Live Music Venues in Northampton, Northamptonshire*

Live sounds in a garage, pub, park or stadium

You can tell us more about Northampton.

• Big Noise Studios, Artist lounge and stage area. Bi-monthly live lounge sessions. Operation and hub of Northamptons music community since 1992.
• Don't bother trying to watch a band at O'Malleys in Northampton. The staff were incapable of dealing with a rowdy minority of customers who ought to have been ejected, instead choosing to stop a band that most people were enjoying. Showed unprofessionalism and contempt for the performers and their customers.
• The Double Top club, The Picturedrome are small intimate venues. The Deco is where the big acts play.
• the grinder is a new venue openned in northampton at the bottom of bridge street, it is owned by the same person who has the king billy. differences are: king billy for bikers n rock music on juke box and weekend covers bands grinder: all different musical genres; original signed bands & local unsigned bands, dj's doing drum n bass, break beats etc. and girls dancing on the bar. so if you have a demo send to the grinder and not the billy cheers www.thegrinderuk.com
• The Shithaus. Hopefully the Roadmender will be back in action shortly.
• RoadMender again R.I.P , same sh*t with council pulled funding , gonna end up as a block of flats no doubt.
• Soundhaus on Great Russell Street. Definitely the best music venue in Northampton with the most variety (now Roadmender has closed). Try the Racehorse for a real taste of the local scene, or any of the pubs like Yates', Picturedrome, Fat Cats, where you might find a band playing. The Black Cat Jazz Bar is a also a new favourite.
• Roadmender was a wicked venue, before our crappy council decided to shut it and stop the funding. IDIOTS!! Well I heard that its being re opened wicked news for all us ounk rockers!!
• Soundhaus Racehorse (Rocking Horse) The Rat Pack (jazz bar) The Pitz (In MK)
• just a few words about the black bottom club didnt know where it was up until a few weeks ago but its one of those rare gems u find in these times its a safe place to go and seeing a fight there is as rare as meeting elvis| all the staff are friendly and service is quick and given with a smile too.as for the music its a range for what they advertise the main band is the ginger pig made up of pro musicians so i was told .also the chance to listen to some good djs in any of the bars (it has 4) worth checking out|
• The Labour Club - cheap booze but it's not exactly oversized, you could probably prop up the bar and have a slash at the same time if you were double-jointed! The Racehorse, AKA The Rockin' Horse - it's a filthy lie about this place being none more rock, as I had to pay three bloody quid to get into the back room last Saturday, and the moment I opened my mouth I got told to "shush" by the weedy students on the door. Yes, you read that right, I got told to "shush" in a pub with a live band and a well-oiled clientele. Does that sound wrong to you as well?
• The Labour Club has the best live music nights in town and they are usually completely free to get in. The Racehorseis good for local bands and deep punky stuff. For third division indie tripe, the Soundhaus and the Roadmender.
• Roadmender is really good. Soundhaus is ok - bit grimy though
• Roadmender's Fri-up is good. Racehorse.Oh I dunno-this town is a bloody mess music wise. The best music that comes from here is the departure. Ohter than that we have no good shit. I HATE this town. It's a shit hole.
• Molly's Bar usually have some tribute and covers bands playing at weekends. Also the Rat Pack tapas bar on Wellingborough Road is cool for smaller groups, the place is tiny so don't expect orchestras!
• rooster playin at roadmender on 28th april v.xcitin!!! aint bin roadmeder befor hopefully wil not get"bummed by a weirdo in black" fab site by the way!!!!
• That wouls suggest we actually have any bands worth mentioning coming to Northampton. But the Soundhaus is alright.
• King billy, Bridge street. Bands go from regular favourites at the weekend (Beholder, Motorpriest, Untamed etc) to weirder stuff during the week. Check with the venue. Roadmender has potential to be a big venue for touring bands, but is sadly eclipsed by the Pitz in Milton Keynes. Possibly the Roadmender tries far too hard to be Arty. Soundhaus seem to have a bit more idea, although again, haven't quite attracted the really big names.
• Soundhaus- like the roadmender used to be in the mid 1990s before it got commercial
• The Romany, the Rat Pack, Sweet Waters (unless you don't like jazz played very badly, in which case, give it a miss), the Soundhaus, Molly's.
• roadmenda rocks, small and big bands
• The Soundhaus is the only venue worth its salt these days, the roadmender has gone to the wolves but used to have some really good gigs i.e. capdown, king prawn, the music etc etc. it still ahs potential. for web sites and local gig reviews check out my page www.gigup.co.uk
• Soundhaus, Roadmender, Racehorse, King Billy
• again, Roadmender.
