Band on the Wall

An amazing venue, sadly often overlooked because of its location, but amazing nonetheless!
All of the basics of a great venue are here. Well looked after, great in-​house sound, polite staff, not too big/​small, well stocked bar etc etc but there’s so much more to this place.
The variety of events they put on is outstanding, working with a bunch of partners to help bring acts you wouldn’t always see in the UK to our shores. This in itself makes BOTW worthy of 5 stars.
On top of that, Band on the Wall is oozing with over 200 years of history, which just makes the place so much more appealing for me. I won’t bore you with all of the details here, but I highly suggest checking our the extensive archive on their site:
Pretty much my favourite venue in Manchester. I don’t see that changing any time soon!

Pub attached to a music place. Having indie pop today (pretty lousy). Not really special here and only two cask beers. Would not cone here unless a really good band was playing!

A little treat which was quite unexpected — attending a music event I was a little early & hungry… lucky for me there’s onsite catering in a friendly bar area. A mixed plate of the daily curries on offer was delicious and good value. A tasty selection was available with the option of having a mix of the curries rather than being stuck with a single choice of one dish. The dining area is clean and functional with a good bar selection available. A pleasant surprise!

For some reason I thought Band on the Wall would be a small, scruffy, underground situation but it has a large, slightly corporate hipster, but very well presented and comfortable bar with some vicious 5% cider on tap. Like Sound Control, it does well on the clean and plentiful ladies loos, which is a nice change from the door fell off and it’s just a hole in the ground scenario.
The performing space is also large and it’s good to have a mix of the downstairs standing area (with some seating along the side to the front) and upstairs tables and chairs. However it does feel a bit empty on a Monday open mic night like the one I went to. Also, although I bear in mind it was a Monday and open mic, the quality of the music was a bit sub par. Out of three acts not one was particularly good which was a bit disappointing — you expect open mic to be a bit hit and miss in terms of both quality and whether it fits your own taste but I did expect a bit better and to like at least one act. So bear in mind this is a risk you take going to a night you haven’t been to before and/​or when you don’t know the artists, even at a place this well established and professional.
All that said, it’s a great venue and I’ll definitely be back to sample their other more popular nights.

Band on the Wall — yes!
Myself and Elite Unilocaler Nicolas R attended the most boutique CMYE so far at Band on the Wall on Saturday night and instantly I thought what an amazing place! Another Manchester institution that has just been missed by me with waiting for the right gig to appear and on Saturday the draw of Mad Professor was too much to pass up!
Having a full refurb a few years back you’ve basically got an amazingly fresh venue that nods to its classic architecture and is a pretty big even though it feels intimate. The main music hall is a great place to get up close and personal with the performer on stage and the upper balcony is perfect for a chilled out viewing if dancing isn’t high on your agenda.
The bars are stocked with a few good beers (the First Chop Porter and Squawk IPA sorted us out) even if most of the beers on tap were crappy lagers. The loos are huge, plentiful and clean — the exact opposite of a lot of music venues!
Overall an amazing night out and experience, I’m so combing the listings of band on the wall every month from now on!

I’ve been playing gigs at this venue for a good 20 years! Despite its closure! But seriously this is a fundamental venue on the Mancunian music scene and was a stepping stone to my awesome years as a musician! Awesome bands, outstanding venue with incredible heritage. This place just vibrates with what it means to love music and live in Manchester. Go there or you know NOTHING.
I have now thoroughly amused myself.

One of my favorite live music venues, Band on the Wall is pretty famous for its shows. It is a great place that does venture out from jazz to offer a decent variety (folk and even some reggae and soul). The poor comments I have heard about it are usually concerning employee dress — I couldn’t care less about that– or being unable to hear to carry on a conversation? That’s ridiculous– you don’t go to see live music and expect to have an intimate conversation during the show…
Just know that if you go — it gets crowded (as any live music venue tends to) and even more so with it being a big tourist draw. None-​the-​less, if you are a music-​lover — GO!

