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Lack of live music venue

Gillman1998

I’ve just been looking at what’s going on in other places and it strikes me how badly Waterford is served for live music. I’m talking about places which can figure on tours of reasonably sized artists - places like Dolan’s in Limerick, Roisin Dubh in Galway and Cyprus Avenue in Cork. Has there ever been a venue which would have fit this? Waterford truly would be heaven if we could share in some of these tours.

Acts appearing over the next few months in these places - The Staves, John Cooper Clarke, Stiff Little Fingers, the Lathums, Frank Turner, Public Service Broadcasting, Richard Hawley, Post Modern Jukebox to name a few

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Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118774566#Comment_118774566

i suspect with issues with the forum were more than just its drug issues, id Kieran is up to his eyeballs in debt after trying everything with the place, its just hard trying to get live venues off the ground here, hard to keep people coming through the doors

johnnykilo

There's no reason why Waterford can't have somewhere again, we've has places in the past as per my previous posts. Kilkenny town which has a lot less population has the Set Theatre. Wexford town has the opera house and the Spiegeltent at certain times during the year.

I think the Forum would still probably be going if the cops hadn't begun giving the owners hassle over drug taking at the dance nights there.

We still have the Theatre Royal, Garter Lane, All Together Now, Electric Avenue is back open again (called something else and no gigs as of yet), also wasn't there talk a few years ago of gigs out in WIT Arena in Carraiganore? It is a bit disappointing that there isn't somewhere bigger/better at the moment, but I wouldn't rule out somewhere opening again in the future.

azimuth17

Live music takes many forms. Check out this https://www.theatreroyal.ie/ or maybe this https://www.theatreroyal.ie/ or even thishttps://waterford-music.org/. The difficulties are well known and city just recovering from recession when pandemic struck, recovering again strongly in past few months only to have Ukraine invaded. I have had various groups down from Dublin and shown them around and then strategically placed them and all went home satisfied. Problems exist. a fairly big spread out place that has had major economic problems with a demographic who want to accentuate the negative, but you have to watch that you don't be apologetic before you even bring people out. Christy Moore followed by beers in Reg, a short visit to Jordan's, through Cathedral Square back to Geoffs and then left people off. Seems to work?

JourneyMan8

hadn't been out in a long time before this week, but brought a group of international students out, and they couldn't believe the lack of options in terms of nightlife here. first and last time they'll be going out in Waterford they said, I'm sure that's a popular opinion after coming to Waterford.

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118771779#Comment_118771779

venues do need to be suitable for all though, licenses shouldnt be given in residential areas

Mad Peggy

very good thing, can be very noisy for neighbours

Ottoman_1000

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118762002#Comment_118762002

I lived and worked down in Waterford for a few years and this used to stand out to me to. I couldn't get over how quite some Friday and Saturday nights would be, and the lack of choice/variety for such a decent sized place. I was living in Cork between college and then work the few years prior and the difference was stark. My home rural town which is about a 10th of the size of Waterford seemed to have way more going on at the weekends!

Wanderer78

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118765590#Comment_118765590

that sounds like a really interesting idea, but i cant see anyone taking the chance in setting one up, id imagine theres a few folks around with a lot of debt, after trying

niallo76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118761143#Comment_118761143

It seems that way,it's bizarre behaviour,you'd be better having a late night coffee shop/diner that had djs/bands..

niallo76

Do ye think that a big premises down o connell street like the Roxy/Forum would work these days???

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Should also add that Wednesday night was over summer so not a student night.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Not sure what it is about Waterford but the nightlife in general, including live music, seems to be dying a death the last few years even before Covid. The only places that seems to be regularly busy across Friday/Saturday/Sunday are Geoff's and the Uluru, everywhere else tends to get the Saturday business, and a bit of Friday but dead the rest of the time. The last time I was out in the town midweek was a Wednesday night before covid and all the places in the Applemarket were completely empty.

Wanderer78

...just not viable in waterford, its been tried, but theres just not enough support in waterford for someone to take the chance.....

johnnykilo

Actually there's a whole host of places I've seen bands in Waterford over the years now I think of it.

I've seen Mercury Rev and The Penguin Cafe Orchestra in the Theatre Royal (which is obviously still there) over the last few year. Bell X1 played there last weekend.

I think Mercury Rev, Fionn Regan, The Wedding Present, etc... played Electric Avenue (where the Market Bar is now).

Phil Grimes, although tiny has had a lot of famous people play over the years; basically any Irish singer/songwriter back in the day: Glen Hansard & Damien Rice, Jason Lytle (Grandaddy) in recent years.

Damien Rice, Duke Special, The Frames have all played Garter Lane in the past.

I can't remember what the venue was actually called, to me it'll always be Preachers, but there was another club up by Geoffs where Ash and Ian Brown played in the last 10 years too. I think that place is gone now, or absorbed into Shortts (if Shortts is still going!???).

johnnykilo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058236650/lack-of-live-music-venue

The Forum used to get it's fair share of touring bands back in the day. After that closed as a venue to become a bingo hall in the early 2010's Waterford fell off the circuit. It's a shame. Some international names to play the Forum over the years that immediately spring to mind: Johnny Cash, Scissor Sisters, Nightmares on Wax, Friendly Fires, Train, Calvin Harris, The Waterboys, Van Morrison, etc...

dzilla

Seattle play up in the exchange most weeks.