• road mender
• Soundhaus I reckon.
• again The Roadmender. all local bands play there aswell as well-known bands too.
• molly's saw Blondie there "HONEST" and me dad pulled there once too.
• Right, The Racehorse is great, free bands or Dj's in the front occasionally. And the back room-The Rocking Horse, is where the gigs are. All manner of different bands, some local, some doing tours, and u usually have to pay a couple of quid. It used to be known for it's remarkably young-looking patrons but seems to have stepped up the ID thing now. The Soundhaus puts on local and well-known alternative bands all the time, Roadmender used to be great but it's a bit posh now. There's loads of backstreet pubs that do great jam nights, The Romany on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Jolly Crispin (right next to Soundhaus) on Tuesdays, also he has bands play on Saturday nights (I used to work there too :oD ). The Labour Club's also great, reely relaxed and friendly.
• New for Monday nights, Northampton’s Most Diverse Rock Night ever! FRANTIC @ the O Bar (Abington street) The complete music experience, cheep beer and lots of give-aways! Starting Monday the 9th of February (official) Cost: £2 all night Cheep beer! Featuring DJ Twiz and Dysfunction Dj's, (Northampton’s most successful Rock night!)
• The Romany books nothing but tired covers bands. Sweet Waters on Kettering Road is a tiny juice bar that holds regular jam sessions for people who can't play a note, and the owner is an up-himself bentshot.
• The Soundhause behind "the Chronicle and Echo" = small and intimate bands The Roadmender just up from Sol Central = larger more well known bands Both are Quality venues. Acts I've seen there include - Hell is for heroes, Violent Delight, Reuben, Hundred Reasons, King Prawn, Libertines, A", Rival Schools
• The 'mender. Or Roadmender to you country folk. The Soundhaus is okay, although our band played there once and the engineer sucked.
• The Roadmender, Chicago Rock Cafe, Derngate Theatre, Mollie's Bar (heavy metal!).
• If you've got a band go to the Roadmender on a Sunday, 12-4, free admission, they serve food and drink, mostly acoustic bands play there... Friday nights is the fri-up, it's always packed with "alternative" types between 10-18 - actually that's stopped for a while but it'll be back in 5 weeks... the Racehorse is slightly more seedy but most goths seem to like it, also the Soundhaus but that's hard to find your way back from if you've never been there before
• roadmender dunno where it is ladys lane?!?!?
• The Roadmender <----- very good The Soundhaus <------also quite good
• the soundhaus, roadmender, mollys, chicagos
• The roadmender is not only the best venue ive come across in northampton, but is one of the best venues in the country in my opinion! it has two bars, and two stages and has a really good layout. The sound is quality. There havent been that many good acts up to perform recently but they usually go through phases where they all come at once and its usually when you are strap for cash and dunno which one to choose!
• soundhaus
• The back hall of the racehorse used to be good when i lived in the town. Can anyone remeber the band 54th? Really good band with wicked posters, anyone know if they got signed?
• The Derngate offers a variety of has-beens, concert orchestras and musicals, whilst the Soundhaus, the Roadmender and the Picturedrome offer pathetic indie bands with long hair and whiny voices as well as the usual club nights for all the 'rude boys' who like their basslines to resemble elephant farts. The Racehorse also has live music, if you don't mind the sad gaggle of obese beardy-weirdies, suicidal freaks and greasy pikeys who seem to live there.
• Roadmender, used to be a shithole but was completely gutted and refurbished. I think it's now a proper music venue, as opposed to a club that has bands in. I haven't been in since it changed but I've heard good reports, they've got their own website. The Derngate Theatre, typical theatre really, no complaints. Chicago Rock Cafe, surprisingly good since it's been refurbished and with a good selection of acts - the creme de la creme has to be Bad Manners. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it, they have to be one of the best live bands around. Molly's Bar, Kettering Rd - Rock Beavis Rock. Heavy Metal city, good atmosphere and quite a few sexy rock chicks, mixed in with quite a few who really should be old enough to know better.
• Racehorse (Abington sq.), Soundhaus, Roadmender (lady's lane)
• racehorse is ok for music or upstairs at spin-a-disk (wow)
• The Soundhaus is appalling, a hideous combination of crap bar, awkward placing, poor booking (NME approved white guys with guitars and no talent), and cuntlike patrons (either weird faced guys moshing their asses off and looking like twats, or Top Shoppers standing around trying to look "cool". And fading).
