Venues

Altrincham Bar 41

A regular weekly Acoustica venue for a while, this bar on the main high street in Altrincham was the scene of some good gigs. Tables and candles made the upstairs room a cosy haunt for showcase events where some of us played full sets from time to time, while the weekly open mic session was a classic stand in the front window and play gig. I can’t remember a venue quite like it for passing trade. You could start a song playing to an empty bar, get halfway through your song and not be able to see across the room for the people and find the place half empty again by the time you were hoping for some applause.

Ambleside The Sportsman

I played two sets here during the Ambleside Folk Festival in May 2008. It's a big, open pub, but there is plenty of seating between the bar and the stage area, which is in the front, bay window, for those who want to listen to the music. There's a friendly atmosphere and it's a nice space to perform in.

Ambleside The Unicorn Inn

While on holiday in Ambleside, I borrowed a guitar and played a couple of songs during someone else's gig. That someone else turned out to be Mik Mead, organiser of the annual Ambleside Folk Festival, and I was delighted to be asked to play at the festival in May 2008, which included doing a set at the Unicorn. The performing area is squeezed cosily into a corner by the fireplace and you play across the main bar area. Although the pub quickly gets quite crowded, the audience is appreciative and the atmosphere is lively. A fun place to play.

Ashton-under-Lyne The Guzzling Goose

Just round the corner from the Witchwood, this wasn’t the most salubrious of venues Acoustica tried out. I only played there once and, as far as I know, that was the only night the circus came to town. I don’t think we were quite what the locals were expecting in their pub on a Saturday night, but most of the banter was pretty good natured.

Ashton-under-Lyne The Halfway House

A huge old pub towering over the surrounding terraced streets, the Halfway House is like a time machine where you step into the past as you go through the doors. A large upstairs room makes a good venue for a folk club style singaround, hosted by Ann English and members of the Acoustic Collective since the beginning of 2006.

Ashton-under-Lyne The Pineapple

Ann English ran a regular night for a few months here. Another Ashton pub that’s very much for locals (and their dogs) it provided me with some typically bizarre moments. I played a full set to constant heckling from a woman who wanted me to play something more cheerful. I’m not sure whether it was the same night when I played standing in front of a projection screen TV showing a Manchester United game. As a concession to the music, the pub had turned down the TV commentary, but it was strange to be playing to an audience who were all looking in my direction but not at me as their heads bobbed and weaved to catch the action on the screen behind me.

 Ashton-under-Lyne The Witchwood

A legendary “proper” music venue that reminded me of some of the classic pub rock venues in London. Its future seems threatened at the moment, so I’m glad I had the opportunity to play there several times – both at a monthly open mic night and playing support sets for John Renbourn and for Dick Gaughan.

Astbury Mere Water Park

One of the more unusual places I have played – the stage was on a lorry overlooking the lake. The gig was a one-off charity event, but the crowds were a bit thin – I think the showers helped to put them off.

Bamford The Angler's Rest

Great pub in the picturesque Peak District where I played with Darren Poyzer and Paul Parrish one Saturday night during a walking weekend that left me all but crippled (new boots and Poyzer's diirections got to share the blame). The walk having taken considerably longer than planned, we were almost too exhausted to play the gig. I remember it being a bit noisy and suffering a bit from people walking right in front of the stage area. We were made very welcome though and the food was great.

Bolton Elements

Utterly mad night run by Alec Martin. I didn’t expect Bolton on a Sunday night to be throbbing like Ibiza, but Elements had dancing, drunkenness and fighting in true British holiday style. Playing a half hour set of my own songs was something of a challenge, but no-one threw any bottles so I counted it a success.

Bolton The Hulton Arms

Home to the Busker’s Ball in its 2008 incarnation, this pub on the outskirts of Bolton is a somewhat unusual venue. The pub is divided into several large areas separated by partition walls but all open onto the bar. One of these areas is used as the stage and when playing you can only really be seen by people at the bar. But, despite being out of sight, the rest of the pub still seems to respond to the music with enthusiasm and the atmosphere is welcoming. Alec Martin's beefy PA system makes sure there's no difficulty being heard.

