Music venues, good and bad, including festivals.

I should also have asked for the size of the venue to be mentioned, easy to have a great place for 300 people, much harder for 12,000.

A few to start with, mostly in London.

The Best

Royal Festival Hall (3,500) and Queen Elizabeth Hall (2,000) in the South Bank Centre in London, Seated, great sound, courteous staff, and good for all types of music I have seen there, jazz, classical, rock, solo acoustic and techno.

The Royal Albert Hall (5,000), another lovely venue, seated plus the promenades at the top, with great staff, not quite so good acoustically, but still pretty good, again for all types of music, I have seen the same spread of music there too jazz, classical, rock, solo acoustic and techno.

I did see King Crimson there in 1995 which taking to a sound engineer is one of the landmarks for good sound at any concert, so the sound can be great ig the artist takes the time to get it.

Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, same as Queen Elizabeth Hall, lovely.


Good

Hammersmith Odeon, Manchester Apollo, Sheffield City Hall, Leicester De Montford Hall all around 3,500 - 4,500, usually seated, but I think the seats can be removed from the stalls. Sound pretty good, just nice places to see gigs, no hassles, and good to support bands who play this size venue rather than the soul-less arenas.

Earls Court (10,000) good for this size of venue.

Average

Wembley Arena (10,000) Formerly 'The Empire Pool Wembley', and so has all the 'great' acoustics of a former swimming pool. Hard to get to with poor transport and bad roads around the place. Often the only place you get to see some international tours. I much prefer Earls Court for this size of venue.

Bad

Brixton Academy (5,000), standing downstairs, seated upstairs. The bass pools just in front of the sound desk, drowning the midtones. Sloping, sticky unwashed floor, frequented by drug dealers who badger you to buy from them as they barge through the crowd. Staff are OK, but I hate the place. Have seen metal, techno, rock there, sometimes as it is the only place a band play in the UK on a tour.

The exception to the sound quality was Kraftwerk in 2004 who managed to get a great sound, but they are perfectionists.

Corporation Sheffield ((1,800). Quite simply the worst place I have seen a concert, a goth club full of drunk shouting a**holes who make it impossible to hear the music. Staff want to sell alcohol to the a**holes. Low roof, muffled sound, stage too small for a band to set up properly on.

M.E.N. Manchester, (10,000)seated & standing, should be no worse than Wembley Arena, and I have seen some great gigs there, but the staff are aggressive, unhelpfull and obsessed in trying to stop people with mobile phones getting a few seconds of the gig recorded.

Well that is a start, there are dozens of venues around the world, and some will have very different experiences of the same venue, so a great gig can make avenue a favourite, and the vice-ser-versa.

My favs, (i like small intimate venues.)
I must state firstly that i do think it all depends on which band you see as some bands actually take care to set up properly whereas others.....well dont.

Bush hall
o2 islington
brixton academy
shepherds bush empire
RFH

My hates,

Wembley arena - shit acoustics (just refuse to go there anymore)
Hammersmith apollo - toilets are a disgrace and sounds not much better.
Any large stadium - the sound is always lost in these large venues....and ive been to a few.

I agree with Scotty about the apparent intimacy of the Royal Festival Hall, which is actually rather large, but feels a lot less than half the size of the Royal Albert Hall.

I love the RFH, and will never again go to the RAH.

I know from broadcasts that the Queens Hall [in the South Bank Centre] will in all probability be a superb hall in reality.

Worcester Cathedral is calamitous for music - even for Elgar's Dream Of Gerontius [for which the music was conceived though it is full of Popery, and the Cathedral is defiantly Anglican] - whereas the High Church Anglican Hereford Cathedral is superb for music and worship in no specific order! Gerontius benefits from the intimacy of it, and the clarity. When full of congregation or audience, the acoustic is dry and precise like the RFH!

Another fine dry acoustic is to be found in the Malvern Festival Theatre - founded by among others, George Bernard Shaw - and music goes as well as a good play in there. The stage is large enough for a full romantic symphony orchestra, but you can hear a pin drop in this space, and the staff are polite, the clientele rather county, which guarantees no clapping in the wrong places!

Gloucester Cathedral is as grand as it is unclear, and is not good for music, though the halo effect is nice if you like that. Leominster Priory has one of the best recording acoustics anywhere in the world, which is why DG use it for some of John Eliot Gardiner's Bach recordings in spite of its inaccessibility. To play there is like having your instrument boosted into a Strad.

Witley Parish church is Baroque intimacy "writ large" - very clear, but perfectly distanced for smaller performance ensembles, string orchestras and so on. Perfect for Bach's Brandenburgs ...

Okay, so that is only London, and Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire.

