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This is where I review all the venues that I have been to. Note that for most of the London venues I obtained capacity and address information from Ticket Web.
| Venue: |
Astoria |
| Size: |
~1600 |
| Location: |
157 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2 0EN: Near Tottenham Court Road tube station. |
| Comments: |
This venue seems about twice the size as Mean Fiddler thanks to a gallery in addition to a good standing area. I find the sound quality is usually pretty good. The wooden blocks just in front of the sound area make an excellent platform to be close to the stage and have a great view. The front of the gallery also provides a great view, although I personally prefer being in the 'mosh pit'. Alas this venue closed in January 2009 to to make way for the Crossrail project. RIP Astoria you will be missed. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web |
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| Venue: |
Astoria 2 |
| Comments: |
This venue was renamed 'Mean Fiddler' at the beginning of 2001. |
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| Venue: |
Brixton Academy |
| Size: |
3312 Standing; 960 Circle (Seated) |
| Location: |
Near Brixton tube station. |
| Comments: |
This is quite a large indoor venue that looks like it used to be an old fashioned theater. However this is no bad thing. The sloping floor makes for excellent stage visibility in most places. The first time I was there I found a terrace bar not far from the front of the stage, and opposite the center. This position made for a fantastic view of the stage close up. The stage was a spectacular one, with all sorts of pillars, arches and carvings going high up into the ceiling. Plus the sound quality was excellent, with a thumping bass that shakes your whole body, and well balanced sound with very little noise to spoil the sound. This is my favourite venue that I have been to so far, and I hope to return soon. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web |
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| Venue: |
Earls Court |
| Size: |
? |
| Location: |
Next to Earls Court tube station. |
| Comments: |
The problem I found with this venue is that when I was there, they put in bollards that prevented all but a select few (who got special tags) from getting anywhere near the stage. This, plus a flat floor and the stage not being particularly high meant that a good view of the stage was all but impossible. Secondly, the sound quality was really poor the night I was there. So these points combine to lead me to brand Earl's Court as a crap and overpriced venue for what it is. Maybe I just went there on a bad night perhaps, but 'nuff said. |
| Info Link: |
Earls Court & Olympia Web Site |
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| Venue: |
Electric Ballroom |
| Size: |
~600 |
| Location: |
184 Camden high Street, Camden Town,London NW1 8QP; near Camden Town tube station. |
| Comments: |
This venue felt remarkably similar to Garage, except a bit wider and shorter, and feels a bit bigger. As with Garage, there are big bars conveniently placed off to the right and the back. There is also a small gallery. I felt the stage was a bit too small here, with all the bands, especially the support acts, rather cramped and limited for movement. However, the atmosphere and sound quality is good. When I was there for Stratovarius I found a staircase off to the left but very close to the stage. Despite being a bit too close to the speakers for comfort this allowed a great unobstructed closeup view of the stage. So good venue, and worthy of a future return. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web and Electric Ballroom Web Site |
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| Venue: |
Forum |
| Size: |
~1500? |
| Location: |
9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, London NW5 1JY; near Kentish Town tube station. |
| Comments: |
This venue feels similar in size to Astoria. It has a sizeable standing area and a balcony above with seats. Sound quality is very good, as is the view of the stage. When I was there I found a step by the sound area that allowed me to get an unobstructed close view of the stage. The only bad bit was queueing in a rather seedy alley. But never as bad as Mean Fiddler though. Nice venue. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web and The Forum Web Site |
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| Venue: |
Garage |
| Size: |
650 |
| Location: |
20-22 Highbury Corner, London, N5 1RD: Near Highbury and Islington tube station. |
| Comments: |
This venue has an interesting layout. At the front of a long oblong shaped room is a fairly small stage. In the middle on the right is the sound area, and on the left is the entrance and a bar style seating area. To the back is a bar, and merchandise area, so you can be buying beers and merchandise while you watch the bands play. Sound is reasonable. Nothing spectacular, but a fairly nice venue overall. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web |
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| Venue: |
KOKO (Formerly Known as Camden Palace) |
| Size: |
1410 |
| Location: |
Near Mornington Crescent tube station. |
| Comments: |
A very pretty, ornate venue. Very easy to find. It is an old theater with the seats taken out. So sound quality is great, and the stage is quite big for a small venue. Quite comparable to Astoria, but with a much better interior, as well as in a nicer (IMO) area. |
| Info Link: |
KOKO Web Site. |
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| Venue: |
London Apollo |
| Size: |
Ticket Web reckons: 769 Seats (3719 total capacity) but I am not convinced by the seating capacity. |
| Location: |
Queen Caroline St, Hammersmith, London, W6 9QH: Near Hammersmith tube station. (Hammersmith & City line entrance is closer.) |
| Comments: |
For a gig point of view this venue was rather unsuitable. The main reason for this is that is is (at least when I went there) an all seater theater venue, complete with those little binoculars in holders near the back seats. This is fine for theater shows, but not suited to metal gigs. However, being a theater the sound quality is excellent. If they could rip out the seats (which are old and uncomfortable), this venue could be transformed into an excellent one that could rival Brixton Academy. But as an all seater it gets my thumbs down big time.
