Review of Manchester UK Music Venues

This article was inspired by my recent review of Fleet Foxes: I was initially tempted to write about my negative opinions of the venue, but the music made me feel more like hugging someone than having a rant, so I decided not include my comments in that review.
Here's a quick run down of some venues I've visited. I'm pleasantly surprised by the musical riches on offer in Manchester: I've the luxury of living in an idyllic rural area and yet having world class indie music an hour's drive away. Apologies to Sound Control and MEN arena: I haven't yet visited you yet.

Academy

This is probably my favourite venue in Manchester (actually 4 venues) for the wide variety and quantity of music on offer, reasonable ticket prices and friendly attitude of the staff. Academy 1 pictured has a 2300 capacity and an excellent sound system, having been refurbished in 2008. Academies 2 and 3 and the Club Academy are in the students union building. A significant practical benefit is cheap parking next door, and Kro bar cross the road for pub food. The music on offer makes this a life-enhancing place.


O2 Apollo

My least favourite venue, but thanks to its 3500 capacity this art deco former cinema is able to attract acts such as Adele and Bon Iver. The sound is fine, as are the facilities: the issue is one of management, and so could be easily addressed. I received two unsolicited comments following my Fleet Foxes review, both condemning the staff's attitude, and one person vowing never to visit again. Examples of the behaviour which has gained them a woeful reputation which I've been subjected to includes seizing sealed bottles of water at the entrance (contrary to their own policy), expensive drinks, over zealous security, and an intolerance of photography. Appreciating music is all about being in the right state of mind and rude, heavy handed staff don't aid this. At least parking is available on site, but there's little food available in close walking distance, and it's in a less than salubrious location.

Band on the Wall

This building in the Northern Quarter, opened in 1862, was originally a pub, and more recently a jazz club. A charity was awarded £4m of Arts Council and Lottery funding in 2007 to refurbish it. This has been done most sensitively and it’s one of the finest small music venues I know, retaining an intimate feel. A large (but costly) multi-storey car park is nearby (Printworks), and the city centre is a few minutes’ walk away. It’s a very stylish venue, with decent sound, and unsurprisingly has just won a NME award for best small music venue in the North West. I just wished they'd book more indie bands, as well as jazz.

Bridgewater Hall

This is a state of the art £42 million concert hall, opened in 1996, which seats 2300 and is largely used for classical concerts by the Halle. The facilities are excellent, but the sheer size means that even sat in the stalls, there’s little hope of intimacy. I’ve been critical of the acoustics for classical music but this is less of an issue for rock concerts. Parking nearby is expensive, but it’s in walking distance of the city centre with a great choice of eating and drinking. I find it has a soulless, municipal feel, and whilst I’ve found the staff there reasonable, there’s a long list of activities which are not permitted in the auditorium, crucially including photography, and it somehow doesn’t strike me as a place where having fun feels appropriate.

Day and Night Cafe

This small venue just north of the city centre was apparently a fish and chip shop in the early 1990's, but is now a bar, with a small stage at its far end. It's charmingly intimate, and has an imaginative booking policy, somehow managing to book US artists such as the Civil Wars. It's such a privilege to see musicians of this calibre in such a small space, with (limited) seating. The recent Papercuts gig suffered from muddy sound, with bass volume coming at the expense of quality, but this may have been a sound engineer's issue. Recommended, although like other city centre venues, you're at the mercy of NCP for parking.

Deaf Institute

This venue oozes character: the music hall on the top floor (capacity 260) is decorated in quirky vintage style, with features such as a terrace, domed ceiling, wall of old loudspeakers and a large mirror ball. There's a great cafe restaurant, and a basement bar. The best feature though is that they seem to be able to book some great acts such as Awolnation and Other Lives. It's about 10 minutes' walk from the Academy's cut price parking, and is one of the venues for the annual Dot to Dot Festival.

Roadhouse

The Roadhouse, near Piccadilly Gardens, defines the word gritty, and you don’t use the washroom facilities here unnecessarily. It looks practically derelict from the outside, and you descend down a dimly let staircase to the cramped, dingy basement. However, it’s hosted bands such as Razorlight and TV on the Radio, and was the venue for possibly my most memorable live experience yet: Portugal. The Man. The staff are friendly and there’s a great sense of character especially when you can get right amongst the action at the front of the stage. A place for true music lovers, with seismic bass energy from the high quality sound system.