Gigs

[tilypu]

Went to an absolute belter of a gig last night, the incredible singer-songwriter NatiDreddd supported by ili, one of the best supporting acts I've seen. She should be headlining her own gigs. Both home grown Scottish talent (the gig was in Edinburgh).

It really got me to thinking. People go mad to try to get tickets for stadium gigs by multi-millionaire acts, with ticketing policies designed to extract as much money as possible from you, so you can sit and watch them on a massive screen.

This gig cost me £21, including booking fees etc. In a small venue with more atmosphere empty than any Murrayfield gig I've been to. And that £21 will make more difference to these acts than hundreds spent to see any of the big names. I'm not saying don't go to Murrayfield etc (there are plenty of people working those gigs that benefit too) - but I am saying, if you don't already, think about checking out acts that you might not recognise, that are playing locally for very reasonable prices. You aren't buying blind any more - these acts will have an online presence where you can listen to them before you decide to buy. You never know, you might get to see them before they get to the stage of playing those huge stadium gigs.

Hopefully you are reading this thinking 'cheeky bitch! Of course I go to small local gigs!' And if you are - well, maybe I'll see you there ☺️

I’ve just come back from the States where it is much more common place to stumble across live music. I love bar hopping listening to different bands, we just don’t seem to have that culture here to the same extent, not in my local area at least.

Yep - totally agree.

I can’t stand big stadium gigs.

If anyone lives in the area The Oxted Sessions put on some amazing gigs. (And not all new/young talent - Tom Robinson was one guest last year)

I do understand that ophd. And when you factor in having to travel and maybe needing accommodation, it's not such a cheap option any more.

I'm lucky with Edinburgh on my doorstep. We have quite a few fabulous (including dingy, dark, underground) venues, with gigs that cost from about a tenner. Do I want to go to 10 gigs in small venues, or one stadium one? Let me think...

Totally agree. Not a great fan of stadium gigs.
We were trying to watch the support to a big band at a stadium last year only to have people sitting watching football and playing sudoku in front of us holding a spot for the higger band.
Also some arenas. A band I love is playing the O2 later this year but the venue is putting me off.

I go to about 25 bands a year. The vast majority are under £25 in cost and are often at the best music venue in the country - Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. I think people assume that gigs are expensive due to their personal experience of arenas and stadium gigs. Even well known bands aren't that expensive at smaller venues. I'm seeing Wet Leg (at Usher Hall, Edinburgh) for £29.50. I've also just got tickets to Lorde for £47 for an arena.

I'm off to The Cluny in Newcastle tomorrow to see a couple of my favourite singers. Small gigs are brilliant.

Agree 100%. I have friends who will pay > £150 for a Taylor Swift ticket. The most I've ever paid was about £50 - and that was The Cure. Robert Smith tries to keep prices down. Off to see Wet Leg next week. About £30 in a smallish venue.

Give me a pub gig any day! Our local has them outside all summer + it's like being at a little festival every weekend, love it!

I love live music, but I am an old git and don't get to see so many these days. Last couple I've seen have been hip-hop, but i've got tickets to see I'm With Her at the Barbican in a couple of weeks, and I'm very excited about that.

Gigs have been my lifeblood over the years, luckily the music I like isn’t popular in the mainstream so my favourite acts play in relatively small venues. I have been to some greats shows over the years and met so many people from bands, got my tickets signed and the odd photo here and there. I have a box full of amazing memories, that’s the kind of thing that gets lots when a musician gets to a certain height of fame and you are competing with thousands of others for tickets, only to have to bring binoculars to see them 🤣

Anything larger than an o2 academy is a no from me, as I feel like I may as well be watching at home.

Totally agree. Small venues and bands need support as they develop the talent. Bands starting out need live experience, they need to test out the songs that work live and what resonates with the audience. And it’s an awesome experience being really up close and personal as they do this (although , not all bands are going to make it big of course!). You get a much better buzz and atmosphere from a small gig imo
The Dublin Castle, Camden and the smaller venues in Brighton, the Boilerroom in Guildford, the small festivals- all great places for this, but loads going on

The Jazz Cafe in Camden is another great little venue.

The GreenNote, The Water Rats, Union Chapel (all London), The Railway Inn (Winchester), The Jericho Inn, The Bullingdon (both Oxford), The Joiners (Southampton) - to name but a few. Small, accessible, great value. Seen so many great gigs over the years in intimate settings where the majority of people there actually want to listen to the music. Small, independent venues over arenas any day!

Nati is great - indeed the whole music scene on Scotland is buzzing with great and relatively low cost acts

support the small grassroots venues as much as possible as without them the young people can’t get experience make a living

Completely agree @tilypu. I love live music, and love different size venues. There is something exciting about watching a band who are great in a small venue.
I do also love a stadium gig (if I love the band who are playing) but people who
limit themselves to these are missing out (in my view).
@Shivermetimbers0112I don’t live in London, but went to The GreenNote once when visiting a friend who lives there, and loved it! Where I live, we do have some good venues, but there was something quite special about the venue and the band playing there.

The I'm With Her concert at the Barbican was just fabulous. What a sound they make! And the acoustics were flawless. I'll buy their new CD (I already have the first one, but only digital). They didn't do Kathy's Song, but they did do Crossing Muddy Waters and Carey. All of them, of course, but Sarah Watkins, how good is she?

I would love too see them. I adore Nickel Creek and Sarah Jarowz too. Such a talented bunch of people.

Only date in the UK, sadly, I think.

They will be back at some point I'm sure. I made DH take me to the Barbican for Nickel Creek for my birthday a while ago, it was amazing.

I've been on a booming splurge. Got Tommy Arch and The Magpie Arch at The Cluny in Newcastle and Ruth Lyon at The Glasshouse all booked. Considering The Leylines and also whether to go to a day mini festival thing the Young Uns are doing in Middlesbrough in November.

I love both. Band on the Wall in Manchester is a great venue for smaller bands. I also love Albert Hall, 02 Ritz, The Deaf Institute, the Academy, there are loads more in Manchester. We are very lucky.

Our new coop live arena is amazing though, and you can get cheap.last minute tickets via Twickets. So I like a mixture of both.

There's also a cave in the Peak district called the Devil's Arse that has gigs. I have tickets for a couple of bands there too over the summer.

We are in our mid 60s and love gigs...4 in the last month. Not a fan of big stadiums although we are seeing Sam Fender next week which will be incredible. We go to lots of small gigs ...love the Brudenell, Wardrobe, Holmfirth Picturedrome, Liverpool Philharmonic.

I like small gigs too.

I live in a town on the South coast and we have a great little music venue here. Most weeks it is tribute bands playing there which is not my cup of tea, but every so often they have great bands appearing- often ones that had a bit of a following in the 90s.

We saw Turin Brakes there just before Covid and it was the best gig I’ve ever been to. We were standing right at the front but there was plenty of space for everyone. The band were right in front of me and at the same level. It was like having a live band in your own home. We’re off there in a couple of weeks to see Space.

Sooo, I've just booked Devils Arse on the back of this, had heard of it but forgot about it

So that week we are in Germany Tuesday, Derby Friday and Devils Arse Saturday

We will need the week isolated in the Peak District to recover

Who are you going to see @Oldraver (I'm one of them too) might see you there.

@Oldraver@SantasLargerHelperI’ve just booked to see Teenage Fanclub there in August. Very excited by both the band and the venue!