Bolton The Lostock Arms

Another of Alec Martin’s Busker’s Ball forays, this large pub on the outskirts of Bolton was a great venue for an acoustic night. I only made a couple of visits, but the atmosphere was great and it was a good place to play.

Bolton New Bergeracs

I played a few songs at the opening night of Alec Martin’s latest incarnation of the Busker’s Ball here in July 2006. Another startling Bolton venue, the building looks almost derelict on the outside. But when you step through the door, it’s like a funfair ghost train – very dark with lots of strange lights flashing like a multi-coloured thunder storm. Nice stage, good PA and very friendly people make it a quirky but enjoyable place to play.

Broughton in Furness The High Cross Inn

Spent a wonderful weekend at this pub in the Lake District, including playing a set in support of Darren Poyzer and Andy Goddard. A music pub through and through with an enthusiastic audience who don’t seem interested in going home as long as there is still beer in the barrels.

Bury The Met

The studio theatre at Bury Met made for an unusual singers’ night venue for a while. I played a full set at a showcase evening and really enjoyed the atmosphere.

Cheadle Hulme The Stanley Arms

Another venue I only visited once as the singers’ night (hosted by Rendezvous) was short lived. The stage area was hidden from most of the pub, but closed circuit TV beamed the performance to various screens around the place. This meant it was possible to look out at the backs of people watching you on a screen in another part of the pub. Quite a strange performing experience.

Chorlton Cricket Club

A “real” folk club – purely acoustic with no PA system and an audience who sit quietly and listen to you perform. The club runs every Thursday night and makes a pleasant change from some of the noisier venues that are usually the singer songwriter’s lot.

Chorlton The Iguana Bar

I’ve always liked the atmosphere here, even though it can be a very difficult venue to play. The enthusiasm for music of the bar’s owner, Pascal (himself no mean musician), makes musicians feel welcome and, even at an open mic night, singers don’t need to rely on each other to make up the audience. The downside is that the regular punters can treat the live music with all the respect they would treat a jukebox and talk loudly over you – but when they get into the music it can make for a really enjoyable gig. I’ve played a number of full sets at the Iguana, as well getting up at the Tuesday night open mic session, and hope to keep doing so.

Chorlton The Revise Bar

Played a few songs here once – filling in when Steve O’Donoghue arrived late, I seem to remember. Noisy, crowded bar but with a good atmosphere.

Didsbury Cricket Club

I love playing the monthly night here just because it’s so different to most gigs. The band, Ransom, host the night and play opening and closing sets with their eclectic mix of covers ranging from traditional folk to Guns ‘N’ Roses. The sound is always excellent and the audience pretty attentive most of the time. The open mic slot between their sets is just as likely to feature a couple of other rock bands as acoustic singers and it’s nice to add the contrast to the occasion instead of being just one in a string of acoustic songwriters.

Dukinfield The Astley Arms

Ann English has been hosting a singers’ night on the last Sunday of every month at this friendly, local pub for several years now. It’s always a very welcoming place to play and the free chips at half time are guaranteed help the night along.

Dukinfield The Old General

Down the hill from the Astley, the Old General co-hosted the 2007 Dukinfield Music Festival. I played a set in the main bar – a big, square, mainly open area with a raised stage in one corner. It was an enjoyable gig, but it's a little strange playing flanked by a lifesize model of Elvis Presley, complete with acoustic guitar.

Fallowfield Bruins

A big, open, clattery bar in the heart of Manchester’s student district. I only played here once and the night suffered from a barely functioning PA system.

Farnham The Plough

A lively pub that's fairly cramped when it's busy, with an open mic night under Vic Cracknell's capable control. The stage area is squeezed into a corner, but well placed for maximum visibility. The sound system is more than adequate for the venue so you can stll be heard clearly against the inevitable background buzz of such a crowded venue.

Findhorn Universal Hall

This wonderful concert hall and theatre “in the round” is part of the Findhorn Community in Moray, on the north coast of Scotland. It seats 300 people and is a marvellous place to play. I’ve managed to play one song there on two occasions – as part of concerts at the end of conferences at the community – and it’s an amazing experience.

