| It's a mystery why certain venues become more | | | | the successful layout the building affords. |
| synonymous with great gigs than others. Much | | | | It's a simple philosophy; create a classic |
| of the time it depends on what one may be | | | | look but with modern facilities, and slope |
| looking to get for the price of their ticket; | | | | the crowd as far as they can go towards the |
| great acoustics, fun lighting, an exciting | | | | stage. |
| atmosphere - but one thing for certain is | | | | |
| some venues contribute more to a making a | | | | In third place is a pub backroom that tops |
| live performance special than others. | | | | all small venues, purely because of its |
| | | | history and openness to introduce new acts to |
| Here, five top UK venues are put under the | | | | the music scene: The Dublin Castle ( |
| microscope in an attempts to explain why this | | | | |
| phenomenon might happen, so the next time you | | | | Found in Camden Town's Parkway, this pub is |
| buy your concert tickets, you might consider | | | | perhaps most famous for being the home of |
| improving on the experience by attending it | | | | Madness, but it has also been the heart of a |
| at one of these top locations. | | | | Camden musical enterprise that has seen the |
| | | | likes of Oasis and Blur stake a claim. |
| Top of most people's list, certainly if you | | | | |
| ask the acts that have ever played it, is the | | | | The Dublin Castle stage is small, but its |
| Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow ( | | | | impact on the British music scene proves it |
| | | | has punched over its weight for many years. |
| Recently voted the second best small venue in | | | | Catch a gig there if you can some night - a |
| Europe (it has a capacity of 1900); it is | | | | single ticket will get you at least three |
| located at the bottom end of the Gallowgate, | | | | bands for under a tenner, and the beer is |
| resplendent with a large rainbow | | | | half bad either. |
| façade. It has seen almost every band | | | | |
| in recent history gracing its famous stage, | | | | From the smallest to the largest now, and the |
| from the Arctic Monkeys to All About Eve, and | | | | title of best arena venue in the UK goes to |
| The Who to Robbie Williams. All of them have | | | | the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle ( Highly |
| come away from gigs at 'The Barras' raving | | | | adaptable and with superb facilities, this |
| about the atmosphere it generates. | | | | arena is a must-play venue to the hottest |
| | | | live music acts on the go, as well as |
| But what is it that makes this | | | | sporting occasions and stand-up comedy acts. |
| wooden-floored, sweaty 60's throwback so | | | | |
| appealing? | | | | It always guarantees an energetic and |
| | | | enthusiastic crowd of up to 10,000 people, |
| The answer is simplicity; the stage is the | | | | with superb views and sound quality, whether |
| perfect height and distance from the crowd | | | | standing, seated, in the expensive boxes, or |
| (in your face all the time), and the sound is | | | | the rear balcony. It's as good a venue on |
| condensed within the four walls creating a | | | | this scale for performing acts as it is for |
| totally awesome live music experience that | | | | the paying public. |
| sweeps everyone into a frenzy. | | | | |
| | | | Last but not least on the list of top five |
| Glasgow audiences are amongst the toughest to | | | | best UK concert venues goes to a much |
| please but the most rewarding when you do, | | | | forgotten centre of musical and artistic |
| and when this happens in The Barrowland the | | | | excellence - another Camden classic - The |
| result is electric. | | | | Roundhouse ( |
| | | | |
| At number two there is no doubt the Brixton | | | | Built in 1846, this legendary and recently |
| Academy ( is as good a venue for a gig as you | | | | refurbished Grade II listed building is as |
| will get anywhere in the world. A favourite | | | | steeped in British music history as you can |
| for Ian Dury and more recently, Madonna, this | | | | get. Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley |
| jewel in London's crown creates an explosive | | | | have all graced its famous stage, and it's a |
| and urban atmosphere, so that people continue | | | | pleasure to see it revitalize its fortunes as |
| to snap tickets up for gigs there faster than | | | | a going concern. Since a period of |
| Linford Christie does 100m. | | | | degeneration and regeneration, it now plays |
| | | | host to some of the best top and wide-ranging |
| The venue, run by Carling, has spread into | | | | acts the music and theatre scenes have to |
| other cities too, with replicas of the | | | | offer. |
| interior being constructed to capitalise on | | | | |