MUSIC
ATTENDING YOUR FIRST GIG “Let’s face the facts, 2020 hasn’t been that fantastic for students.”
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Locked down for weeks doing uni work, not being able to see friends and not being able to go out. But do not despair, for many of you reading this you will have just arrived at NTU as a fresher ready to embark on a new chapter in your life. University is not an easy step for all of us and settling in can sometimes be a challenge, but as weeks go by, you’ll soon find new friends and friends with similar interests and for many people that interest can be the wonderful world of music. Nottingham has a fantastic live music scene that has been growing over the past few years with artists such as Jake Bugg and London Grammar all originating from the city. With all this great music on offer, how does one enjoy it live? How do I go about attending my first gig?
The Venues: Where To Go and Why. There are numerous venues across the city that host various gigs, each of which offering a different style of music. Nottingham is of course home to the famous Rock City and is a fantastic venue for a gig. The lower rooms of Rock City host more intimate gigs with upcoming artists whereas the main room upstairs hosts more well-known musicians. In the past year Lewis Capaldi, Krept and Konan, Mabel, GIGGS (would recommend) and many other big names have all performed at the venue. The gig guide on their website breaks down all of their upcoming events with a huge variety of genres from rap to indie rock. There really is something for everyone here. A gig at Rock City is a must for any NTU student and whether you are seeing a famous artist or a smaller band you’ve followed for many years, to experience them live at an intimate venue like this is unforgettable. Rock City is not the only best place for a gig, however. The Bodega and Rescue Rooms often feature some great artists and have more of an intimate feel. I watched an Icelandic rock band called The Vintage Caravan at Rescue Rooms and I can honestly say it was one of the best gigs I have attended. The smaller venue and the less ominous crowd of people made for an excellent experience so do not be afraid to try a smaller venue.