Fleet Propaganda

I have a soft spot for Propaganda as it was the first place I played at on my forays "down South" in 2009. It's also a really good venue with a wide stage area, an excellent PA (courtesy of Vic Cracknell the nights I have played there), and plenty of enthusiasm from audience and performers alike. It's a bar cum bistro with plenty of space, comfortable seating and a good atmosphere.

Glossop Labour Club

Another venue that was the home of regular Acoustica gigs for a while. There was always a really informal and friendly atmosphere, with lots of enthusiasm for the music. The fact that it was so small just added to the intimacy. Scene of some memorable gigs, particularly the night Steve O’Donoghue and I improvised music to go with Thom the World Poet’s improvised poems – and all without a PA. It was a refreshing change to make it up as you went along instead of giving the normal, well-rehearsed performance.

Glossop The George

Only played here once – at a charity fundraiser earlier this year. Seemed a good place for gigs though with a large room on two levels and plenty of seats and tables all with good views of the stage area.

Glossop The Globe

Fantastic venue that’s a great place to play. Upstairs room with its own bar is separate from the rest of the pub, which means that everyone there is there for the music. Proper stage, good PA, lights – a great example of how to do it properly. Always a great atmosphere whether you’re playing or just watching. I played in the downstairs bar too during the Tsunami benefit gig in January 2005. It was like playing in a busy railway station, but the atmosphere was tremendous.

Glossop The Moon And Sixpence

Glossop seems to be full of great venues, and this is another of them. The pub only really has one room, so you’re playing to everyone there, but there’s a prominent stage area that gives you a good shot at it. When the Acoustica songwriters’ nights were at their peak a few years ago, the monthly nights at the Moon and Sixpence were always up there with the best of them.

Glossop The Star Inn

A small, traditional pub opposite the railway station where scantily clad clubbers come and go with the trains to Manchester and the locals sit around a little longer. The pub has all the distractions of playing in a confined space, but a friendly and appreciative atmosphere. The old pictures of historic Glossop on the walls are worth taking a look at.

Goostrey The Red Lion

Old timber beams, warm lighting and cosy nooks and crannies give this Cheshire pub all the charm you'd expect in a building that dates back to the 16th century. Troubadors arriving along the lane after being deposited at the station by the monthly Folk Train are ushered into a bar at the back of the pub which is big enough to take a reasonable sized audience but intimate enough for musicians playing completely acoustically (without a PA) to be heard and appreciated. The Dick Turpin bitter, brewed in Warrington, goes down nicely too.

Greenfield The Railway Inn

Another one of those pubs that can be very difficult to play, but where enthusiasm and a good atmosphere tends to make up for the drawbacks. The main lounge bar is pretty small and the audience is crushed in between the performing area and the bar. So it’s easy for the drinkers to get loud and for the performers to get drowned out. But you can fight through the background noise and go down well.

Hathersage The Little John Hotel

End of the line for the Hathersage Folk Train. The travelling musicians play in a raised area to the side and at one end of a large room, which was packed with people eating meals the time I joined the Acoustic Collective on their session. There was no PA, so a solo performer would struggle. But a group can create a good singalong atmosphere.

Heaton Moor The Blue Cat Café Bar

The Blue Cat is just two minutes’ walk from my house so it played a really big part early on in my return to performing. When it first opened it still felt like the converted shop it was, but from the start the bar had a unique atmosphere. Darren Poyzer started the weekly songwriters’ night that became the prototype for Acoustica here and every Monday night a fantastic collection of songwriters from all over the north west would converge on the Blue Cat to play and enjoy each other’s music. The near chaos was part of the attraction. With the original performing area in the “shop window”, people walking in off the street would virtually step straight into it. Whether they came further in or just stood there looking bewildered for a minute or two before walking out again, the door never seemed to close behind them so performers became adept at stepping over and pushing the door shut in mid song to avoid the icy blasts from outside. After a couple of extensions and major refurbishments, the bar is now a bona fide music venue with a reputation for showcasing new talent (helped along by it being home base for Haven when they were first courting success and living in a flat across the road). Darren Poyzer moved on long ago, but there’s still a Monday night session, which I played at recently after a very long absence.

