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For many years I have written reviews about bands and performers across the country. I have been in some of the most prestigious venues in the UK and witnessed draw-dropping performances alongside gigs I could have fallen asleep in and have done my duty and written my experiences accordingly for the greater good of public awareness. During all this time however, I have rarely touched on the delights of the venues themselves.
Many journalists that review comedy gigs, concerts, live art and theatre focus solely on the acts themselves. The truth is that it is a combination of venue, act, audience and staff that contribute to the success of an event. I could go and see my favourite band every night for a year, and each time it would be a different experience; so to re-set the journalistic scales as it were, I'm going to share some of my favourite memories of music, comedy and theatre at some of my favourite venues in what I consider to be the UK's best place for a night out, Brighton.
I spent many years living in Brighton, and was spoilt for choice when it came to venues. Every day of the week there was somewhere playing the type of music you fancied listening to, or had a play on that you wanted to watch, or a small bar with a sunken sofa playing re-runs of David Lynch's Twin Peaks. It helped that it is a university town, and that the connection with London was in full use. Between the tourists and the students, a cultural identity unlike any other was blossoming uncontrollably.
Fat Boy Slim made the Concorde famous; this unassuming night club had low ceilings and a reputation for some great up and coming artists. Unfortunately it was demolished shortly before I arrived and the Concorde 2 was born. This massive building, by the old Volks railway and right on the seafront is a feat of Victorian engineering and architecture. Two huge rooms house high ceilings with wrought ironwork th
at is fit for a palace. Thanks to its size the two bars are long enough to cope with the potential capacity of the venue, and thanks to the high ceilings, over-heating is less of a risk than its predecessor.
Another of my favourite venues sits literally a twenty second walk along Marine Parade, called The Volks, named after the aforementioned railway. This club used to host one of the dirtiest as bassiest nights of the month - Lunacy. A relatively small place, the darkened venue attracted Brighton's hardcore contingency of clubbers. Upstairs was throbbing mass of happy dancers and a suspiciously deserted bar, but downstairs was where the action was. The crowded staircase led to what could only be described as a basement broom cupboard, enough room for twenty or so of the bravest night owls. It was sweaty and noisy and almost completely dark, but combined to give one of the finest nights out at regular monthly intervals.
My final choice goes out the Komedia, a venue that is not only welcoming, it is diverse, cosmopolitan, accessible and provides some of the best entertainment in the country, not just Brighton. The Krater comedy club was a favourite of mine for stand-up; Voodoo Vaudeville was an un missable cabaret act and I saw the likes of Swervy World perform some hip-swingingly good music with their ten piece travelling band. The staff are local and incredibly friendly, and the food on offer reflects the diverse nature of the town.
Even a gluten free vegan could find something to eat off the menu. Ultimately, Komedia feels like a space ship that has just landed in the middle of a desert. The way the neon lights brighten up the small road that is Gardener Street brings with it the bright lights of stardom, shining so bright that even the punters feel like they are walking along Sunset Boulevard. Definitely one of my favourite venues, and somewhere I recommend whole heartedly.
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