Had an excellent time at the Craig Charles night at Band on the Wall. The music was brilliant and the live band superb. Danced so much my feet hurt. Craig Charles really knows how to get the crowd going the whole place had a real party atmosphere. Definitely go and try it if you haven’t already.

I went to this place many years ago but I’m told it has had a major refurbishment quite recently.
It’s an excellent venue. I wish more places were like this — compare Manchester’s awful Sound Control as a contrast. The venue is essentially 2 rooms. One is a bar with a decent range of drinks, nice staff (both bar staff and bouncers) with plenty of room. Next door is the main venue room which is small to medium size but with a deceptive amount of space to the rear where there is a bar, and upstairs on the balcony. Some may grumble about the pillars which are dotted about but I found you could move around the place easily enough although the show I saw wasn’t packed.
The sound system was really good. Readers of my reviews may know how fussy I am about sound, but it worked a treat for the Dead Skeletons last night, and they produced quite a noise.
Conveniently situated slightly to the north of the city centre it’s easy for public transport, and we even managed to park without much difficulty. Lots of fast food and eateries around so good for grabbing a snack after.
Recommended!

This definitely has turned out to be my favorite venue for watching live performances. I have been to several jazz clubs and bars across UK and Europe but I cant help but give a 5 star review to Band on the Wall.
They don’t just have live performances but they have some real good quality bands playing from across the globe. I would much rather pay 15 quid entry here than pay the same for any club where you can barely enjoy yourself (Probably I am getting old). Let me start with my experience last night where Jenn Bostic played with her band, I had no idea who she was (Wasn’t even that keen on going) but when I heard her sing I was bowled over. I looked her up later when I got back (yes she was that good) and realized that she is a pretty big deal out there. She is a country and blues singer/​songwriter and some of her songs specially the one about her father actually got a tiny drop of tear rolling down my cheek (doesn’t happen very often, I can assure you).
The venue is big with a seating area outside where you can get a drink and chill if you are tired of standing. The crowd was very sophisticated, mostly working professionals with the exception of a few tamed down students (who like good music). Having said that they definitely made a good audience and kept cheering, clapping and singing along. Jenn kept mentioning how much she loved the audience that even though it was a Monday night they were full of enthusiasm and if i must say the venue was quite packed (Surprised to see that).
Verdict: If you like music, this is a place you MUST visit. I am definitely going to be a regular here!

OK, OK, I know that I am obviously biased towards this particular venue, it being the place of my employ. But having spent the vast majority of my time in this venue over the last year, both for work and as a punter, I can honestly say that it is one of my favourite venues in the city, if not the country.
First and foremost, there is such an eclectic mix of events held at Band On The Wall that there is certainly something for everyone. From their various reggae nights (including Night Of The Living Dread on 21^st September), to their high level of involvement with the We Face Forward festival that ran throughout Manchester this summer, to the bi-​annual Beer and Blues festival, to their incredibly popular club nights (Soul:ution, Mr. Scruff and Craig Charles all have residencies there), it’s not hard to see why this is one of the best loved venues in Manchester. All this, and I haven’t even touched on the live music gigs they hold there up to seven days a week yet! I have seen everything from SambaSunda (Sundanese gamelan fusion all the way from west Java), to Lee Fields on a comeback tour, to Cass McCombs, to D.J. Format performing a D.J./V.J. combo! There have been country gigs, lots of jazz gigs, folk gigs, unsigned nights… anything and everything you can think of for live music as probably happened at Band On The Wall — and if it’s not happened yet, it’s probably happening in the next couple of months!
They are very accommodating, and have hosted birthday parties, weddings, staff do’s, conferences, and Christmas parties as well as the live music nights. Obviously, I know the staff personally, but everyone is always happy and smiling, and makes the time to speak to customers, ensuring people are satisfied with their evening and are having as good a time as possible. Also, the range of booze available is fantastic (much better than most music venues) and it’s very reasonably priced for anywhere in the Northern Quarter, let alone a venue!
Although, as I say, it could be perceived as bias on my part, everything I have said about the variety of events and happy temperament of the staff has been reinforced by customers on a very regular basis. If you are looking for a special night out around Manchester, it’s definitely worth checking out. And for those of you who would like to learn something a bit more about musicianship, they have a great range of Learning and Participation programmes running throughout the year, from guitar lessons, to the Picturehouse Choir and tap workshops. One of the most popular Learning and Participation groups is Shake, Rattle ‘n’ Roll, which is held on a Saturday morning where parents can bring their babies and toddlers to Band On The Wall to play with baby-​safe instruments in a family-​friendly environment. Something for absolutely everyone! If you’ve not been to a night here and you are in to live music, you must change this immediately! I hope to see you there in the not-​too-​distant future!

