Lack of live music venue

Gillman1998 · 09-03-2022 8:46pm #1

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

dzilla · 10-03-2022 12:42am

Seattle play up in the exchange most weeks.

johnnykilo · 10-03-2022 1:04am

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...

johnnykilo · 10-03-2022 1:34am

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!???).

Wanderer78 · 10-03-2022 10:01am

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

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot · 10-03-2022 12:42pm

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.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot · 10-03-2022 12:43pm

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

niallo76 · 10-03-2022 11:02pm

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

I

niallo76 · 10-03-2022 11:07pm

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..

Wanderer78 · 11-03-2022 2:52pm

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

Ottoman_1000 · 11-03-2022 3:00pm

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!

Mad Peggy · 12-03-2022 4:41am

very good thing, can be very noisy for neighbours

Wanderer78 · 12-03-2022 9:50am

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

JourneyMan8 · 12-03-2022 1:46pm

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.

azimuth17 · 12-03-2022 3:54pm

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?

johnnykilo · 12-03-2022 6:52pm

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.

Wanderer78 · 13-03-2022 10:29am

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

Quigs Snr · 13-03-2022 10:48am

The irony is that in the mid to late nineties my college friends from Dublin used to come to Waterford for the nightlife ! It seems far fetched now, but there you go.

In addition to the forum and even the likes of 10/Preachers in the early noughties (ash played there in 2004), the Bridge hotel was the place to be for live music on a Friday night in the 90s. The early 90s at least. Lots of Irish bands and the occasional international touring band. You had the metro land too if you were into dance music, couple of big acts played there too.

Ghost town nowadays from what I can see.

niallo76 · 14-03-2022 9:35am

https://www.wlrfm.com/lifestyle/waterford-music-week-is-back-239496

This is great to hear on WLR-but they missed on a great opportunity to sponser some gigs around the town with the week that's in it.. Would be a great set up if WLR were to have these bands in a live session/or in a studio set up-where they recorded 4-5 tracks.I dont know anything about it,but surely WLR would have the capability to record and produce such sessions??

Similar to a BBC Radio 6/Dave Fanning/John Peel Session of old...

Dunmoreroader · 14-03-2022 1:09pm

Theatre Royal seems to be booking a few bands. Did I not see Mad Ferret (Oasis cover band) played there recently?

azimuth17 · 14-03-2022 1:24pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118777556#Comment_118777556

I glean from your post that you are part of the demographic I mentioned in my last post. Maybe you are just getting old and remembering the joys of youth? If so join the gang. If you care to lambaste the problem as you see it, what steps do you propose to take to remedy the situation?

niallo76 · 14-03-2022 1:42pm

Plenty of venues,whether or not promoters take the risk in getting touring bands to come here is another kettle of fish-Suppose the risk would be lack of ticket sales-so maybe the quick fix is getting local bands to play these venues and hopefully a vibrant gigging scene of original musicians/bands could be brought back to the city.

Its not too long away that AllTogetherNow starts rolling into Portlaw -wouldn't it be marvelous that over that weekend you had not only great music out in the Law,but also in town---id pay a fiver to see Nick Cave do the vinyl night in Downses..😉./Girl Band in Tullys--fantastic....

PTH2009 · 14-03-2022 9:45pm

Factory (Formally Rubys and others) had some band 'Versatile' there a few weeks ago for 2 nights

The nightclub part of The Reg (downstairs) could easily fit in a few low/mid tier acts. Think Frank And Walters and Hermitage Green played there a few years back

Woodlands Hotel has hosted a few stuff and are hosting Aslan on Easter Weekend

Not sure what the status of 'Project/Electric Avenue, The Market bar has 3 floors now so maybe has occupied a bulk of the area

WIT Arena is really under used

JourneyMan8 · 14-03-2022 10:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118783095#Comment_118783095

exactly my thoughts, forget the touring bands just get a local band in every week and build something up from the bottom. give the punters a different option at the weekend. should be 3 options/genres of music that differ every weekend/student nights too. It's not exactly a massive risk either? even the regulars are begging for something new

niallo76 · 16-03-2022 10:34am

https://stpatricksfestivalwaterford.com/

https://stpatricksfestivalkilkenny.com/programme/

https://www.corkcity.ie/en/cork-st-patricks-festival/

https://www.galwaytourism.ie/event/st-patricks-day-festival/

https://www.visitwexford.ie/st-patricks-day-celebrations-in-county-wexford/

https://stpatricksfestival.ie/

enjoy the day wherever ye end up..

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot · 16-03-2022 11:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118792296#Comment_118792296

Great round up thanks for that. Looking forward to Mad Ferrit on Saturday, I always overlook the Apple Market as a live music venue!

niallo76 · 16-03-2022 12:56pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118792532#Comment_118792532

hopefully the weather will be good-and there will be a bit of a buzz about...

Was hoping the Cultural quarter would have had some more activity..maybe next year!!!

bullpost · 16-03-2022 1:14pm

Whats the story with St. Patricks Gateway? Saw The Delines there a couple of years ago and it was a pretty good venue.

niallo76 · 16-03-2022 1:16pm

Would also be great to see the fantastic Peoples Park used much more(Spraoi,Winterval,Harvest)

a 'Lark in the Park' was set up by Radio 2 Fm back in the 80's,and as far as i remember it was Irish bands playing on the back of a truck..I know I'm banging on about it ,but a bit of money thrown in by WLR/Beat to put on a similar event would be fantastic

e.g new music week,Orchestras,big band,Plays,movies,comedy etc.