Heaton Norris The Bridge Inn

The second place I played on my comeback in 1999. An old fashioned, back street pub where one room was used for a folk-style, genuinely acoustic singaround. The pub has since been closed and, I think, demolished.

Heaton Norris The Navigation

Another one of those small, friendly, old-fashioned pubs where you play in among the regulars who sometimes listen and respond enthusiastically – and sometimes don’t. I always used to enjoy playing at the monthly singers’ nights, but they stopped running them early in 2006.

Heaton Norris The Nursery Inn

For many years the Nursery was home to the revered Why Worry Club, a monthly night that successfully straddled the old folk club circuit and the newly fashionable acoustic songwriters’ scene. When I decided to start writing and performing again in 1999, it was the only place I knew of to go and play. The club took place in a separate room at the front of the busy pub and always attracted a good audience who were prepared to listen to the music most of the time. Another place where random combinations of great songwriters and musicians have made for some memorable nights. The Why Worry Club came to an abrupt end early in 2006, but the night continues in a different guise on the last Tuesday of every month.

Hollingworth Lake The Fisherman’s Inn

There were fortnightly Acoustica nights at this pub right by the lake for a while. The performing area was set up at one end of the long, main bar but there weren’t often many people to play to on a midweek night.

Langdale The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel

Home of the Langdale Festival in 2009, the location of this venue surrounded by the wild peaks of the Lake District goes a long way to making up for its rather chaotic nature. Effectively a pub attached to the hotel, it is busy with constant streams of walkers in search of soup, hot food or stronger liquid refreshment and, even with a PA, it's a struggle to play over the hubub. A place to go for the atmosphere more than the music.

Leeds The Grove Inn

I made one trip here to support Darren Poyzer a couple of years ago. The traditional pub is conspicuous in the middle of the redeveloped area around the canal and the music is played behind a closed door in a room at the back. The audience were all there to listen and were really friendly and enthusiastic. An enjoyable place to play.

Levenshulme M19 Bar

A great venue in the heart of Manchester's bustling M19 suburb where I played a set as part of the monthly Acousticfest. The music takes place upstairs, away from the main bar, in a room on two levels with tables and chairs set around the stage area and comfier settees on the cosier, lower level. A good place for a night out, either as a performer or in the audience.

Little Crosby Tom’s Barn

Not a public venue, but worth mentioning for a fantastic gig two or three years ago. Known as Tomstock, this was a private mini-festival to which every songwriter in the Liverpool area seemed to have been invited, along with a good number of us from further afield. The stage was a farm trailer inside a barn and my set featured one of my famed distractions as two dogs fought over a discarded pizza at my feet.

Lossiemouth Folk Club

While staying at Findhorn in 2005, I took a trip to nearby Lossiemouth to play at the folk club. I won’t say it was quiet, but it was a good job I took three people with me as it doubled the audience. The Beach Bar, where the club is held, definitely has the best location of anywhere I’ve played, right on the beach overlooking the Moray Firth.

Manchester Bar Risa

There was a short-lived, weekly Acoustica night here, which I played a few times. Nice venue with a good stage area, comfy chairs and a good atmosphere, but it was hard to get people in off the street to listen.

Manchester Night And Day

An iconic venue in Manchester’s burgeoning northern quarter. I played there a couple of times towards the end of 1999, when I was still nerve-ridden and playing my old Yamaha guitar with no pre-amp, so I don’t remember too much about it – except that it was dark and smoky and it was the first time I had played at one of Darren Poyzer’s open mic nights. Hoping to get back there later this year.

Manchester Simple Bar

I played a short set here on my only visit. I remember it being fairly quiet with big sofas.

Manchester The Hare And Hounds

Traditional singaround folk club in an upstairs room. No PA, so people listen.