• 'And his warhorse was a unicorn' - gotta be the Roadmender... they even had the Levellers there, now that's diversity - woo!! :0)
• SOUNDHAUS! Roadmender really sucks now. Hardly ever a band you'd wanna make the effort to go see and the staff are quite moody. Getting served at the bar takes hours. Soundhaus, on the other hand has an easy-going mood and big bands as well as up-and-coming bands to see and the atmosphere is great.
• Road mender and Derngate depending on taste age etc etc
• The Roadmender... has had some great bands and still does... go there.
• Soundhaus. Without a doubt showing more promise than the Roadmender. Good support for local bands more and more well known bands playing there.. Bluetones soon! American Head Charge, Wilt and loads of bands on the verge of getting big.
• Molly's Bar on Abington Square is a great place to see hard-working, dues-paying local bands, but they need to stop playing that dance music cobblers over the PA, especially as the place is bedecked with Who / Stones / Dylan posters. Schizophrenic or what?
• back room of racehorse for all the local bands or soundhaus
• This town is DEAD music-wise, there used to be lots of pubby venues for young bands, now the only one that really bothers is the Racehorse, and that's always full of scary bastards, so stay at home with your record collection!
• The Labour club (Charles Street/Earl St corner) has an excellent sound system on the first Saturday of every month. Other music as advertised and a very mixed lot of people depending on the night(but open and friendly to all types) and upholds an anti-discriminatory policy. Also a good try out venue and used for band practices and all sorts. Has rooms for free hire if you form a group. Keen to support youth or any other groups who need a place to go. Want to know more? Pop in and ask for Adam.
• Mollys - and its even bigger now, The King Billy but only if you're wearing black or leather, I know it's out of town but the Red Lion at Bozeat often puts on a good show - hoorah for the Jessie Burger!!!, and, scoff you may but The Romany - Kingsley Road. Good music EVERY weekend and a cool jam session on Thursdays.
• Roadmender!Soundhaus racehorses festivals all day things which are good (money for charity i think)local bands good atmosphere+friendly!bewhere scary leather coat wearing(with tippex designs) when drunk
• Roadmender aint quite what it used to be - gigs very sparse - check out the Soundhaus.
• The Racehorse pub (Wellingborough Road) has really good gigs on Friday nights if you like stuff like Korn, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit etc. And it only costs £3 to get in.
• roadmender!! it has some wicked bands playing there no its been done up!!
• Never been there but Roadmender I guess. The Manics played there in 1992 and 1994 so it has obviously gone downmarket since then
• Soundhaus is pretty kick ass. Roadmender regualrly hosts the 'big' bands.
• Roadmender.
• roadmender, it rules!!!!!
• Roadmender. Nuff said.
• Okay if you like very bad Beastie Boys wannabes, obnoxious Radiohead copyists, third-rate R&B drudge and Irish folk music.
• The Roadmender.
• Soundhaus, Roadmender are the two main venues there is the racecourse but the first two are the best
• Sweat is OK
• RAcehorse, my friend is the Landlord so I thought he is OK, Cricketers Arms as well.
• The newly refurbished Roadmender is certainly a more attractive venue than it was back in the day, however as yet there seems to be no improvement in the prestige of the bands being attracted to what is essentially the largest venue in a large student town with a thriving music scene. Still the local talent is always proudly represented with regulars like lincoln and Junior Loaded putting on a goood show.
• Roadmender is brilliant. Rocking Horse is a classy little venue, reasonable price drinks, quite cosy and good for up and coming bands.
• Roadmender is no open!! The toilet is still tiny... It take a hour to get served but they don't poison you with Zamek larger anymore!
• Aaah, that crumbling dump The Roadmender, 'Northamptonshire's Premier Arts and Music Venue'. Is it arse; it's been closed for about two years and every time I see it it's in a worse state than before, even though they're 'renovating' it. I still wait for the day it opens again though.
• Racehorse Tuesdays, some Sundays (indie) Mollies Fri, Sat (r+b, mostly crap but open till 12 at weekends). Cricketers Arms, Hervey St. Wed, Sat (r+b)
• still the roadmender although the Racehorse pub has a back room , the 'Rocking horse' that hosts some localish bands every so often. You might catch some gigs at the Bass clef, but only on a friday night.
• Roadmenders
• All has now gone to shit Northampton was a great music place in the 80s now its best to wear ear muffs
• The Blackbottom Club (big international performers on a Blues tip). The Charles Bradlaugh (Sunday Nights). Big bands have started using the Picturedrome as a warm up venue.

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Last updated: 2011-04-12