Namely with the end of The Charlotte, and the erection of larger, more mainstream venues such as the O2 Academy. Some old gems have survived the cull of the underground scene, however, such as The Shed, which is still enjoyed by first-time gig-goers and veteran supporters alike. Spread over the sprawling city are many bars and small live spaces, but here is our pick of the best from the city centre!
The Shed is Leicester's provision for upcoming bands and artists to debut and subsequently revisit for their newly-acquired fanbase. The advertising for those new to the live-scene, particularly younger musicians, but the stage welcomes all with their passion in the right place. The venue is well-attended, so Singing Lessons Leicester feel that this would be an excellent platform to showcase your own musical talent, and since such greats as Arctic Monkeys and Kasabian have previously been known to grace the stage at this few-hundred-person venue since its 1994 opening, you can be safe in the knowledge that The Shed is an apt propeller for making your name in the music business. Find it at 5 Yeoman Street, LE1 1UT.
Legendary and versatile, Demontfort Hall has housed concerts and gigs from McFly to The Philharmonia Orchestra, boasting the additional credit of being the base for festivals such as Summer Sundae and, until recently, folk giant Big Session. The venue opened its doors in 1913 and has ever since been a major part of the city's cultural and creative movements. The hall underwent a large refurbishment in 1994/5, and now can be used for a multitude of events owing to its flexible structure (tiered seating, dance floor etc), holding between 400 and 2,200 people. The venue also contains an open-air amphitheatre with a capacity of 250-7,000 and four bars. Singing Lessons Leicester fiercely recommend this iconic venue, so check it out at Granville Rd, LE1 7RU!
The Charlotte was one of the most prestigious music venues in Leicester, steeped in music history and ideal for local bands to pack out. All the greats of recent years have graced the Charlotte's stage on their early UK tours, the likes of Radiohead, Pulp, The Stone Roses, The Killers, Bloc Party, The Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, The Libertines (pictured!), The Offspring, Razorlight, Muse and Kasabian to name just a few! The 400 capacity venue, sadly closing for good in 2010 will be remembered for some amazing gigs by bands that went on to be internationally famous, just to walking on Charlotte's stage you could feel the rock history that has gone before! Will be sorely missed by underground music fans in Leicester!
The 02 Academy in Leicester centre opened in 2010, filling a much-needed requirement for a more underground venue since the loss of The Charlotte. The Academy finds its niche with bands who play less formal locations than Demontfort Hall but are used to selling out ticket numbers into the thousands. From a time when bands hailing from the rock, drum & bass or alternative scenes would avoid Leicester due to its lack of appropriate showcasing locations, the 02 sprang up to welcome all of these and more, and Leicester has shown its appreciation ever since. Artists that have paid the venue a visit since opening include Chase & Status, Ben Howard and The Cribs. Built on the University campus as part of a 15million investment, the main venue can hold up to 1,450 people, whilst the 02 Academy2 and 3 are able to host much smaller gigs (500- and 250- person capacity respectively). The venue brings Leicester back in line with other cities rich in live-music culture - Academy Music Group, we thank you. Join the mosh pit at University Road, LE1 7RH!