My second venture to Band on the Wall was for a Craig Charles funk and soul night last weekend — my first venture was buying the ticket from their box office a few days before.
The staff in the ticket kiosk were efficient, quick, and while seeming like they wouldn’t suffer fools they added a smile with their service. The same can be said for the door staff, who I witnessed helping a couple who had lost their E-​ticket to locate the confirmation in their inbox (at which point we cheered — this didn’t seem to be desirable behaviour from their point of view… But we were having fun!)
From a music perspective, the venue is brilliant. Quite a small but wide room, allowing for much needed elbow-​dancing room. Craig was hanging off the balcony announcing the acts, the volume wasn’t deafeningly loud (my pet hate of music venues) and you could see all of the stage from most points in the room. Nice warm and modern décor in the bar area and friendly barstaff might just have helped this into my top 3 Manchester music venues.

Band on the Wall is a really great music venue, educational space, bar and club. Having undertaken a huge redevelopment, BOTW reopened its doors a few years ago and has grown from strength to strength, now sitting high as one of Manchester’s best cutting edge performance venues.
BOTW is split across two main spaces, one large room with a stage, bar and balcony, and ‘The Picturehouse’ which is a more intimate bar and lounge space. Hosting regular club nights, one-​off gigs and open for hire for private parties, there is always something happening at Band on the Wall. As well as providing a platform for music and performance, BOTW also hosts educational workshops and provides space for youth groups and art organisations. BOTW is an ethically run business and works to feed energy and profits back into the local creative scene, this ethic comes through when speaking to the wonderful staff who are always friendly and cheery.
A great place to drop by and discover something new, or just pop in for a drink at one of the lovely bars, Band on the Wall really offers something different and is well worth a look.

I have been to this place just once but was taken back by how good it was. Looking at it from the outside i didn’t quite know what to make of it but when you get inside its warm, welcoming and a cool place to enjoy music. I’m not really a gig type of person and went here with a few friends to watch Craig Charles and his monthly DJ set with a live jazz band it was fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of music taste. The venue is medium to smallish yet intimate and from anywhere in the main room your right in the middle of the action. The bar is well stocked and is in a nice side part of the venue so you can sit down and take it easy for a moment if you want. The prices weren’t to bad either and all the staff (from getting tickets to the doorman) were very helpful and really nice people. The main room layout allows for a cracking atmosphere and for when we went the tickets were very well priced as well so I would definitely recommend a visit!

Many people before me have spoken about the re-​opening of Band on the Wall, however as I was not a Manchester resident when it was opened before (nor of a gig-​going age) I do not remember its former status-​symbol within the city. All I can comment on is what it is now and THAT is just amazing!
What a venue! There is nowhere else like it in Manchester, let alone anywhere else in the whole of Blighty that I have ever been to. It’s setting is a beautiful old building at the back of Manchester’s most bohemia area– The Northern Quarter and it’s interior does not let you down either! It’s a juxtaposition between the old and the new. Elaborate Edwardian cornicing meets crazy 3D carpets with images of headphones and cables stretching across the floors.
The venue is big enough to attract large acts but still small enough to feel intimate, cosy and calm, something which most other music venues seem to miss the mark on.
Next to the large venue space is The PictureHouse which is usually open before gigs and serves fantastic food. It usually has offers on for pre-​gig eating and there is often a prize draw to win tickets to future gigs included in your meal.
Great venue, always a good atmosphere, always worth a visit. 5 stars!

