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