whats your fav small venues

danemac

what are the good small venues around the country like.

i think the spiritstore in dundalk is pretty class. its got it all, fine music, good drink and good crack. theres this band called 'the harbour band' that play on a sunday, its called the sunday blues session, they may be a bit old, but they know blues like a duck to water.


Place your fav venue and reasons why.

therecklessone

Best of a bad lot in Dublin is Whelan's, even though it has an appaling lay-out.

Used to like the Village, but that sound desk is way out of place, forces everyone in front of and as a result it gets very packed. Claustrophobia kicks in...

The TBMC is a hole. End of.

The Ambassador seems ok for the type of gig they usually put on, but I have heard people say they hate it. Horses for sourses I suppose...

Last time I was in Vicar Street it was great, but that was about 3 years ago. Its changed since, hasn't it? Haven't been since then.

The Hub suffers from awful acoustics, and whats with all the seats beyond the stage? Encourages lazy sh*tes to sit down, and thats never good.

So Whelan's it is then. Great sound when its done by a competent engineer, nice ffel to the area in front of the stage. Just get that bar sorted out!

Jim

Whelan's is by far my favourite, apart from the area its in. Then the Ambassador. TBMC is ok. Olympia is also lovely. Eamon Dorans is good to. So is the Hub, butits ridicously over priced.

I dislike large venues.

NightStrike

Originally posted by danemac
what are the good small venues around the country like.

i think the spiritstore in dundalk is pretty class. its got it all, fine music, good drink and good crack. theres this band called 'the harbour band' that play on a sunday, its called the sunday blues session, they may be a bit old, but they know blues like a duck to water.


Place your fav venue and reasons why.

Have to agree on the Spirit Store, brilliant cosy venue!

drane2

The Sugar Club is really nice.

L5

Spirit Store is a v. nice place. Havent been in a while.

Sauron

Whelans is great. Olympia too imo......

markomac316

The Ulster hall is good, also like the empire, both in Belfast.

danemac

Originally posted by markomac316
The Ulster hall is good, also like the empire, both in Belfast.

Seen the Strokes in The Ulster hall (support by Future kings of spain)
have to agree, i liked it that nite

elvis2002

I seen mark knopfler and paul brady in vicar street, i think the sound in that place is just unbelievable. Best place i've been too but i haven't been to many tho. :-{

Ro: maaan!

Originally posted by elvis2002
mark knopfler

When?

Kali

Originally posted by therecklessone
The Hub suffers from awful acoustics, and whats with all the seats beyond the stage? Encourages lazy sh*tes to sit down, and thats never good.

Explosions In The Sky in the Hub back in february was one of the best sounding performances in a small venue I've ever heard (the support sounded terrible though).. it's all down to the sound engineer and proper setup... the acoustics are far from terrible (the Village is noticeably worse anywhere behind the mixing desk).

So Whelan's it is then. Great sound when its done by a competent engineer, nice ffel to the area in front of the stage. Just get that bar sorted out!

Whelans and the Village share their own sound engineer... neither venue has great sound imo..

Anyway my favourite venue would be the Sugar Club without a doubt... for certain types of music where you can just sit back and enjoy its perfect.. for anything else Vicar St. would be my second preference (seen a lot of acts there and the sound is always topnotch.. pity gigs tend to finish early).

daram

I agree. Sugarclub is the best chillout venue in Dublin. Great if you actually want to listen. And vicar street is perfect too. I prefered it when it was smaller out front. But its still super sweet.

WetDaddy

I know it's a pub, but I was in Mother Redcap's on Sunday and I really like the layout. Having the stage in the corner seems to work really well, and the engineer did a really good job.

I think that the sound in a venue is nearly 100% the engineer's responsiblity. Acoustics rarely come into it, although I did see a gig in that place down beside the Olympia stage entrance (I can't remember what it's called... Fairly swanky place, looked like most of the regulars probably stand to inherit yachts...) and the acoustics in the room were ABYSMAL.

It sounded like a bathroom that's half-way through being built and had some of the fixtures in.

How's THAT for a detailed description...

daram

Mother Redcaps is sweet (although some of the clientelle scare me). Wouldn't excactly call it a venue however.

WetDaddy

I know, it was a bit of an off-topic post, but I still think that the layout is great.

Maybe some of the smaller venues could stand to do something like that. Although, I suppose if you're designing a venue, you want all the focus to be on act, so the stage would be centered in the room...

Wasn't "talking" to any of the clientele, but downstairs looked a bit dodgy alright. Sort of bordering on a Nationalistic crowd... (Geddit? "Bordering"? Hilarious...)

But hey, I was only there once, so I pass no judgement!

robbie1876

The Village has the best sound around town at the moment, I've been there a few times recently. Dunno what they've done differently, but the sound is so much better now than it used to be. I hope it stays that way, cos we are launching our single there on May 13th!!

WetDaddy

Good call, I noticed the same thing: Sound seems to have gotten a lot better in there as of late.

Have heard some New Colour Soul Stuff and I'm liking (actually a friend of mine tried out as a bassist for you a few weeks back, that's how I heard of you)...

Would like to come to the single launch, but alas I shall be in the middle of finals

But, once I get my degree in Computer Science I can set about forgetting EVERYTHING I've learned and concentrating on music!


-Seán

Quatre Mains

Cleer's (not sure if spelling is right) pub in Kilkenny has a room out the back, saw Hammell on Trial and Jason Ringenberg do solo shows the same day there a few years back during the rythym and roots festival, brilliant atmosphere, great crowd, nice drink and muck cheap. Even the staff were sound (helped get us tickets for HoT which was sold out).

John R

Originally posted by robbie1876
The Village has the best sound around town at the moment, I've been there a few times recently. Dunno what they've done differently, but the sound is so much better now than it used to be. I hope it stays that way, cos we are launching our single there on May 13th!!

I reckon what others have said is spot on, it is all down to the desk operator. The only time I have been at the village the sound was absolutely awful.

rodney.redneck

cypress ave. in cork