Southampton has been on the UK’s live music radar for a long time, making a name for itself as home to some of the best small venues in the country.
The Joiners arms, the jewel in Southampton’s small venue crown, has had such an impact on the national music scene that a book was published detailing its long and star-studded history. The largest venue in the city, the O2 Guildhall, regularly attracts chart topping artists and indie favourites to its sizeable stage.
The O2 Guildhall
The O2 Guildhall is Southampton's biggest venue. Housed in a stunning grade 2 listed building and capable of holding over 1700 guests, the venue regularly attracts top talent from around the world.
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The Joiners Arms
The Joiners is a legendary small venue which hosted the likes of the Artic Monkeys, Two Door Cinema Club, Coldplay and Biffy Clyro long before they found mainstream success. Regular visitors to the venue have more ‘I met them before they were famous’ stories than they could ever have the time to tell. A must see venue for any music fan.
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Engine Rooms
Engine Rooms is one of Southampton's newest live music venues. Located in the city centre, the venue hosts a mix of up-and-coming bands and old favourites, including recent visits from Bad Manners, Dandy Warhols, The Bluetones and The Charlatans.
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Heartbreakers
Heartbreakers describes itself as "a response to Southampton's call of needing a suave, neon-clad dive-bar that excels in cocktail creation and live music." The venue has hosted well-known acts, such as Slowthai, Mattiel and Dry Cleaning, but is also a strong supporter of local bands.
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The 1865
The 1865 is near the Oxford Street area of the city centre. The venue boasts the South Coast's best in-house sound system and hosts a great mix of music from blues, jazz, folk, mod and rock bands. Recent acts such as Yard Act, Yungblud, Levellers, Sham69, and Hawkwind have performed to sell-out crowds.
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The Brook
The Brook is quite far away from the city centre, but the facilities are superb. A wide stage is complemented by an equally wide dance floor, both of which are overlooked by a wrap-around balcony that gives a perfect view of the performance. The venue regularly hosts top tribute acts, as well as some well-known names.
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