I am not a huge enthusiast of the Birmingham Symphony Hall, but the Adrian Boult Hall in the Conservatoire, next to the Copthorne Hotel is very fine in every respect [to listen and to play] except perhaps for the architecture!

ATB from George

The acoustics in the Clyde Auditorium (seats 3000) are the best I've heard anywhere and it's very comfortable with effective air conditioning, big wide seats and loads of leg room. If you want a hot steamy frantic atmosphere it's perhaps not the best, but for me it's unbeatable if you want to see and hear a band sounding its best. Saw Brian Wilson there four times and each concert was marvellous.

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall (2500) has a reputation for excellent acoustics but after two visits I'm not convinced. A bare wooden floor and high heels caused terrible noise during the Blue Nile concert a couple of years ago. It was intrusive too with Brian Wilson last year even though it was much louder. They need to sort out the floor covering.

SECC is a horrible aircraft hangar of a place. Typical large modern venue unfortunately.

My favourite venues tend to be the smaller ones.

My favourite is the Borderline just off Tottenham Court Road. Seen some great gigs there. Kevin Ayers twice!! Terry Reid,Duke & The King,Hatfield & The North & Hammell On Trial & best of all Love!!
Also like 100 Club,The Garage,Union Chapel,Bush Hall,Ronnie Scotts.

On the mid size venues I agree with RFH and QEH both great for sound and comfort. Barbican is also good. Hammersmith is as is Sheperds Bush. Albert Hall can have variable sound in my experience. I remember seeing Morrisey once admittedly I was up in the Gods but the sound was no worse when I went to the toilets than it was in my seat!! I have had better experiences when I have been in the stalls.

I hate Brixton Academy for the aforementioned reasons.

Don't really like any of the larger venues such as Earls Court,O2,Wembley as in my opinion they are better designed for shows rather than gigs.

Must agree with what people have said about Shepherd Bush Empire, nice venue, and I do know others who love Brixton Academy for what it is, so each to their own for that one.

O2 Academy (2,500) in Leeds is not dissimilar to Brixton, and has a good atmosphere and nice toilets it rates OK for me. Indeed going to the toilets was the highlight of one gig I saw there last year, that was a truly dreadful gig though.

The Leeds University venues are OK too.

The Central Hall at York University is one of the best venues acoustically I have been to, Steve Hackett in 1982, but after a Boomtown Rats gig in the mid 80's where fans damaged the cover of the orchestra pit it has been limited to classical performances only.

I do remember speaking to a musician about the venue and they said it had amazing sound, but a negative was that the sound is so exacting that it shows up any mistake by the players at all.

Another venue I love is The Sage in Gateshead, three halls, I saw Peter Hammill in one of the small ones, great sound, civilised arts complex, a Northern 'South Bank Centre'.

The Jazz cafe in Camden is a really nice small venue, I prefer it to Ronnie Scotts as the timings of the shows are more civilized if you have to get to work the next day.

As for festivals, well the sound is not going to be great, and the toilets are certainly going to be bad, but there are still good and bad.

Glastonbury is the best of the big regular festivals I have been to, it is huge, but there is so much to do as well as the music, and the choice of food is fantastic. You can get away from the big stages and go sit up in the stone circle and watch jugglers and sip a beer. A town's worth of shopping, a kids field. There are all ages, and you can usually find somewhere friendly to pass time between the big acts. Sadly the big acts have not tempted me back there for a few years, but I still have great memories of the festival.

I found the Leeds Festival to be the opposite, no food other than burger vans, and very difficult to find any food that is not meat or chips, awful beer (Carling I think) and you are searched to prevent any alcohol being taken in. The only thing to do other than see bands is the amusements, which is not for me. A young aggressive rock fan base, lots of moshing (which I hate), a downright unpleasant atmosphere. Since I usually chill out in the dance tent at festivals Leeds has one big downer, dance for only one day. It might be on my doorstep, but I am just not interested to go back, dreadful.

T in the Park was OK the year I went. The Tribal Gatherings of the 90's were superb, but now long gone.

There is the Hampshire Jam, but at 160 people, hardly counts alongside the proper festivals, still Liphook Village Hall is a great venue.

Good

The 'Westie' (West End Centre, Aldershot). Small intimate arts centre, hosts music of all types (my last gig there was British Sea Power, next one Christine Collister). Julie, the in-house sound lady, does an excellent job. Home to the late, lamented "Westival" which featured indoor turf.

RFH - as mentioned above. Hosted my most memorable gig, the Van Der Graaf Generator re-union on 6th May 2005.

QEH - Smaller than RFH but excellent venue.

