The 5 Best Manchester Gig Venues
by: Alan Piccadilly
Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 Time: 8:26 AM
When you are looking for a city that defines music, look no further than Manchester. Bands dream of playing there in the same places as their idols and influncers. Bands like Oasis, The Charlatans and James all came out of the great city and were a major influence to a lot of the bands that came after them, not just in Manchester but worldwide. The below list is the top 5 best gig venues in Manchester:
MEN Arena Massive place where you can fit 20,000 comfortably, with great facilities. Two tiers of seats going all around the arena, along with a large standing area with its own bar! It comes under criticism at times for being too big and lacking in character, along with criticism of the chart topping bands that arrive there. There are plenty of supporters who like the place for the same reasons a lot hate it, and the atmosphere can be second to none. Imagine 20,000 singing along to James 'Sit Down' and all worries about the size disappear.
Apollo A middle venue that bands play during their rise to the top, when they are in that first and second album phase that puts them too small for 20,000 people but way too big for 1,000 people. The capacity of 3,500 means that demand can be met for these smaller bands and give them a chance to prove they can go up to a higher level. It is a converted theatre that has the original stalls seats left inside, just with the floor ones taken away for a standing section.
Academy A very small place at the heart of the university campus, where bands who have done the small bars scene step up to when they get a bit of a following. Their careers can be made or broken by a good or bad performance in this place. It will be the biggest gig of a lot of young band's lives and they need to step up to the plate.
GMEX The GMEX conference centre is ideally placed in the centre of town near to Oxford Road Station. It used to be a train station but now it is mainly a conference centre but with some gigs happening a couple of times a year. It is a favourite for the Mancunians as it reminds them of when it used to regularly hold gigs from bands like Oasis.
LCCC The primary outdoor venue in the city due to the football grounds being funny about hosting gigs, it is where the superstars go if they want the open air. Absolutely huge, using the entire cricket pitch and pavilions, it is mega venue.
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