Manchester The Star And Garter

A pub with a long music tradition in near derelict surroundings close to Piccadilly Station (you can see it from platform 14). I played at a couple of showcase nights that were run there for a while. It was strange playing in the front room at midnight as people gathered in the main bar next door before heading for the late night club upstairs. But somehow it seemed to work.

Manchester Tmesis

Nice setup with chairs and tables dotted round on various levels and the feel of a club. Just played one open mic night here.

Marple The Bull’s Head

Played a full set here on my only visit. I seem to remember the stage area was quite cramped and that the music had to fight for attention with other things going on in the pub.

Middlewich The Boar’s Head

Played a short set here as part of a showcase event during the 2006 Middlewich Festival. A big upstairs room with a good PA system and plenty of seating makes an excellent concert venue but, unfortunately, no-one seemed to know we were playing.

Mossley Football Club

Typical sports club bar with tables, stools and a view of the football pitch. Only played there once (in the bar not on the pitch) too long ago to remember much about it.

Mossley The Blazing Rag

A unique venue that joined the Acoustica circuit when that was at its height and hung on to be the longest-standing venue. I had a love-hate relationship with the place. The music took over half the pub, but the main bar area was right alongside so you could be competing with a lot of noise. The audience also seemed to forget that there was anyone performing sometimes and get totally caught up in their own animated conversations. But somehow you got used to it and on a good night there was a party atmosphere that could be a lot of fun. I went from dreading going to the place to quite looking forward to it. The Blazing Rag must also be mentioned as the place where my reputation for having my sets disrupted in bizarre fashion began when a couple of girls in rugby shirts, raising money for charity burst in shouting and rattling a large bucket full of coins, which they then placed noisily right in front of me as I attempted to complete one of my quieter songs.

Oldham Jackson’s Pit

Yet another Acoustica venue that came and went. Interesting subterranean layout meant it was like playing in the Batcave. Suffered from an acute lack of audience, which was a shame because it was a good venue.

Preston Gregsons Lane Folk Club

A great venue in a large, comfortable upstairs room at a sports club that looks just like a pub. The sound system is excellent and well mixed and the audience is welcoming and enthusiastic. A really good place to play.

Romiley The Winds

A very big room, separate from the main bar of the pub, made this a venue with loads of potential and there were some memorable nights here during the time Ann English was running regular acoustic events. The flashing, coloured stage lights and the revolving disco ball made it feel like a quiet night in a holiday camp.

Sandbach The George

Upstairs room makes a good venue for this folk club in the centre of Sandbach.

Stalybridge Q Bar

The performing area is tucked away in one corner of this lively pub, which feels like four rooms in one. Although it's quite noisy, the PA is well set up so that artists can hear what's going on and the audience is enthusiastic. When I played the eclectic open mic night towards the end of 2006, it was very hot and smokey. It might be more comfortable after the smoking ban . . .

Since the beginning of 2007, a new weekly gig, Acoustic Eclectic, has been running in an upstairs room. There's no PA and the room is quite cramped, but the atmosphere is good and the natives are friendly.

Stalybridge Sharkey’s Bar

Unusual venue for an acoustic night, but the raised stage built out into what would on busier nights be the dancefloor seemed to bring out good performances. Sadly the night died due to lack of interest – watching the bus station outside was often the most exciting part of the evening.

Stalybridge The Wharf Tavern

The 2009 home of the Acoustic Collective after they moved from Dukinfield. The gig is purely acoustic, but takes place in a room separate from the main bar area, so this is no problem. The room is large and a little sparse, but the atmosphere is friendly and it's a comfortable venue to play.

Stalybridge The White House

Atmospheric pub with the performing area in the main bar area, which makes the effective PA system a must. Only played here once when it stood in for the Q Bar on a Champions League football night, but the night went well and the venue has plenty of potential.