Lufbra Students Union - from way back, this was a purpose built SU building with a capacity of about 1400, many happy memories of gigs there (Undertones, Jam, Joy Division, Caravan, Two-Tone tour etc.)

Bad

A venue in Brizzle (branded then as Dingwalls I think), it was a former bowling alley, low ceiling and a pillar right in the middle of the stage! Terrible accoustics but they had some great acts on (Vinny Reilly, Wilko Johnson). It was there that I finally 'got' Blue Monday.

Hi, BBC Proms are eight week continuous concert presented at the Albert hall in South Kensington, London. For more details visit the below link

BBC Proms 2010 BBC Proms 2010

In London I always head for the Wigmore Hall. The feel of the place, and the acoustics, are just right.

The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam has good acoustics, both in the main hall and the chamber music auditorium. It also has the most efficient and friendly staff I've come across, making a night out a real pleasure.

quote:

Originally posted by Altius:
Hi, BBC Proms are eight week continuous concert presented at the Albert hall in South Kensington, London. For more details visit the below link

BBC Proms 2010 BBC Proms 2010

Just to add, The Proms have a special feel, although indoors, in one venue, the atmosphere created is still very like an outdoor festival. It is lovely that people can queue for really very cheap tickets (£3 last time I queued), or that if you wish to pay more then book ahead for the seated areas and boxes.

It brings a real mix of people of different ages and class and gives a feel that is rather special.

I also prefer smaller venues, less than 2000 and even better less than 500 capacity.


Good Venues & Experiences - London

Cadogan Hall - Memorable gig was Rickie Lee Jones

Earls Court - Memorable gig was Pink Floyd (1994) Division Bell, best Sound & Light show ever experienced; David Bowie

Forum, Kentish Town - Memorable gigs were Porcupine Tree; Todd Rundgren; Magazine & the last few songs of a Marillion gig

Indig02, Greenwich - Memorable gig was Porcupine Tree (Blank Planet), including a mass Forum Member gathering

Kings Place, Kings Cross - Memorable gig was The Leisure Society & the final gig by Clayhill

Leicester Square Odeon - Memorable gig was David Gilmour (one song) after the 'Remember That Night' preview. Also attending the after show drinks & nibbles soirée and seeing Richard Wright for the last time

Pizza Express Jazz Club, Dean Street - Memorable gig was Antonio Forcione band

Roundhouse , Camden Town - Memorable gig was Richard Thompson Band (the best acoustic & electric sound mix I have heard)

Royal Albert Hall - Memorable gigs were Pink Floyd; David Gilmour; The Bootleg Beatles (with 40 piece orchestra); Australian Pink Floyd (with amazing GGITS female singer). Also fading from my memory bank around 1970, Canned Heat; & on the same bill Blodwyn Pig + Deep Purple + Led Zeppelin

Royal Festival Hall - Memorable gigs were Brian Wilson; David Gilmour band; Todd Rundgren; Alfred Brendel; Evgeny Kissin

Sadlers Wells - Memorable gig was Pete Townshend performing 'Lighthouse' in amazing Acoustic & Electric sets

Somerset House - Memorable gig was The Blue Nile, who provided the best outside sound & music I have heard. Also as dusk decended, hearing Paul Buchanan's voice was a transcendental experience

Union Chapel - Memorable gigs were Thomas Dolby; Sweet Billy Pilgrim

100 Club, Oxford Street - Memorable gig was the return to perfoming by Judy Dyble


Good Venues & Experiences - Home Counties

Cambridge Corn Exchange - Memorable gigs were Elbow; Eels & meeting JWM + Wife

Cliffs Pavillion, Southend - Memorable gig was The Bootleg Beatles. I played Cricket with the Tour Manager and got backstage photos with the band (for my daughter of course ).

Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells - Memorable gig was Richard Thompson (solo) and a missed opportunity to meet Nick Lees (I was shy & a long way from home!)

The Junction, Cambridge - Memorable gigs were Porcupine Tree (Deadwing & Blank Planet previews); Yo La Tengo

Norwich Cathedral - Memorable gig was Robert Fripp solo (Frippertronics)

The Garage, Norwich - Tim Bowness Band, Steven Wilson Solo & later joining Tim in a sort of no-man reunion



Bad experiences & Facilities...

Hammersmith Appolo - In desparate need of investment to transform it's largest London Toilet status (affirmed at last years PT gig). I did meet some excellent Forum members though at a Steely Dan gig a few years ago, where the sound was ok. The venue also holds the record for my loudest gig which was either OMD or Ultravox!

Koko, Mornington Cresent - Poor sound, probably due to the multi-tier layout. I did see 'The Dears' though and their performance was fabulous

Shepherds Bush Empire - Poor sound and layout, but I did see 'Love with Arthur Lee' before he left us

Wembley Stadium - Worst concert experience EVER was Madonna (why did I go?)