PTH2009 · 16-03-2022 4:57pm

Could the place in Portlaw be used for standalone gigs ?

Could easily attract a big name

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot · 16-03-2022 5:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118794344#Comment_118794344

Imagine it could be used sort of like Slane or Malahide Castle? It would probably be tough to get the local residents in Portlaw on your side for a couple of big gigs during the year in addition to ATN. Transport in and out of Curraghmore is a big issue too. Not sure if Slane & Malahide are the same but Curraghmore is a private residence at the end of the day so you're at the whims of earl/lord whatshisname. It would be awesome if they could make it work though.

thesultan · 28-04-2022 9:46pm

Saw Paul Weller and the frames in the south in tramore.

Long gone I think

thesultan · 28-04-2022 9:46pm

Wanderer78 · 29-04-2022 12:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118990679#Comment_118990679

tis long gone unfortunately, enjoyed weller, but never warmed to the venue, seemed to be more so designed for dj's. one of my favorite metal bands was suppose to play there before it shut

Rainbow_brite · 01-05-2022 9:57am

There’s a Manchester night scheduled for set theatre Kilkenny (smiths, stones roses etc) and Kerbdog are playing the Crown, Wexford. Waterford definitely seems to have dropped of the radar! I’d be interested to hear what the set theatre is like and if it’s worth a spin as they seem to have a few nights lined up that would be of interest. If anyone has been you can pm me as it’s not my intention to derail this thread promoting events in surrounding counties 👍

Wanderer78 · 01-05-2022 10:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119000528#Comment_119000528

quickly googles dog gig!

edit: any details on that wexford gig, cant seem to be able to google it?

thesultan · 01-05-2022 11:29am

With the college surely they could be a small venues like dolans Cyrus Avenue?

Saw the lathums in limerick last week..they were fabulous..

Rainbow_brite · 01-05-2022 11:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119000654#Comment_119000654

Here ya go https://www.ticketweb.ie/event/kerbdog-on-the-crown-live-tickets/11783005?fbclid=IwAR1M9hSEBrGReJx5HbpqLnDfF9TiWjWvD8Ow-WWTxxjz22ftwGD0FD7mQKA#

also playing Whelan’s the following weekend but think it may be sold out and clashing with The Frames

Wanderer78 · 01-05-2022 11:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119000917#Comment_119000917

give me the dogs any day!

Rainbow_brite · 01-05-2022 11:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119000943#Comment_119000943

Yep they may see this and play Waterford next 😂

Wanderer78 · 01-05-2022 11:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119000965#Comment_119000965

hahahaha i seriously doubt that

Rainbow_brite · 01-05-2022 12:26pm

you never know 😂 …Wilt played in WIT a number of years ago!

Wanderer78 · 01-05-2022 12:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119001094#Comment_119001094

true, but nowhere near as good as kerbdog

Rainbow_brite · 01-05-2022 12:30pm

totally agree!

PTH2009 · 01-05-2022 12:54pm

Tower Hotel has a decent sized 'ballroom that is/can be used for gigs. Same with The Woodlands but we do need a few actual gig venues

The Factory Nightclub is an option but will they host bands or just stick to the DJ sets

Big gig goer myself and would be nice to have a few gigs here without having to travel hours on a bus

Wanderer78 · 01-05-2022 12:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119001204#Comment_119001204

wont happen unfortunately, we ll just have to keep doing the journeys!

Smell the glove · 02-05-2022 11:11am

All day mod and soul live dj event in electric avenue/market bar happening on the 14th. Tenner in. Get a wristband and come amd go as you please.

friendlyfun · 10-05-2022 8:00am

The loss of the forum was bad for Waterford tbh.

niallo76 · 11-05-2022 1:50pm

As a venue it was fantastic,even though the last few years,it seemed to put all the bands upstairs.Is it the Waterford curse,that the bands wouldn't come here because they weren't pursued by a promotor,or that they wouldn't come because there wasn't the audience???

With no similar venue on the horizon,I guess we will never know if things have improved here.

St Pats seems to be the way forward,was there last Friday for an album launch,and yep,if you could get a bar licence it could be a runner...

niallo76 · 11-05-2022 1:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119004984#Comment_119004984

Great stuff altogether...

Flow Motion · 24-05-2022 2:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119046044#Comment_119046044

Pre Covid I went to a few gigs in St Pat's Gateway. Lovely venue. They sold wine, soft drinks etc. If they could arrange a BYOB licence it might even work. Its pretty central it being near the centre of town. Probably on a par size-wise with Cyprus Avenue but a much nicer setting having once been a church. Great acoustics. Subterranean Sounds also get some really decent names to play upstairs in Grimes. That said Grimes is a bit too small. The Theatre Royal is also a fab spot too [Mercury Rev, Badly Drawn Boy pre covid] - The TR is a mini seated Olympia. Between it and St Pat's I reckon Waterford could attract any passing tours. All it needs is a promoter willing to do do. So we are not doing so bad after all. Thing is people never really supported a bigger venue like 'South' in Tramore together with the bands it brought in simply because it was a minor inconvenience to travel the 7 miles in/out the road! Such is the dichotomy of the Waterford mind. They'd have to plant it right in the middle of town before anyone could be arsed going!

Lack of live music venue

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