To celebrate Independent Venue Week 2023, the Ally Pally team have selected some of their favourite independent venues. But to kick things off, our Events Director, Simon Fell, reflects on the importance of these essential spaces…
I do like this time of year, when the spotlight is brightly shone on so many amazing venues. This country has the most vibrant and amazing music scene, not bad for a small little island, and so much of it is rooted firmly in our wonderful independent venues.
They are places where like-minded people can all gravitate to and make lifelong friends. They give a chance to get up close and personal with artists, so close you can touch their shoes, smell them or even get hit by the lead guitarist’s sweat. And there’s that badge of honour we have all had by saying we saw so-and-so at that small venue we love.
Independence is something that sets us apart and makes us different to everyone else. That’s why I love Ally Pally. We may be big, but our independence makes us unique. I’ve not found a venue yet which offers a similar experience to the one you get here.
Independent venues provide so much within their four walls, so many huge moments and memories. They are also the lifeblood for so much more. The bands that soundtrack our lives have all developed their trade in the small venues in our towns and cities. It is not just about the bands, these venues are where event managers have made their first steps into safely running concerts and festivals, where that band manager met their first band, where someone decided to promote a small show of their own with their best mate who took care of all the design and marketing for the band. Without this, I doubt our music would ever have had such an impact. Independent venues also reflect the cultural melting pot of our country, something every corner of society can be proud of. What allows that to happen isn’t just a nice thing to have, it’s an essential and we have to support it to ensure it continues.
The Leadmill, Sheffield
The Leadmill was the first proper venue I went to and set me on the path of loving independent venues for life. Growing up in a small town we had a local band scene but it was going to The Leadmill as a teenager that blew my mind. It opened my eyes firstly to live music and then later clubbing as a uni student back home from London. The atmosphere was always ace, from good natured arguing with the bouncers that it was fine to wear trainers to a club night, to discussing favourite bands with the people behind the bar it’s the friendliest venue as well as a Sheffield institution. Lou Glover, Theatre Manager
Underworld, Camden
It is a venue dedicated to alternative music. It’s very rare and very unique, especially if you are into that sort of music. Probably the standout would be seeing a Deathcore band called Whitechapel, absolute class. You see a whole mix of people at venues like this – goths, metal heads, people who come in their work clothes straight from the office, young, old, a whole mix. I would say that the most passionate people in the industry work in independent venues. It’s challenging, with less finances and resources, so everyone there has to work hard to help the venue to exist. The passion for the music comes through and that makes the whole atmosphere in the venue much more authentic. Jack Brooks, Head of Visitor Services and Access
Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
It’s where I played my first gigs. We’d wait for touring bands to come through town and then bombard Paul the promoter to put us on the bill and he (mostly) did.
The venue isn’t in the centre of Milton Keynes but in the neighbouring suburb of Wolverton (a tiny little town). So, even more amazing that you would get bands from LA and New York on their first UK tours playing there. We managed to support LA math-rock group Tera Melos and New York’s Skaters. Both became two of my favourite bands and I can only listen to their music with a select group of friends when we are recounting old times. Being 16 and getting to be around these characters meant that the next ten years was mapped out, I would try to be just like them. We’re probably even more similar in that we’ve all done some touring and ran out of money and got full-time jobs in venues.
The big point is that, without this hub and beacon we would never have met these people, would never have had those first experiences performing and would never have been able to dream that it could be possible to travel around and play music. Of course, it’s not just for people who want to play music, but everyone who wants to experience something new, have something to think about at work the next day and get inspired. Charlie Glover-Wright, Visitor Services Assistant
100 Club, Oxford Street, London
Back in 2014 I used to date a man who was really into live music; one time we went to the 100 Club on Oxford Street to see The Courteeners – not my usual cup of tea by any stretch, but to see such a band with such a cult following, close-up, all sweaty and loud, in such an incredible venue with such a rich and varied history, was quite the experience. And it can’t have been that bad – I married that same man in 2017. Louise Johnson, Strategic Programme Manager
Thekla, Bristol
Being a Southwest boy, it would be a shame not to mention Thekla, in Bristol. Thekla is a converted cargo ship built in Germany, 1958 and has kept many of its original characteristics, much like our very own Ally Pally. I’ve enjoyed glorious views from the top deck, but it’s even better when you descend into the belly of the ship where I’ve seen many bands play, the best being American indie band called ‘WHY?’. My favourite detail is that all the staff are still referred to as the “crew”. Scott Edwards, Designer
Barrowland Ballroom (the Barras), Glasgow
The Barras is up there with my three favourite venues in the UK along with King Tut’s and Ally Pally. I first visited the Barras when I was in high school perhaps 15 or 16 years old from then till about the age of 30 I probably went to the Barras once a month and even now when I go back to Scotland to visit I will always check and see if there is a gig on to go to.
I am the third generation of my family to go, my grandad having been there in the 60’s when it was an actual ballroom and had dancing on several nights a week. Notable nights for me are watching The Wolfe Tones, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Libertines.
It’s next to the Barras market (the owner of the market actually built the Ballroom), a traditional street market where you can seem to buy anything for 40 quid: latest designer bags 40 quid, new(ish) i-Pod 40 quid, 80’s porno DVD collection 40 quid, new bedframe and mattress 40 quid. The place was a hive of activity, full of characters and of course numerous football fans with Celtic FC stadium 10 minutes walk down the road.
It has a sprung dance floor – as the name suggests the floor bounces as the venue boasts the original sprung dance floor, like New Century Hall in Manchester or Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen – it makes it look like the floor stacked PA is swinging with the crowd.
It’s important to remember that without independent the music sector absolutely no major venues, labels, promoters, publishers or agents would exist. Nearly every company and every person started somewhere independent. Patrick Genoe, Event Manager
Find out about the live music coming up in Ally Pally’s Great Hall, Theatre and Park in 2023 here
