Well as any of you locals will know there are plenty of mid-sized and smaller venue for good music in Leeds; Cockpit, Leeds MET, Wardrobe, Joseph's Well, Brudenhall Social even the City Varieties but why oh why do we still not have a decent LARGER sized venue?

If I want to go see a band of any larger popularity, why do I have to go to Sheffield or more frequently Manchester.

If the new Xscape in Castelford worked out that there was a catchment audience of 7 million within 45 minutes travel, then surely the same reasoning goes for music events. Hel, I'd be happy sharing it with other events.

The live music scene seems to be flourishing like a flower in Spring at the moment - and if Leeds wants to be taken seriously as an international centre then one of the things it is lacking is a venue that can cope with large scale events].

Discuss...

What about Roundhay Park and Elland Road?

we may not have any massive venues but in all fairness we are spoilt by our little venues, places like manc and newcastle may have the stadium size venues but they dont have the small 'grassroots' type venues, but it would b nice to see a nice big venue so we can see all the big bands that reflects the sive of the city and the area around it, also i think some1 told me that rounday park isnt allowed to host massive rock gigs any more!!

I'm watching the Charlatans at Leeds Uni.

What's the venue like? similar to Manchester Academy?

Not been to Academy in manc, is it at the uni or the met, the uni is an ok venue, but it get really hot its kinda a long thin venue kinda thing lol

Similar to Academy 2 - old University Refrectory hall. Leeds Uni is probably a few hundred bigger capacity though. It's a good venue - good acoustics, etc.

Unless it's at the Met Uni which is smaller

and squarer

Spoilt by small venues - yes, I agree, but It was the bigger venue I was on about really. Why do bands do Sheffield or Manchester but miss out on Leeds? Answer: Becuase for most medium to big bands there is nowhere for them to perform. When's the last time Elland Road put on something? Or Roundhay Park?

We need a permanent inside venue that is suitbale for a variety of purposes - not just music. Leeds is always harping on about how it's cutting edge, prosperous, growing etc etc - but a big event venue is a glaring omission.

I thought Leeds was getting an arena? I heard that a couple of years back. There was talk about them having an ice hockey team playing in it.

Its at the Refactory.

'I thought Leeds was getting an arena? I heard that a couple of years back. There was talk about them having an ice hockey team playing in it.'

yeah it was going to go on the side of elland road when leeds U had some money but i think it will b on hold for a few years!!

I did a search on a Leeds Development website and there are no current plans for an arena as far as anyone know, certainly no approved plans.

this refactory place, is this the long hall thing?

Yep, that's the bunny

Similar to MDH (Academy 2) but longer with a balcony .... after thinking about it, if the whole back of the refectory is opened up (it's partitioned) it's probably got a much bigger capacity, maybe like that of Academy 1 ?

photograph from the rear balcony....

Cheers for that.

Ye- I think since the T&C disappeared we have been lacking a medium to lare sized venue- which is a shame

I always thought that they might do something with the 2 old cinemas that closed down in town but doesn't look like it.

Still some good venues though and the calibre of bands touring in Leeds now seems a lot better

Not to put a dampner on the Refectrory but I do think its one of the worst venues around, specially for sold out gigs.
as you say, its longs and thin which means getting to the bar takes ages...the bar is at the back of the venue where you stand under loads of fluorescent ligths, it kinda ruins the atmos.And theres loads of pillar round the edge which not only block the view but screw the acoustics up.
the worst thing by far is the bogs. Theyre in the basement and it takes about 5 minutes to get to them! just keep them legs crossed instead!
The Manc Acadamey is a really basic venue but far better, much wider with a cans bar in the actual venue.
Leeds has gone down the pan for good size bands since the death of the T&C. I remember in one week years ago i saw Orbital, Primal Scream and Supergrass in the T&C....thats what leeds is lacking at the mo!
Personally though i quite enjoy my trips across to Manc (from York), lots of drinking time on the train and the venues are close to Oxord Road station

Your all right but the fact remains that a larger gig space would also allow other music genres in to the city and allow the piano competion a world stage that reflects its importance. its a disgrace to leeds an insult to the people and a shame on the local authority. an independent venue space would be ideal at the defunct international pool area, centrally placed and accsessible to the station and new supertram.

SSSSShhhhhhhh don't tell any one but I work for a security company and I've heard that the T+C is coming back, or the building willl be a music venue again. We do need an arena though. At least we get the Leeds festival!