From Trades to Tut’s: Nadine Shah and Self Esteem pick their favourite venues
Independent venues are the backbone of the music industry. They foster local talent and provide spaces for clusters of music lovers and music makers to form. They introduce artists to other creatives, promote community and collaboration, and allow budding bands to take their first steps into the industry. They’re undoubtedly an essential part of the scene, but they’re constantly under threat.
Though artists and industry professionals alike are constantly stressing the importance of these spaces, they’re still not receiving enough funding and support to stay open. Last year, 125 UK venues closed their doors, leaving the country’s music scene with 125 fewer spaces for creative expression, for community, and early artistic development.
The landscape can often seem dire, but the UK is still home to so many extraordinary venues. There’s the Brudenell in Leeds, Hebden Trades Club not too far away, and King Tuts up in Edinburgh, all of which feature on Nadine Shah and Self Esteem’s lists of their favourite indie venues.
Both Shah and Self Esteem, also known as Rebecca Lucy Taylor, are more than aware of the importance of these places, from showing their support for Independent Venue Week to consistently playing and attending venues across the country. During a conversation with BBC Radio 6, they chose to spotlight just a couple of the best independent venues in the UK.
Up north, their picks included Hebden Bridges’ iconic Trades Club and the Brudenell Social Club, close to Taylor’s home in south Yorkshire. The latter, situated amidst red-brick terraces and a massive student population, has put on everyone from local bands to cult favourites to some of the biggest names in the business, garnering a reputation of its own along the way. Maintaining its social club roots, it’s one of the most welcoming venues in the country.
Trades Club isn’t too far from the Brudenell, finding its home nestled amidst the streets of the historic Hebden Bridge. It’s a stellar venue with some of the best bookings around, from English Teacher to The Last Dinner Party. It’s so good, Taylor asserts, that it doesn’t even matter how bad the load-in is.
Though they’re both born-and-bred northerners, Shah and Taylor did share their picks from the scene down south. While Shah shared her love for Moth Club, asserting her trendiness, Taylor picked out The Joiners in Southampton. With glittering decor and bookings to match, Moth Club is undoubtedly one of the coolest venues in the country, while The Joiners is a pub-turned-venue and one of the most beloved indies around.
Outside of England, the pair also shared their love for King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow, which Shah deems a “massive laugh.” A cult underground venue that has hosted everyone from Fiona Apple to Florence and the Machine, it’s a staple in the Scottish music scene and a worthy entry on their list.
The UK thrives in its independent music scene, which fosters community and creates future stars. As more and more venues face closure, it’s more important than ever to speak about the importance of these spaces and to ensure that they get the support they need to stay open. If you’re lost for plans this weekend, head down to your local indie venue and support them, and the communities they create, with a drink and a dance.
Nadine Shah and Self Esteem’s favourite venues:
- Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
- The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge
- MOTH Club, London
- The Joiners, Southampton
- King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