UPDATE: I hear there is now a standing area since I last went to this venue. If true, then that makes this an excellent venue after all!
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| Info Link: |
Ticket Web |
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| Venue: |
Mean Fiddler |
| Size: |
~1000 |
| Location: |
165 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0EN: Near Tottenham Court Road tube station. |
| Comments: |
This was the venue for my first ever gig. But I have been back many times since. It is a pretty good venue, with all areas being quite close to the stage. Sound quality is pretty good. Although visibility can be limited at times if a load of tall buggers get in front of you. The main downside is queuing up in a dark smelly alley to get in. Alas this venue closed in January 2009 to to make way for the Crossrail project. RIP Mean Fiddler you will be missed. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web |
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| Venue: |
Milton Keynes Bowl |
| Size: |
~65000 |
| Location: |
Near Milton Keynes. |
| Comments: |
This is the biggest venue I have ever been to as of the end of 2002. The size of the place is impressive. I was there on a hot summer's day (and evening), and the atmosphere was amazing. But being an open air venue, I wouldn't want to be there in really poor weather. But if the weather holds out, then it makes for a really cool place. The sound quality for an outdoor venue I remember as being pretty good. The main problem can be getting a good view of the stage, because the size of the place means you can easily be miles away, and the people on stage look tiny. |
| Info Link: |
Milton Keynes Web Site |
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| Venue: |
O2 Academy Islington |
| Size: |
800 |
| Location: |
O2 Academy Islington, N1 Centre, 16 Parkfield Street, London N1 0PS. Near Angel tube station. |
| Comments: |
The stage was quite big for the venue size. Plus being a small venue, all positions are close to the stage. When I was there I got a pretty good view when not stuck behind tall people. There were no particular vantage points when I was there atleast in the mosh pit. The sound was quite good overall. So that makes it a good venue. Comparatively similar to Mean Fiddler. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web and Venue Web Site |
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| Venue: |
Scala |
| Size: |
700 |
| Location: |
Scala, 275 PentonVille Road, Kings Cross, London, N1 9NL. Near Kings Cross tube station. |
| Comments: |
The stage was quite big for the venue size. Plus being a small venue, all positions are close to the stage. When I was there I got a pretty good view. The sound was good. So that makes it a good venue. Comparatively similar to Mean Fiddler. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web |
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| Venue: |
Underworld |
| Size: |
~500? |
| Location: |
174 Camden Hight Street, London, N1 0NE. Opposite Camden Town tube station. |
| Comments: |
This is probably one of the smallest venues I have been to. But it does make for quite a nice and cosy venue, with good sound, and always close to the stage. The main downside to this venue are the poles in the middle of the standing area, which means there are areas where you cannot see the stage properly. Otherwise, great place. |
| Info Link: |
Ticket Web |
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| Venue: |
Wembley Arena |
| Size: |
TODO |
| Location: |
Near Wembley Stadium |
| Comments: |
I went there once before a while back for Robot Wars and didn't like it then. However since the refurbishment it is definitely a lot nicer. Horrendously expensive, but the new entrance area, huge T-shirt stand and food courts all alongside the doors to the arena itself are all rather pleasant. The arena itself has pretty decent sound quality. I have been there standing in front of the stage, but for future reference, seating blocks S6/N6 to S8/N8 look like the best seats for views of the stage (S on the left, N on the right). Best go there by public transport though as they deliberately made it a nightmare to drive there! |
| Info Link: |
Live Nation |
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