Stockport The Bakers Vaults

Better known for putting on rock and blues bands, which it does most days of the week, the Bakers hosted an Acoustica open mic night for a couple of years until the Summer of 2006. With its strange, almost triangular layout and the performing area right on the main route to the Ladies toilet, it could be a difficult place to play. Some nights the pub could be noisy and chaotic with the drinkers ignoring the music – or even heckling the performers! Other times the whole pub would get involved with the music and create the atmosphere for a great night. In April 2008, the acoustic songwriters' night I had been running at the Bull's Head moved across to the Baker's. The sound system lets performers come across at their best and on a good night it's still one of the best venues around.

Stockport The Bull’s Head

Across the Market Place from the Bakers Vaults, this proved a calmer home for Acoustica when it switched venues in 2006. A reasonable sized room at the front of the pub keeps the audience up near the performers, while the bar is far enough away not to be a distraction but close enough to be able to watch and listen from. After changing its identity to a Stereo Graffiti night, Darren Poyzer stepped down in June 2007, handing over the organisation of the gig to Kevin Farrell and me. The venue proved a bit too quiet (even for an acoustic night) and we moved back to the Baker's Vaults in April 2008.

Stockport Cobden’s

Ann English ran a successful open mic night here for a couple of years. A big, open stage area, plenty of tables and a bar area where people could chat without distracting the performers made for some good nights. The main stage area was actually in a conservatory, which meant that, while on stage, you could look up and see the planes coming in to land at Manchester Airport. As a result, playing this of all venues on the night of September 11th, 2001 was a very unsettling experience.

Stockport The Red Bull

Traditional Robinson's pub on Hillgate with old wooden roof beams adding to the cosy atmosphere. The stage set up lets you perform facing two rooms at once, so it feels intimate without being too cramped.

Stockport Sam’s Bar

Another regular acoustic venue for a while, the upstairs room tended to suffer from a bar too close to the stage, a surfeit of pillars for noisy people to lurk behind and competing noise from events in the room below.

Stockport The Thatched House

This is best known as a heavy metal, bikers’ pub, so it was probably inevitable that an acoustic night wouldn’t last very long. Even so, acoustic music worked remarkably well and a proper, raised stage area drew attention from all around the pub.

Swinton The White Lion

The home of Swinton Folk Club, which puts on purely acoustic guest nights and singers' nights in its own room. With no PA, the performers are close to the audience and the atmosphere is cosy and appreciative. A welcoming place to play.

Uppermill The Church Inn

Played here at an all-day charity gig, held in a large marquee attached to the back of the pub. The audience sat on straw bales and the sound was awful, so not my most memorable gig.

Uppermill The Waggon

Traditional pub on the main road through Uppermill where the audience was attentive and friendly both times I played there.

Warrington The Barley Mow

Another regular Acoustica venue for a while, this large, rambling pub was always quite a difficult place to play. The performing area was pretty concealed and it was hard to attract people’s attention to something most of them couldn’t see.

Warrington Starbucks at Borders

An unusual gig masterminded by Darren Poyzer in the post-Acoustica days. Starbucks coffee lounge upstairs in Borders bookstore gives an unaccustomed view over the shopping centre car park as you perform. The atmosphere is more relaxed than in a pub and it's a fun venue to play.

Widnes The Victoria

I only made a couple of trips here, but both times the nights were great, packed with good musicians and an enthusiastic audience. A really lively venue.

Whitby The Black Horse

A historic little pub by the old market place in Whitby where musicians play and sing sitting in one corner of the cramped, smoky main bar room. I joined in for a couple of songs on a borrowed guitar.

Whitby Folk Club

A traditional singaround held in a large upstairs room, overlooking the harbour, at the Whitby Friendship Rowing Club. I called in while on holiday and was generously offered a Martin to play a couple of my songs on. Friendly and appreciative crowd.

Winsford DeBees

A great venue with a reasonably sized, raised stage and seating at tables on two levels, all with good views of the stage. The stage is the focal point of the room and there's a club atmosphere. The people are friendly too, which always helps.

Withington Fuel

A little room above a vegetarian café in the centre of Withington, which has become more homely with the addition of some sofas. Small tables and candles help give an intimate atmosphere and the audience is usually appreciative. Andy Callan's Picnic Club nights have brought a wide range of performers to the venue and Fuel is always an enjoyable place to play.