Our first ever music month is already at the half way point and it鈥檚 time to introduce our next blog鈥Hidden music venues! Hopefully some of these venues have been off your radar and you鈥檒l be the friend known for introducing everyone to some lesser known venues. As someone who needs music in my day, let鈥檚 journey round a few of these venues鈥
U.K.
Sound Knowledge.
Tucked away in Hughenden Yard, away from the busy high street in the market town of Marlborough, Wiltshire this independent record store is passionate about helping customers track down the rarest of records. Bringing instore signings to life and booking artist performances are just as important to the store and it goes hand in hand with their overall customer experience. The live performances usually happen next door in Thirty8.
Recent performances this year have included Gaz Coombes, The Vaccines and The Wombats.
Having chatted in store to Roger the owner, I could tell right away how important the customer is and his passion for supporting local businesses which creates a true sense of community and helps with their own success. A must visit if you鈥檙e in town especially if there鈥檚 a live set happening.
Address: 109 High St, Marlborough, SN8 1LT, UK.
U.S.A
Wonders of Nature.
This location on 131 Grand Street in Brooklyn has some past musical pedigree, it was once home to Passout Records and a few other business. This understated building is having a musical renaissance as a performance and event venue called Wonders of Nature. The music is largely non-amplified folk and experimental which works perfectly in this intimate space and it鈥檚 a place people can hang out with friends and let the music set the tone of the night.
Recent guests who have stopped by include: Lord Youth, Azalia Snail & Unusual Squirrel and Baby Copperhead
Upcoming shows to watch out for are: War Violets, Way Ahead and Sarah Bernstein.
Address: 131 Grand Street, Brooklyn, New York.
Europe
Jamboree.
Going since the 60鈥檚, this place has legendary jazz status stamped all over the cellar location. Jamboree is actually quite a well known live music venue in Spain and across the South of Europe, so not necessarily the best fit for this list but to the unknowing it鈥檚 hidden in plain sight in the corner of the Royal Square in Barcelona. Open every day with 2 live performances at 8pm and 10pm 365 days a year.
Address: Pla莽a Reial, 17, 08002 Barcelona, Spain.
Asia
Why Not Bar.
I chanced on this place after a tip from a friend of a friend and as with so many things that get spread by word of mouth, it lived up to that reputation as something special. On the Thai island of Koh Lanta, a narrowing path leads down to Bakantiang Beach, a wooden exterior and doorway gives way to an amazing space with laid back seating and more wood which forms the bar.
With live music every night (as well as a customary fire show), it鈥檚 clear to see the people who work here are passionate about music and there鈥檚 a definite 90s grunge vibe. This place felt so homely I returned two nights on the bounce. Following this place since I was here, the bar has recently held it鈥檚 first music festival on the beach called Yup Fest.
Address: 9 M.5 T.Koh Lanta Yai, 81150 Amphoe Ko Lanta, Thailand.
Australia
The Lansdowne.
We鈥檝e got this far down the list without bringing another one of my must haves to the fore鈥reat tasting food! So after reading about the history of this place I had to add it in. American diner eats upstairs and live music downstairs.
Visit their website and the opening paragraphs say it best鈥.
鈥淭he Lansdowne Hotel was opened in 1932, and was quickly filled with ratbags, miscreants, tear-aways, hoods, scum-bags, thieves, bent cops and others of similar persuasion.
Its place in the history of Sydney music was destined to be a wrapped up in 2015 with its closure. However, two idiot friends with a passion for music and taking risks thought the old girl had a few tricks to pull yet. Music, Art, Pizza & Party鈥.
Address: 2 鈥 6 City Rd, Chippendale NSW 2008, Sydney, Australia.
Lansdowne Hotel was re-opened in June 2017.It has no plan to close its doors ever again.
International
Sofar Sounds.
The international movement better known as Sofar Sounds takes an everyday space like a living room or retail shop and for a limited time creates somewhere artists and guests can get closer than your average gig.
Music lovers eager to catch artists before they blow up have seen the likes of Wolf Alice, Leon Bridges and Moses Sumney at various Sofar locations.
This movement is present in just over 400 cities (and growing), the model Sofar has adopted is exactly what makes it eligible for this list. What started as a hobby in 2009 in a London flat with friends is now a global community where people come away from Sofar with new music and new friends.
As a music punter, Sofar have created something that feels unique and addictive, as they say on their site 鈥淵ou鈥檙e invited. Come on in鈥
Address: Various locations
AirBnB Experiences.
A little over twelve months ago the company turned to live music events, hoping for a similar impact on the 鈥渕usic experience鈥 as they did for the rental market.
Experiences vary from live music with food and drink through to private DJ lessons. Loft apartments transform into treehouses and urban farms become a backdrop for a night of music.
AirBnb have integrated these performances into their main site so users get the chance to read about the host, what they鈥檒l do and provide during the event. Like Sofar, AirBnB have captured the attention of music fans eager to see live music in alternative spaces where the beer isn鈥檛 warm and the view of artists is unrivalled.
Address: Various locations
More hidden music鈥
Even the biggest festivals have created their own sense of music mystery. Nowhere does it better than Glastonbury festival, the secret sets phenomena has become much talked about as the festival reaches fever pitch. Not even the fallow season deters festival predictions for the following year.
Past festival goers have been treated to secret performances by Radiohead, Pulp, The Libertines and The Killers. Sure you鈥檒l be with plenty of likeminded people trying to see the spectacle and it鈥檚 this buzz that makes even the most established festivals full of surprises. Whatever festival you鈥檙e at this summer, make sure you鈥檙e part of the 鈥榮ecret set鈥.
Even more hidden music…
Streaming services have done their part too! In recent years users have been given the chance to be part of stripped back music sessions. Paris based music service Deezer has done some cool stuff for fans and when it launched it鈥檚 free service to the UK back in 2013, the company put on silent disco events for around 300 people during it鈥檚 Bandwagon Tour.
Coming full circle with all the emerging music apps that are available, Dice who pioneered tickets to gigs without booking fees have also engaged with fans by running competitions to events like the Apple Music Festival.
The appetite from fans for live music that鈥檚 a bit special and unique continues to grow, whether it鈥檚 sourced on the streets or online, there鈥檚 plenty to be found to satisfy all music tastes. Next time you鈥檙e looking for a venue, just channel that inner cratedigger in pursuit of that next gig.
We鈥檙e all music fans here, why not join the conversation by leaving a comment below with the name, location and who you saw at anywhere you consider to be a hidden venue.
I couldn鈥檛 write this and not include a daily dose of music, check out what I was listening to when I was writing my blog below