Venues

AREA 81
164 Lawrence Hill, Bristol, email: info@area81.co.uk, web: www.area81.co.uk • Between Holey Skin tattoo shop and the Packhorse pub, there are bags of old school metal gigs and plenty more besides in this biker-run venue.

ANSON ROOMS/AR2
Bristol University Students’ Union, Queen’s Rd, Clifton, Bristol, tel: 0117 954 5830, email: ents-ubu@bristol.ac.uk, web: www.ansonrooms.co.uk • Indie guitar haven based in Bristol University Students’ Union - upcoming shows include Bat For Lashes and PJ Harvey & John Parish. The adjacent AR2, meanwhile, is a viable option for smaller-scale promoters.

BATH PAVILION
North Parade Rd, Bath, tel: 01225 486902, web: www.bathpavilion.co.uk • A complete multi-use venue in central Bath. As well as concerts, it offers hire for trade exhibitions, conferences, weddings, fairs and stage shows. Can accommodate up to 1,250 people, with good transport links and car park.

BIERKELLER
The Pithay, All Saints, Bristol, tel: 0117 926 8514, fax: 0117 925 1347, email: bs1bierkellar@aol.com, web: www.bristolbierkeller.co.uk • A significant venue whose sell-out shows have included international unit shifters The Feeling, Panic! At The Disco and Arctic Monkeys. They’ve got an in-house production team as well, who help promoters of any size.

BLACK SWAN
438 Stapleton Rd, Eastville, Bristol, tel: 0117 939 3334 • Big on all-night messy mash-ups and parties that live on longer in legend than in your own cloudy memories.

BRISTOL COUNTY SPORTS CLUB
40 Colston St, Bristol • Like stepping back in time to an 80s social club - albeit with clearer air post-smoking ban - the County Sports Club plays host to intriguing occasional gigs from local DIY promoters.

COLSTON HALL
Colston St, Bristol, tel: 0117 922 3682, email: boxoffice@colstonhall.org, web: www.colstonhall.org • Largest concert hall in Bristol, welcoming a wide range of top-class international sounds from classical to leftfield (alongside all manner of comedy and stage shows). Its current re-vamp includes an ambitious new foyer. Past attractions have included The Streets, Cat Power and Sigur Ros, with David Byrne and Antony And The Johnsons future additions to that list.

THE COOLER
Park St, Bristol, tel: 0117 945 0999, email: info@clubcooler.com, web: www.clubcooler.com • Home of Espionage and plenty more besides. Vivian Girls, High On Fire, Battles and Young Gods are among past highlights.

THE CROFT
117-119 Stokes Croft, Bristol, tel: 0117 987 4144, email: matt_otridge@hotmail.com, web: www.the-croft.com • Live music seven days a week, with club nights after the bands from Thur-Sat until 4am. Their eclectic music policy welcomes sounds 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, and a great atmosphere with a cheap, nicely stocked bar too. One of the city’s very best.

THE CUBE MICROPLEX
Dove St South (off King Sq), Bristol. Postal address: 4 Princess Row, Kingsdown, Bristol, 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. Against the odds (and the bland) they keep a near-continuous stream of films, events, activities and music pouring from every nook and cranny. The Cube presents cinema (35, 16, Super8, video and digital), music (acoustic, electric and half-amped), discussions, secret and overt community groups and the full-on arts.

FIDDLERS
Willway St, Bedminster, Bristol, tel: 0117 987 3403, fax: 0117 987 3369, email: info@fiddlers.co.uk, web: www.fiddlers.co.uk • Family-run venue with a music policy that’s genuinely eclectic with a noticeable Afro/world leaning. Always interested in proposals from bands for headline or support slots.

THE FLEECE
12 St Thomas St, Bristol, 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, with regular free showcases.

THE FOLK HOUSE
40a Park St, Bristol, tel: 0117 926 2987, 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 and local acoustic acts.

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, email: thejunctionbristol@gmail.com, web: www.myspace.com/thejunctionbristol • Small punk/alternative venue that’s become an oft-used haven for the city’s leftfield rock promoters and DIY enthusiasts. Grimy but satisfyingly in-your-face.

THE KINGS ARMS
1 Monmouth Place, Bath, tel: 01225 425418, fax: 01225 400582, email: debsx@bueyonder.co.uk, web: www.thekingsarmsbath.co.uk • Bath’s longest-running free live music venue with performances every Friday and Saturday night.

KOMEDIA BATH
22-23 Westgate St, Bath, tel: 0845 293 8480, email: info@komedia.co.uk, www.komedia.co.uk/bath • Part comedy club, part gig venue, Bath’s branch of the initially Brighton-based Komedia caters for a more mature musical audience with occasional indie-rock goodies: from Young Knives to Wishbone Ash.

