Love music and comedy? Leicester has a brilliant live scene to celebrate. So here’s a list of nine venues for great gigs.
De Montfort Hall
A full house at De Mont
The grande dame of venues in Leicester that has hosted some of the world’s most famous acts since it opened in 1913. It’s Leicester’s biggest entertainment venue with a capacity of 2,200. There is also an outdoor amphitheatre with a 7,000 capacity which has held summer concerts in the past headlined by the likes of Years and Years and Groove Armada. This is also the place to go if you like your classical. World-class symphony orchestra The Philharmonia – who have a residency at the hall and are partners with DMU - offer great student discounts.
Previous – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, McFly, Susan Boyle
Upcoming – Jimmy Carr, Michael Kiwanuka, Kasabian, Paloma Faith
The Cookie
Yes. Royal Blood played The Cookie. We saw them before they were massive!
This High Street venue is about 10 minutes walk from campus and the place to see bands on the up. Its compact basement with 150 capacity is a cracking place to catch new music for not very much money. And when the bands move on to bigger and better things – which they often do - you can reel off the classic ‘I saw them in Leicester before they were massive’. It’s also a must visit venue during the Leicester Comedy Festival. Check out the not-so-secret roof terrace with views of Leicester Cathedral.
Previous – Royal Blood, George Ezra, Easy Life, Jon Richardson, Seann Walsh, Rhodd Gilbert
Upcoming – Billy Nomates, Leif Erikson, Porridge Radio
2Funky Music Café
'Let me see you test the wind direction in here'
The undisputed home of Leicester’s sound system culture, the Music Café – which is a short hop from the DMU campus – is where to go if you like your bass so trouser-shakingly low that your calf muscles feel like they’re melting. Pulls in some of the great names in Dub, Hip Hop and R’n’B as well as some top notch House and Techno nights. The regular Dub Cub nights – celebrating new talent - are well worth your time. The neighbouring 2 Funky Street Kitchen does great food and DJ events.
Previous – KRS-1, Wu Tang Clan’s GZA, Emperorfari, Jah Youth
Upcoming – Abashanti-I, Amy Winehouse Tribute Night
The Musician
The Musician looking particularly cosy in this nighttime pic
Based behind a tower block on Clyde Street, off Humberstone Gate, The Musician puts on everything from blues and folk to indie bands and tribute acts. It also serves cask ales. Décor is old gig posters celebrating bands who have previously graced its stage.
Previous – The Lovely Eggs, The Pretty Things, Fred Zeppelin, Pearl Jamm
Upcoming – Hector Garnett, Dan Fest Weekender, AC/DC UK, UK Subs
Firebug
The impressive frontage of Firebug
Not just a great gig venue upstairs but a very cool, laid back bar downstairs too. It’s open until 4am every day. The venue is home to live music and comedy, as well as film nights, their famous silent disco and Metal DJs. People travel many yards to sup on the legendary Long Island Iced Teas while taking in a band. As well as the huge cocktail menu and wide choice of beers there is a garden piled high with atmosphere for chilling after a gig.
Previous – Mark Morrison, Personal Best, Kermes, The Wytches
Upcoming – Echobelly, Warm Digits, weekly quiz night, weekly Rock Society
The Shed
They know their onions at The Shed
An upstairs and a downstairs venue. A great supporter of local acts but is also a popular stop off for touring bands. Pulls in a young, loyal crowd who know their onions. Popular for hardcore, emo and punk. And onions.
Previous – Just The Tonic comedy nights, Bleed Again, Fatherson
Upcoming – Audio Rage, Chapter and Verse, Celestines
Morningside Arena
This place is massive
This is the home of British basketball champions Leicester Riders and is a cavernous venue able to seat more than 2,500. When the court’s not full of very tall people shooting hoops, it’s transformed into a venue for Asian music superstars, covering everything from Bollywood to Ghazal to Indian classical, as well as pop and rock gigs.
Previous – Leicester Riders home fixtures
Upcoming - Leicester Riders home fixtures, Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Easy Life, Neha Kakkar
02 Academy and 02Academy2
A vaping festival in the 02's main arena
Two venues under one roof that pull in some of the UK’s biggest acts, from Stormzy to Idles. The main arena can hold 1,500 people. It’s a a trek up the London Road but well worth it. The O2 offers great opportunities for local bands to support big acts.
Previous – Stormzy, Idles, Metronomy, Primal Scream, Mahalia
Upcoming – Wide Eyed Fest, Belle and Sebastien, The Libertines, Less Than Jake
The Soundhouse
Street artists gave The Soundhouse an impressive makeover
Down by the Cultural Quarter, which is also home to Curve theatre and The Phoenix cinema, the street art-plastered Soundhouse is where to go if you like your music loud and/or more left field. You’ll often find bands play here one week and are then doing a session on BBC 6 Music the next. Runs laid back outdoor Summer Sessions in the wonderfully decorated yard.
Previous – Jim Jones and the Righteous Mind, Teeth of the Sea, Ill, Can's Damo Suzuki
Upcoming – Gnod, Sex Swing, Beans on Toast
Posted on Friday 20 August 2021