I’ve been attending gigs for over five decades and had all manner of experiences, some great and some terrible. A lot of the experience depends on the venue as well as the performance. Here are some of my pet loves and hates, based on my experience to date.
Who’s running the mixing desk?
The person running the sound for the event is a key factor in how great or terrible an event can be. There are some venues I simply won’t visit as I know that the sound is going to be terrible. The first example that comes to mind is Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Only one in five experiences have been positive there. The Alison Krauss gig was terrific, BUT when I saw King Crimson the first half of the show was terrible and I almost didn’t stay for the second half.
Another issue is that the music is way too LOUD! I remember seeing Rory Gallagher in Leeds, and it was so loud, I breathed a huge sigh of relief when he started the acoustic set. It took me three days to recover, and it was so loud it was painful to be in the same room!
In stark contrast there are venues with great sound engineers and great acoustics. In the north “The Old Woollen” is a perfect example and that’s why when I book acts through Green Eyed Records, I always use that venue. They know exactly how to create a listening environment, and without exception, all my experiences have been positive.
Unhelpful intrusive noise when artists are playing
One of my pet hates at gigs is people talking when an artist is on stage. That aside, another issue is where the venue is poorly designed so there’s all manner of noise intrusion from the bar. There’s a venue in Leeds that hosts folk artists where noise from the bar is so bad I no longer go to gigs, as it ruins the listening experience. The polar opposite is of course The Village Vanguard in NYC where the attendees are simply there to listen to the music and do so in a respectful manner. I don’t think that’s too great an ask…
Are you sitting/standing comfortably?
If I am going to be at a concert for a number of hours, I want to be able be comfortable for the duration of the experience. These days I need a seated venue as I’m not going to stand for hours on end. Most venues are ok for seating, BUT there are some couter examples. The worst example was when I was Jason Isbell at The Stockton Globe. This was like the worst airline seat ever, beyond terrible. It was apainful experience and I have made a mental note never to return.
Location, location, location…
The venue’s location is also a key consideration for me. The ideal venue for me is 200-500 seats, free parking, and not in some rough part of town. Access to the venue, including parking and transport, is key. I once saw a brilliant Leonard Cohen gig in central Manchester, and we spent nearly an hour looking for a parking space. This week I’m travelling down to London to see Bill Frissell in Cadogan Hall, and I know from experience that, like Martin Simpson, Bill pays careful attention to where he plays.
Next month on May 17th my ensemble will be supporting Martin Simpson at The Old Woollen, a perfect space for a musical event. Here’s a clip from the last time I hosted Martin with the brilliant Liz Hanks who will return in May. Tickets here