Audio

Audio is seriously small and seriously loud, which gives it real character. However, our experience of Audio wasn’t great for several reasons:
We arrived shortly after the doors opened at 7. There was a series of support slots before the main act, Chali 2na. It was around 11pm when he took to the stage. (!!!)
After a few local hip hop acts, there was a final support band on the decks and with bongos. I really, really liked them. And then they played for an hour and a half. The gig itself was essentially a club night with a headlining act. Chali 2na seemed to be really late to the venue so it was probably necessary to fill until he arrived. But, until we saw him arrive, we just found it strange that the support slots had run over so much and that the staff hadn’t kept us in the loop. If you had to shoot off early or just weren’t out for a late night, I think you’d be a little peeved at having to miss the headline act. BUT, good job on Audio/​the promotors for booking local support acts. — Hearing rap with a Glasgow accent was entertaining!
A fight broke out as we were leaving the venue, and it turned nasty really quickly. With just one bouncer in the venue, this wasn’t sufficient and it wasn’t nice to say it spiral out of control. It soon descended to the street and we just had to ask if the staff had phoned the police because we were worried about what might happen. We were shocked that they hadn’t so chose to do so ourselves to dissolve the situation. Understandably, these things happen but the venue needs additional security on site for nights as busy as this one, and they also need to call the police when necessary.
Also, there’s no cloakroom but you can put your jacket behind the bar for £1. Although, there is limited space so be quick before it runs out. Once the space is full, people left their jackets and coats around the side. We took our valuables out and did the same and our jackets were as we left them.
Another downer is that the place gets a bit sticky and messy as the night goes on as staff don’t seem to collect empties until the night is done.
Negative points aside, staff on the door and at the bar were really great and, despite the fact that the night was a busy one, there was no need to wait at the bar for long at all, as service was speedy. (And also really friendly.)

I had fun at this wee venue. You get to close to the bands. I went to see the band Green Jello and met them

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Audio before heading there last Friday night, and must admit I wasn’t much encouraged by its location. So I was very pleased to find that it’s another of Glasgow’s hidden gems, a great (if somewhat rough around the edges) wee music venue tucked under Central station.
We were there to see one of my favourite local artists, Lou Hickey, and the venue was the perfect size. It wasn’t a big crowd but neither is the space in Audio. The sound quality was also great, and even though you could occasionally hear the rumble of trains above, this somehow only added to the charm of the place.
The choice behind the bar wasn’t spectacular but wasn’t terrible either and it was heartening to see their main draft lager was Williams Bros rather than Tennents. At £9.50 for a round of 3 drinks that included a wine, the prices were pretty reasonable too, especially for a music venue.
We definitely all enjoyed our night there and I’ll definitely be looking out for more interesting gigs at Audio in the future!

This was my first time at Audio, The accoustics were very good, it seemed a bit dark and had a bit of a damp smell as it is in the railway arches, they had a very well stocked bar and best of all seats I am getting told to stand at gigs nowadays.
I was going primarily to see Lou Hickey, but we also caught Fiach Moriarty, who is a charming funny talented young man from Dublin from Dublin. He has had two albums out the first debuted @ 62 in the Album charts, his second ‘The Revolution’ tackles subjects such as The 1916 Easter Rising, World War 1 and Los San Patricios (the Irish brigade in the 19^th century Mexican Army) and debuted in the Irish charts at number 29.
Then came Lou Hickey Scottish singer, songwriter, vintage obsessed, gin enthusiast, Ice-​hockey and Rugby fan. A sexy mix of quirky jazz & burlesque glamour, Lou’s retro pop perfectly reflects her vintage style.
I first heard Lou in 2008, in Codiene Velvet club when she collabarated with John Lawlor aka John Fratelli, there debut single, Vanity Kills, Lou often performs @ Club Noir where she sings and DJ’s. Lou had also had a solo career from 2006 and Codiene Velevet Club was dibanded in 2010, since then Lou has once again had a solo career, returning last night after having a wee son Lochlan.
Last night we were treated to songs from her latest album True Love Ways
Minutes Hours Days, Tap Dance and in honour of Halloween Zombie love and many more.
I will certainly look out for future events at Audio I loved the atmosphere.

It’s a bit like going to a gig in somebody’s garage. A garage where they’ve spent the last week working out and lifting weights and it’s got that stale sweat smell happening. Despite that, it’s actually a cracking wee venue. Somebody’s literally just taken a small space under a railway arch and put in a bar and a stage. The sound is surprisingly good and it’s a fantastic venue for smaller bands with smaller audiences. I was there last night for a very noisy metal gig and despite the small audience, the atmosphere was really good.
It tickled me no end that you just walk in off the street and straight into the performance space. Every time somebody went out the door you could see the street. Anybody walking past must have been like ‘What is that noise!!!‘
It was £3.50 for a pint which isn’t the most expensive for a gig venue (less than the Classic Grand and the O2 Academy for definite). Didn’t check out the ladies so can’t comment on that. It’s basic and it’s not fancy but it does the trick and it’s nice to have spaces where smaller bands can put on decent gigs with decent sound.

Small and sweaty, low ceilinged and noisy. A great little venue for smaller bands to play as it fills quite easily to give a good atmosphere.
Very much frills-​free, though. The loos are… functional. And the bar is small. It’s also pretty expensive, so I’d recommend punishing your liver pre-​gig along the road at the Wetherspoons if you’re on a budget.