Decent gig venues

Top ten venues in no particular order.

Ronnie Scotts London
Despite or because of Ronnie’s gags and the very clear instruction to keep quiet during the performances, Ronnie Scotts is/was the very best place to see Jazz played. Intimate and cool at the same time. And when all is played and done you can stumble over the road into the magnificent ‘Bar Italia’.
Best moment – Roy Ayers

Winter Gardens Eastbourne
I went back a couple of years ago to see one of the last ‘Ordinary Boys’ gigs and it seemed smaller than it was when I saw The Jam play there in 1977! That being said, it is still a classic venue with plenty of room to pogo (oh yes!)
Best moment – Weller and Foxton leaping into outer space during ‘Batman’

Town & Country Club London (as was)
Deep in the heart of sunny Kentish Town. The Town & Country was/is a great mid sized venue. Seen plenty of cracking bands and the sound was always good.
Best moment – During an early Weller solo set, he launched into ‘Town Called Malice’ for the first time in years and the whole place erupted, even John Weller punched the air in delight by the mixing desk.

Top Rank Brighton
Hot sweaty and sticky, the perfect place for two-tone tours and other assorted madness
Best moment – Being knocked backwards by the force of the Dexy’s horn section.

The Leadmill Sheffield
Another ideal gig venue with excellent DJ’s and a chips and gravy stand outside.
Best moment – Trouble Funk dropping the bomb on the South-East Krew

The Central Library Eastbourne
Home to Hip Troop, hippies, hipsters and poets.
Best moment – Pete Hands/Stormcrow playing the first chord of the night on his Wurlitzer and the clock falling from the wall and smashing to pieces.

The Basement Brighton
Dank and dingy, long coats definitely essential.
Best moment – ACR bringing the funk

Brixton Academy London
Whether packed to the brim for The Pogues and Nick Cave or sparsely populated for the Paul Weller Movement. A great venue with good acoustics and vantage points.
Best moment – Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds testifying!

Hammersmith Palais London
Apart from lending its name to one of the best songs ever written. Just about the perfect venue, if only it wasn’t in bloody Hammersmith. A million times better than the Apollo.
Best moment – ‘If Adolf Hitler flew in today, they’d send a limousine anyway’ oh er sorry. The Jam on my birthday playing ‘Precious’ for the first time.

Queens Wood Muswell Hill London
From a musicians point of view. Being able to sit on a fallen tree and strum away to my heart’s content deep in the heart of the woods, with central London less than 5 miles away. Nothing better!
Best moment – Playing ‘The Last Wave’ to two kids, two dogs and a couple of joggers. It’s a HIT!