kiat Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Hi, Thinking of relocating in the future to a town where there's a lot of live music, musicians and bands. I realise it's all relative and I'm not looking for proof/data etc, just what people feel are towns with a lot of music. The North West music scene looks really lively (I landed on nwb.co by chance today) and it got me thinking - where are there loads of musicians and people who love going to gigs? The more places the better! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Tamworth and Lichfield have a surprising number of local bands and venues between them. Plus Birmingham isn't far for the bigger stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmo Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Why not cities? Some are smaller than towns. Gloucester is a city and quite small. The music scene is pretty dire mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Anstruther, Fife? Edinburgh is town sized and not bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiat Posted December 1, 2016 Author Share Posted December 1, 2016 [quote name='timmo' timestamp='1480626673' post='3186014'] Why not cities? Some are smaller than towns. Gloucester is a city and quite small. The music scene is pretty dire mind [/quote] You're right, Brighton is also city but in my mind is a big town, which is perfectly fine too. I'm trying to avoid obvious big cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool etc....which have music scenes. More to find out surprisingly intense, vibrant or large scenes compared to the size of the town/city/area. Thanks for the ideas so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr zed Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Darwen is an example whic springs to mind - just outside Blackburn. Always something going on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Swindon has a fairly busy live music scene, especially for a town that some would consider a cultural wasteland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1480633810' post='3186075'] Swindon has a fairly busy live music scene, especially for a town that some would consider a cultural wasteland. [/quote] True, I play with three Swindon bands and there are plenty of places to gig in and around the town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Banbury seems to have its fair share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonteee Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 May I throw Leigh on Sea / Southend into the mix? Lots of gigs in the area, and a knowledgeable live music crowd. Also, London village is a train ride away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the boy Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Nashville. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrBike Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 [quote name='the boy' timestamp='1480666221' post='3186171'] Nashville. [/quote] That made me guffaw! Kiat - It's probably not on your list but I would definitely not look at Weston-uper-mare or it's surroundings. I moved here just over a year ago and there's practically nothing going on at all. You could try around Reading/Maidenhead/Windsor as there's quite a lot of live stuff going om (certainly compared to here). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikel Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Malvern in Worcestershire. Loads of bands and quite a few places to play, also Worcester, Hereford and Birmingham are all close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Depends upon what you mean by music scene, are you talking as a performer, as audience or just where there are plenty of people up for a jam. Are you talking covers or live original music? I'd say lot's of original live music might be tricky outside of the big cities as that's where the younger populations tend to be. You didn't mention Bristol which is pretty good for it's music scene but is a city of course. Exeter and Torbay has a fairly lively scene of covers bands and there's a fair community of musicians to tap into, there's also a lot of open mic stuff going on and an opening for the solo performer and duo's in some of the country pubs and smaller coastal venues. It's not so easy for originals bands or young musicians though. It's all relative though, Bridport has a good artistic community all round for its size for example, but it is a small place and you''ll soon have located every musician in town. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 [quote name='DrBike' timestamp='1480667862' post='3186182'] That made me guffaw! Kiat - It's probably not on your list but I would definitely not look at Weston-uper-mare or it's surroundings. I moved here just over a year ago and there's practically nothing going on at all. You could try around Reading/Maidenhead/Windsor as there's quite a lot of live stuff going om (certainly compared to here). [/quote] Made me smile too. How do you find stuff in and around Reading though? I moved down to the West Country from Reading 20 years ago. I go back fairly regularly to visit friends and usually look out for live music or open mics and can't find anything like as much as down here. Berks seems to be cursed with dozens of websites that aren't kept up to date. Down here a quick search on Lemonrock turns up dozens of gigs every week without fail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassintheface Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Wrexham is actually really good and there are lots of people trying something different. A really active and popular 'originals scene with interesting bands, plus a great blues thing going on. There's also the Focus Wales' festival in Wrexham every April - check it out........... There are also lots of pub covers bands and jam nights. Additionally, there's Chester 20 mins away with some decent venues, plus Liverpool and Manchester are within an hour's commute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barking Spiders Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 If the quality of a live music scene is your main criterion or moving you'd best stay clear of Gloucester and Cheltenham. They were once quite good but so many venues have closed down that the gig scenes are pretty sh*te. Mind you there are some decent music festivals in the region. Other that it's a great part of the UK to live. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SH73 Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 Maidstone. Live bands over weekends some week days. Music festivals in summer.All sorts of music Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 [quote name='NickD' timestamp='1480634807' post='3186086'] Banbury seems to have its fair share. [/quote] We do indeed, as does Leamington, just up the road. Loads of bands and venues to play, lots of festivals in the summer - not bad for a town of 45k! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 [quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1480672810' post='3186232'] We do indeed, as does Leamington, just up the road. Loads of bands and venues to play, lots of festivals in the summer - not bad for a town of 45k! [/quote] Cropredy has a lot to answer for! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggy Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1480633810' post='3186075'] Swindon has a fairly busy live music scene, especially for a town that some would consider a cultural wasteland. [/quote] [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1480634794' post='3186084'] True, I play with three Swindon bands and there are plenty of places to gig in and around the town. [/quote] Agree with this, plenty to choose from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) [quote name='NickD' timestamp='1480673277' post='3186238'] Cropredy has a lot to answer for! [/quote] Hah! I'm playing in Cropredy in a couple of weeks. Edited December 2, 2016 by FinnDave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 [quote name='NickD' timestamp='1480673277' post='3186238'] Cropredy has a lot to answer for! [/quote] Ha it sure does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1480674255' post='3186247'] Hah! I'm playing in Cropredy in a couple of weeks. [/quote] Is that at The Brasenose Dave? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted December 2, 2016 Share Posted December 2, 2016 [quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1480675394' post='3186257'] Is that at The Brasenose Dave? [/quote] Yes, we play there at least once a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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