What are some decent live venues in the North West ?

Moltisanti

I don't want to play in shitty pubs where you push the pool table out of the way...what are some venues with a proper stage and a decent live setup in the North West ?

Musicwolf

More details required.

Are you playing originals or covers, what type of music, solo act or band (if so, what size), are you bringing your own PA / lights, what sort of following do you have etc?

How many gigs have you done in 2025 and in what type of venues.

I play in covers band in the NW.  A lot of the venues are booked via agents.

Moltisanti

5 piece, covers, function/wedding stuff, we have our own PA, we've done 4 shows in the last year, a barn wedding venue twice, an outdoor Christmas light switch on and a charity do in a fancy bar. 

We're in a tough spot where we want to do more but not be out every week...

AntonHunter

Only places with decent stages I know in Manchester that book covers bands are Albert's Schloss and the Blues Kitchen. I'd guess they're tied up by agents, but I don't know for sure. Loads of decent venues if you're playing original stuff, or if you wanted to hire somewhere yourself and put a show on. 

Musicwolf

OK, I'm in a similar position.  I play in three bands

Band #1.  Started as a 5 piece in 2020 but turned into a 3 piece + backing tracks since 2023.  12 to 18 gigs pa.

Band #2.  Started last year, duo with backing tracks.  The other singer / guitarist is 80 years old and we play a lot of 60's and 70's material.  6 gigs last year.

Band #3 is a 5 piece  4 piece < senior moment there >, started this year, who are just putting a set list together.  No gigs yet.

Band #1.  Most of our gigs are now repeat bookings and 2/3rds of them are at 2 venues (both bars).  We've played clubs via agents but, unless it's a private party, the numbers are dwindling and we've had a few gigs pulled as the venues can no longer afford to put on live music.

Band #2.  All clubs and the music is ideal for the audience (i.e. old).  Numbers are dwindling because audiences are quite literally dying out.

 The brutal truth is that live music is on its arse.  The number of venues is reducing year on year and, because audience numbers are shrinking, a lot of venues are looking for either a solo singer + backing or a DJ.

Stratavarious

NW is big… where?  

Got an agent?  If you wants clubs you need good promo material and find out who is doing the booking.  Theme nights/sets and tributes always get more work too.  I get a lot of regional theatres and decent festivals with an R&B and Jazz & Blues profile/set.  A thousand bands do the usual Mr Brightside and Sex On Fire.

 The Facebook live music groups for the region will help reveal all the venues and competition.

One of my outfits get plenty of gigs through GigPig too and some of the payment services which some better venues use.

mike257

AntonHunter said:

Only places with decent stages I know in Manchester that book covers bands are Albert's Schloss and the Blues Kitchen. I'd guess they're tied up by agents, but I don't know for sure. Loads of decent venues if you're playing original stuff, or if you wanted to hire somewhere yourself and put a show on. 

Albert's Schloss do all their booking in house, the majority of their shows are from a roster of regular musicians who all turn up and throw a show together much like a bunch of pro deps on a function, not often that they book a full band externally.