-audio-cinematic-antic venue and production centre run by a crack group of voluntary leftfield artists-workers-enthusiasts who, against the odds (and the bland), keep a near-continuous stream of films, events, activities and music pouring out of every nook and cranny. The Cube presents cinema (35, 16, Super8, video and digital), music (acoustic, electric and half-amped), burlesque in full 3D, discussions, secret and overt community groups and the full-on ARTS.

FIDDLERS
Willway St, Bedminster, Bristol, tel: 0117 987 3403, web; www.fiddlers.co.uk • Family-run venue with a music policy that's genuinely eclectic with an Afro/world leaning. Always interested in proposals from bands for headline or support slots.

THE FLEECE
12 St Thomas St, Bristol BS1 6JJ, tel: 0117 945 0996, web: www.fleecegigs.co.uk • 400-capacity venue with live music, both international and local, seven days a week. Tribute acts, up-and-coming indie outfits and new local talent.

THE FOLK HOUSE
40a Park St, Bristol BS1 5JG, tel: 0117 9262987, web: www.bristolfolkhouse.co.uk • The Folk House is a vibrant community in the centre of Bristol where you can watch, learn and participate in a wide range of arts, crafts, performance and personal development courses suitable for all ages. Live music most weekends from national as well as local acoustic acts. Still putting on music despite recent departure of long-time entertainment manager Steve Parkhouse.

JOE PUBLIC'S
3 Queens Ave, Clifton, tel: 0117 973 1249, email: info@joepublics.com, web: www.joepublics.com • 300-capacity bar and music venue (under Habitat) showcasing the very best emerging local and national live talent. If you want to perform in their sumptuously-decorated surroundings, contact graham@joepublics.com.

THE JUNCTION
51 Stokes Croft, Bristol, tel: 0117 942 4470 • Small punk/alt venue that's recently become an oft-used haven for the city's leftfield rock promoters and DIY enthusiasts.

THE KINGS ARMS
1 Monmouth Place, Bath BA1 2AT, tel: 01225 425418, fax: 01225 400582, email: debsx@bueyonder.co.uk, web: www.thekingsarmsbath.com • Bath's premier free live music venue with performances every Friday and Saturday night.

LOUISIANA
Wapping Rd, Bathurst Terrace, Bristol BS1 6UA, tel: 0117 966 3615, web: www.myspace.com/thelouisiana • Cosy upstairs venue playing host to ascendant inter/national acts and the finest local talent. They’ve had Kate Nash and Sons & Daughters in the last year.

MICHAEL TIPPETT CENTRE
Bath Spa University College, Newton Park Campus, Newton St Loe, Bath BA2 9BN, tel: 01225 875696, email: mtc@bathspa.ac.uk, web: www.bathspa.ac.uk/mtc • Popular venue for concerts, recordings, workshops and rehearsals. You can take advantage of all the facilities of the centre (including a number of grand pianos and baby grands) or just book one of the rehearsal rooms.

MOLES/PORTER CELLAR BAR
14 St George St, Bath; tel: 01225 404445; fax: 01225 404447 • Moles Club: one of the UK's best live music venues. Whether you're a tourist from London looking for some live entertainment or a local resident of Bath, Bristol and the West Country, this could be one of your favourite nightclubs to build your social life and nightlife around. Occupying a niche all of its own, this is the place for live bands, live gigs, dance music, wicked dance nights with top dance DJs, wacky events and everything to do with the local live music and partying scene - a nightclub with a difference and also one of those great intimate cellar venues! Demos and a short biog to Kath O' Connor, Moles supremo.

MR WOLFS
33 St. Stephen St, Bristol BS1 1JZ, tel: 0117 927 3221, email: wolffmark@hotmail.com, web: www.mrwolfs.com, www.myspace.com/mrwolfs • Excellent live venue providing a platform for Bristol's most exciting acts. Local up-and-coming bands who have played there often remark on how much they enjoy the atmosphere. Expect anything from DJs to rock bands to salsa collectives - always with a friendly laid-back vibe. They also serve up noodles and Japanese lager from behind the bar.

NEW TRINITY CENTRE
Trinity Rd, St Philips, Bristol BS2 0NW, tel: 0117 935 1200, web: http://3ca.org.uk • A community arts space by day and music venue by night. In recent years Trinity has welcomed the likes of Alabama 3, Devendra Banhart and Anthony & The Johnsons.

OLD DUKE
King St, Bristol, tel: 0117 927 7137 • One of the city’s finest, longest-standing jazz-blues haunts.

OPPO
72 Park St, Bristol BS1 5JX, tel/fax: 0117 929 1166, web: www.oppoharmonicfusion.co.uk • This charming little coffee place just off Park Street also holds regular evenings showcasing local talent. As Oppo} is a non-alcoholic/non-smoking venue, musicians who have performed there have commented on the unique attentiveness from a sober audience which gives an extra edge to how they perform. They feature a lot of jazz. Pop in for a coffee and more details.

POLISH CLUB
50 St. Pauls Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1LP, tel: 0117 973 6244 • Ex-Polish servicemen's club available for hire.

PROM MUSIC BAR AND CAFÉ
26 The Promenade, Gloucester Rd, Bristol, tel: 0117 942 7319 • Plays host to live music all week apart from Tuesdays when they have their quiz. It’s a vibrant mix of folk, blues, jazz, rock and country from local and national bands, with a bring-your-own-instrument jam session on Sundays. The Prom is big on atmosphere and a popular venue with local artists.

ST BONAVENTURE SOCIAL CLUB
Egerton Rd, Bishopston, Bristol, tel: 0117 929 9008 • Americana specialists, including appearances from JD Souther and Chuck Prophet in the last year.

ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL
Great George St, Brandon Hill, Bristol BS1 5RR, tel: 0845 402 4001, email: boxoffice@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk, web: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk • One of Britain's leading concert halls and recording studios, famous for its exceptionally fine acoustic.

START THE BUS
7-9 Baldwin St, Bristol, web: www.startthebus.co.uk • New kid on the block, attracting the likes of bright new things like Alphabeat, plus a whole host of topline DJs.

THEKLA SOCIAL
East Mud Dock, The Grove, tel: 0117 929 7342, web: www.myspace.com/thetheklasocial • This legendary venue, a boat in Bristol’s harbourside, has had a big refit and a lick of paint and now boasts a cafe on board. Some things never change, though, and the Thekla can still be relied on to put on some fantastic bands, from the best of the local wannabes to some pretty big names, including Duffy, Robyn, Babyshambles and Evan Dando in recent months.

Back to Musicians Guide Index