BRISTOL THEKLA IN RUNNING FOR NME SMALL VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARD
When you think of gig venues in Bristol there’s one that instantly springs to mind and that’s the Thekla, so it comes as no surprise to us that everyone’s favourite boat venue has been named the best small venue in the South West in the NME Small Venue Awards. Built in 1959, the Thekla first saw it’s transformation into an arts venue in the 1980s. With a brief reprise in the late 80s/early 90s it returned to prominance as a nightclub/live music venue. It was taken over by DHP group, who put on gigs across the country, in 2006 and has remained in their safe hands ever since. The Thekla has played host to some of the most exciting bands of recent years – including James Blake, Yuck and Noah and the Whale and has helped local bands cut their gig teeth too with support slots. And it also featured in our nautical themed fashion shoot last year! The NME’s Best Small Venue Award aims to highlight how vital small venues are to bands and the Uks music scene and was launched by Friendly Fires last month. Having beaten off competition from forty other venues in the country to reach the final stages of the search, the Thekla is now on the shortlist to win the UK wide competition. A panel of industry insiders including former Undertones frontman and head of the UK Music organisation, Feargal Sharkey, Festival Republic boss Melvin Benn, Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens and Friendly Fires will spend the next few days judging the competition. The overall winner will be announced tomorrow (June 21).
Photo by Mat Hampson via Flickr