THE LOUISIANA
Wapping Rd, Bathurst Terrace, Bristol, tel: 0117 966 3615, email: thelouisiana@googlemail.com, web: www.myspace.com/thelouisiana • Cosy upstairs venue playing host to ascendant (inter)national acts and the finest local talent, with a decent pub downstairs. Kate Nash and The Strokes are just two of the talents who’ve hit The Louis on their ascent.

MICHAEL TIPPETT CENTRE
Bath Spa University College, Newton Park Campus, Newton St Loe, Bath, tel: 01225 875696, email: mtc@bathspa.ac.uk, web: www.bathspa.ac.uk/mtc • Popular venue for concerts, recordings, workshops and rehearsals, including the Bath International Guitar Festival. 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, email: info@moles.co.uk, web: www.moles.co.uk • Moles Club: one of the UK’s best live music venues. Whether you’re a visitor looking for live entertainment or a local resident of Bath, Bristol and the West Country, it’s the sort of nightclubs to build your social life and nightlife around. Occupying a niche all of its own, with live bands, wicked dance nights with top DJs, wacky events and everything to do with the local live music and partying scene. A nightclub with a difference, plus great intimate cellar venue the Porter.

THE MOTHERS’ RUIN
7-9 St Nicholas Market, Old City, Bristol, tel: 0117 925 6969, email: themothersruin@hotmail.com, web: www.myspace.com/themothersruinbristol • Small-scale live gems in an intimate venue that often require ear-to-the-ground attentiveness just to keep up on the schedule - The Mothers’ Ruin list Israeli loons Monotonix, Turbowolf and Ex-Models among their best gigs of last year.

MR WOLFS
33 St. Stephen St, Bristol, tel: 0117 927 3221, email: wolffmark@hotmail.com, web: www.mrwolfs.com, www.myspace.com/mrwolfs • Excellent family-run live venue showcasing Bristol’s most exciting acts. Local up-and-coming bands that play there often hail 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.

OLD DUKE
45 King St, Bristol, tel: 0117 927 7137, email: info@theoldduke.com, web: www.theoldduke.co.uk • Named after Duke Ellington, this is one of the city’s finest, longest-standing jazz-blues haunts.

O2 ACADEMY
Frogmore St, Bristol, tel: 0844 477 2000, email: mail@o2academybristol.co.uk, web: www.o2academybristol.co.uk • Recently re-branded Bristol branch of the nationwide Academy circuit. Plays host to most of the major guitar, dance and hip-hop players, with a smaller capacity room (the Academy 2) and occasional slots for local bands.

POLISH CLUB
50 St. Pauls Rd, Clifton, Bristol, 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, web: www.theprom.co.uk • Plays host to live music all week aside from Tuesdays when they hold their long-running quiz. It’s a vibrant mix of folk, blues, jazz, rock and country from local and national bands, with bring-your-own-instrument acoustic sessions on Sundays. Big on atmosphere, it’s a popular venue with local artists.

ST BONAVENTURE SOCIAL CLUB
Egerton Rd, Bishopston, Bristol, tel: 01452 411466, email: tim@crhmusic.com, web: www.crhmusic.com • Americana specialists, with forthcoming concerts from the likes of Willie Nelson’s pal Kimmie Rhodes and Great Lake Swimmers.

ST GEORGE’S BRISTOL
Great George St, Brandon Hill, Bristol, tel: 0117 929 4929, email: administration@stgeorgesbristol.co.uk, web: www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk • One of Britain’s leading concert halls and recording studios, famous for its fine acoustics, packed with jazz, classical and world music treats.

START THE BUS
7-9 Baldwin St, Bristol, tel: 0117 930 4370, web: www.startthebus.tv, www.myspace.com/startthebus • Über-hip venue-slash-club that has attracted the likes of Alphabeat and Kid Carpet, plus a whole host of top-ranking DJs.

THEKLA SOCIAL
East Mud Dock, The Grove, tel: 0117 929 3301, email: office@theklabristol.co.uk, web: www.theklabristol.co.uk, www.myspace.com/theklabristol • This legendary venue, a boat in Bristol’s harbourside, has risen to the very summit of Bristol’s live scene since a big refit and lick of paint, with a cafe on board. The Thekla can always be relied on to put on some fantastic bands, from the best of the local wannabes to big names including Duffy, Robyn, Babyshambles and Evan Dando, and soon-come shows from …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead and Calvin Harris.

THE TRINITY CENTRE
Trinity Rd, St Philips, Bristol, tel: 0117 935 1200, email: info@3ca.org.uk, web: www.3ca.org.uk • A community arts space by day and music venue by night. In recent years Trinity has welcomed the likes of Neon Neon, Devendra Banhart and Anthony & The Johnsons.

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