Now this is certainly a place to catch a band if you can. Band on the Wall has been refurbed and redecorated after four years of being lost in the darkness and is now run by the not-​for-​profit charity Inner City Music. It’s odd to think that while this redevelopment took place, the Northern Quarter grew and grew with luxury apartments and more cool bars than you can shake a stick at moving in, so it’s great to see that Band is still a popular venue.
It’s the musical roots that win out here, and the fresh paint and restyle really boost it without taking away from its original quirky charm. With a sophisticated vibe that manages to remain calm despite the big acts playing here, it’s testament to the fact that this is where the true musos and more mature clientele come to watch live music. Add to this the fact that the staff are friendly and welcoming and you’ve got a pretty perfect venue.
Band on the Wall has been going for longer than most of its revellers these days are probably aware of. It’s a stop-​off for many touring jazz, punk, soul, hip hop, reggae and funk artists and home to much underground music. The décor is more than kooky enough for the Northern Quarter and with the Picturehouse next door, a Grade 2 listed former cinema now a drinking space for concert-​goers to meet, it ticks all the boxes. In fact the Picturehouse has a box office for Band on the Wall making it an ideal pre-​gig stop.
With more beers to choose from than you ordinarily get at gig venues and a bunch of fantastic restaurants nearby, Band on the Wall makes for a great night out. Keep an eye on the listings and please do check it out.

Hallelujah!
After four years of redevelopment, not-​for-​proft charity Inner City Music finally re-​opened the doors of Band on The Wall last September. Aside from redecoration and a spacious chill out area, the main difference to the legendary music venue is the stage. There’s a spanking new state of the art PA system installed, new lights, new audio-​visual equipment and for the jazz fans amongst you, a concert grand piano.
What’s more, the venue looks set to make local funk, soul, blues, jazz, hip hop and world music fans extremely happy with a packed programme of live shows and deejays most nights of the week. They’ve already had gigs from Breakestra, Nitin Sawhney and The Mad Professor and Southern soul legend Candi Staton is set to grace the stage in April.
The show you have to reserve a ticket for however, is 27 March when 10 piece band Introducing will be attempting to recreate DJ Shadow’s seminal Entroducing album live. Yup, that’s note for note, loop for loop, for the very first time, live AND in front of an audience!
Listen:

Where I work they have Xfm playing most days and so constantly for over a week all I heard about was Athlete playing Band on the Wall. Literally. Oh wow, they aren’t selling tickets. You have to enter competitions on the radio. La dee da.
But it got me wondering about this newly reopened music venue slash club so went along for a few drinks. And it was really cool. I couldn’t actually stay that long as we were meeting some people somewhere else but for the brief drink that I managed here I got a good feel for what they are trying to do with this place.
Its all about the music here at this not for profit venue run by Inner City Music so I was gutted not to see a band whilst I was there but I will definitely be returning. Plus Mr Scruff’s Keep It Unreal club night is here from this month on and there is such a variety of live music — from Polar Bear, soul and jazz to The Magic Numbers.

Newly reopened and remodelled to within an inch of its life. Traditionalists might not like the nouveau swankiness but traditionalist is just another word for ‘please don’t ever change, it frightens me and makes me question my place on the planet’ so, you know…
Not only is this bar apparently on the Wall, it has also jumped on the fairly recent bandwagon of mixing band and club nights– which if you’re nights are like mine, is awesome as it stops all the moaning, whilst I do love my little band of pals for being individuals some Saturdays I could quite easily hurt them with the wrong end of a spoon.
Turn up, watch a band do it properly till around 11, then do it really wrong yourselves till 3. Perfectico.

This bar has really got it right since reopening. The music could not get better, the crowd is just the right type of people I want to spend my Saturday nights with and the prices are fairly decent!
When a club closes you expect it to reopen with fresh ideas but more than that you can tell the owners of this bar wanted to complete reinvent it and I applaud them for all there hard work and effort. It paid of guys… ROCK ON!