Wembley Arena - Worst gig was Steely Dan, which had the poorest sound mix I have ever experienced


Denis

OK here's my ha'penneth worth on some venues north of the border

Edinburgh:

Queen's Hall: lovely smallish (500?) ex-church venue, with a good acoustic for many different styles, and best of all only 10 mins from my house. Some of the 'side' seating is a bit uncomfortable, best off at the central 'tables' when they are set up that way.

Usher Hall: Edinburgh's 'classical' hall, pretty good acoustics and comfy seats, with plenty legroom. Excellent local box office staff. Jury is still out on latest renovations which had BETTER be finished in time of this years Edin. Fest.

Playhouse Theatre: Big old venue (2500) but just the job for a rock concert. Many happy memories in here, Joe Jackson, The Jam, Dire Straits, etc etc. Best seats in the house are front circle.

Festival Theatre: main opera venue in town. Frankly I don't care for it much. I find it a bit sterile - maybe just me


Perth:

Perth Concert hall: Beautiful, modern concert hall, all glass and wood. A little sterile but a nice experience nonetheless, could appreciate a solo piano recital from well back in the hall with 1000 others, so acoustics must be good-ish.

Glasgow:

Not a big expert on Glasgow Halls (since they closed the old Glasgow Apollo - now there was a great venue !)

Oran Mor: Modest sized basement venue, again in a converted church, but very pleasant airy space and good views and acoustics from all seats. Nice place to spend time.

Ian

This one is slightly problematic for me , as while some venues I visit are dire acoustically, the bands I go to see trancend even the acoustics to give a truly amazing night out.
One I visit regularly (and see some simply stunning acts, both tribute and latterly the real deal) is the 'Robin 2' in Bilston.
Most of the acts that go there remark on what an amazing crowd go there, and most are not allowed off stage till more (sometimes many more) than usual encores. Acousticall very mediocre - but that never seems to bother us one jot.
We also have Birmingham on our dorstep.
The Symphony Hall I find stunning on most occasions, but it can be made to sound dire if the mixing desk decides to do it wrong..
Right next door to it is the NIA. That has gotten better and better since it was built, my guess there is the sound engineers have got used to its truly apalling natural acoustics.
Then there is the NEC (now the LG?) Loads and loads of money spent on making it better - yet I still find it utterly frustrating acoustically. Yet I have had some amaziing nights there - act dependant.
Dire has to be the case for Wolverhampton civic hall - especially if you get stuck under the balcony..
Yet it is one of my favouite places as you get so close to the band, now I just get seats upstairs on the balcony that makes it so bad downstairs.
I agree 100% with the Manchester Arena. I will never go there again as long as I live, no matter who is playing.
As for Earls Court - I agree with Dennis A above. Genesis there were simply awful compared to the same gig outdoors. Utterly soulless, the end of the concert could not come soon enough and everyone left on a low. Then the Division Bell gigs - totally re defined stadium rock and was just amazing in every respect. Everyone left on a high. Why - the venue was the same, PF did have a bunch of stuff hanging from the ceiling - but did it do that much? Probably more to do with the 1/2 acre of mixing desks and electronics.

Poncy pseudy moment...

Great venue: The Odeon of Herodes Atticus (one of the two ancient theatres built into the side of the hill of the Acropolis, Athens).

Saw Carmen there in September 1984. My first ever opera and totally outstanding. Same cast as the then recent DG recording, Von Karajan, Carreras (pre-illness), Baltsa, etc. SUPERB.

Locally, The Junction2 ('the shed') Cambridge. Last saw Empirical there. Fantastic music in an intimate venue with good acoustics. The main Junction is also much better acoustically since its redevelopment/enlargement a few years ago. (But did love seeing Badly Drawn Boy and The Coral there, pre-fame).

Being a Manc I've seen acts at the Bridgewater Hall and Lowry Theatre (both lovely venues, the best), the Apollo (excellent sound, but appallingly expensive beer), and the M.E.N. Arena (Once, never again). I've seen several acts at Manchester Acadamy 1,2, and 3 and they are fine but the sound quality has varied quite considerably.

However, I must mention the new, refurbished Band On The Wall. I liked it before the refurb, even though it was a dump, but the new version is just a wonderful place to go for an evening's entertainment. Small, intimate, great sound, and a lovely bar area too. About half a mile from the dreadful Arena and a whole world of difference.


Here's a picture from way back showing how the place got its name.



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hi,BBC Proms are eight week continuous concert presented at the Albert hall in South Kensington, London.

http://www.altiusdirectory.com/UK/bbc-proms.php