The Roadhouse

A music venue as it should be… in a basement… dark…and with a line up you wished you’d seen there 10 years later.
I’ve seen the kings of leon, elbow, roots manuva, puppini sisters and gomez to name just a few!
The roadhouse will be missed

A +++++ for the monday night. I used to dance there with my friends and no one was disturbing.
A for dirt, and girl toilets.

Roadhouse is probably the coolest club in Manchester. Its best night is Revolver, which has for years taken the Monday night slot.
It plays retro music, everything from James Brown to Jonestown. Plenty of Marvin Gaye and other lads of that type.
The place itself is great too. The best part is the two bars. One bar is completely normal, selling a wide range of drinks at normal prices, and the other is the cloak room. At the clock room you can not only get rid of your coat for a quid, but you can also buy a bottle of Carling for a quid as well. If you’re like me this will sort you out for the whole night for less than a tenner.
They’ve also got table football which is a right laugh.

Three words: red glittery walls. Man I love those red glittery walls. Sure, when you’ve has a little bit too much to drink, and you fall over, it scrapes the palm of your hand like sandpaper. But when you don’t fall over, the walls are lovely and exciting and make this scabby wee basement club a little more glam. In like a dirty chipped nail varnish ripped tights black eye punk kind of way. Like the Soho Dolls, yes? Yes.
Clubnights here range from rock to electro, with bands as diverse as can be coming to play to small and dedicated crowds. The day I blagged guestlist for Maps here, was the day I arrived! Well, not really, but it was amazing. That is easily the best gig I have ever been to.
My fave nights here are Revolver and Sex With Robots. Both fantastic nights with DJs who know their stuff and are happy to let the crowd go a little crazy.
Drinks can be expensive, but not excessively so. And if you’re there on Monday, it’s like £1.20 for a bottle of something. Fosters, or Becks, possibly. Anyway, you get that from the cloakroom, not the bar. Tip from me to thee there, love ya!

It’s dim, it’s dingy, the floor is sticky with substances unknown (shudder), the plaster is cracking and the toilets are utterly grim.
However, despite all the above, the Roadhouse has a place firmly in my affections. I’ve seen some of the best gigs of my life within the walls of this stalwart of the Manchester music scene. Les Rythmes Digitales in 1999 is a night I’ll never forget. And not just because when my friend and I arrived (horrendously early), Jacques Lu Cont was sitting having a drink in the bar area. The Roadhouse has attracted a wealth of incredible bands over the years (and an even bigger wealth of dire ones) and the atmosphere can be absolutely cracking. It’s very small and, as a result, can get very hot, but that’s all part of its dubious charm.
In addition to gigs, Contort Yourself is a club night (1^st and 3^rd Saturdays of the month) that plays (and I quote) «Cosmic Disco, Jacking House, Wonky Techno and 8-​Bit Baleria». Basically it’s a sweaty, noisy, gem of a night and well worth a visit

The Roadhouse. God bless every unfortunate that ever sailed in her — me included.
Basically, from the outside, you look at the Roadhouse and think «well, this looks like a dive». When you enter, your suspicions are confirmed.
In essence, everything about the Roadhouse is third division. 99% of the bands are dreadful that play there and the beer is, if I’m being kind, an acquired taste.
The floor is sticky and if you hold an arm up in an attempt to flag for assistance from an assault of landfill bedsit indie dross, chances are, you’ll touch a wiped bogey on the ceiling.
However, you don’t expect anything else from a venue that’s something of a local legend on the toilet circuit.
Watching a band playing here comes with the caveat of ‘one day they might be famous and I can bore everyone half to death in a few years about how I saw them Before They Were Famous’.
So for every band that makes it, you have to endure a gig by Northern Uproar treading water through their tricky, and loud, second album (thanks to an ex-​girlfriend whom I may never forgive) or some shlubs from Withenshaw who have supported every single group in the history of recorded music.
As a result, there’s something quite charming about the place. It’s a place for teenagers to enthuse about stupid no-​hope bands and doodle their names on their school-​bags.
It’s a rite of passage. It’s what rock’n’roll throws your way sometimes and one day, when you’re past it, you’ll think back on those days when you went to venues like this.

From the outside, the Manchester Roadhouse looks like a grim little hovel of a place. However, step inside and it magically takes on an almost romantic ambiance amidst the murk. Whilst it may be creaking at the seams a little due to its age — and the fact that it appears to fallen a little bit out of favour with touring bands — that doesn’t stop it being one of the best live music venues that the city has to offer.
Don’t let its size put you off. Whilst this venue may be small, it’s perfectly formed — and it’s also got a pretty amazing repertoire of bands (such as The Gossip, The White Stripes, Kings of Leon, British Sea Power) who have performed there in the past as well. Granted, this can make it feel a bit oppressive when it’s at capacity, but some would argue that this only adds to its charms. After all, where else would you be able to get so up close and personal with some of the best musical talent around at the moment?
Of course, I might just be biased because I’ve spent some of the best nights of my life at the Roadhouse. Hell, I even met my first love there back in 1996 (Kenickie were playing and he bought me a Pernod and Lemonade which still remains to date one of the foulest alcoholic beverages I’ve ever tasted). Unfortunately, the toilets there are still some of the grimmest in Manchester, but this is only one small flaw in what is, overall, a cracking little venue.

I’ve not been here for a live night, only for one of the club nights, and I remember being distinctly underwhelmed. I also remember being drunk and kissing a girl who kept biting my lip, so that may be distorting my memories of the venue somewhat.
The whole place seems kind of cramped and squashed, which I guess could be considered bohemian and cool, but mostly came off to me as annoying. I can agree with the popular opinion that the bar is expensive, which is another annoying thing, especially since i seems to be aiming for the student clique.
I suppose it’s worth visiting for the live music, and I intend to someday, but I couldn’t recommend going to the club nights really, not with so many other places in Manchester.

Just around the corner from Piccadilly station, the Roadhouse is basically the entrance to Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
It’s a small, couple of hundred capacity basement music venue that goes for sweat, stickiness and rock and roll rather than the bohemian chic of Night and Day or the Deaf Institute. The bar is at the side of the venue, which means that getting a drink doesn’t interfere with the people wanting to watch the bands. The staff are real friendly, but the drinks are slightly expensive. That said, the Roadhouse does put on great bands in on a consistent basis and probably has to pay for its city centre rates somehow or other.
The sound here isn’t totally fantastic, and the bank of sub speakers acting as a barrier is a bit odd, to be honest. Aside from that, I’ve seen some really good bands here like Tellison and Johnny Foreigner so the Roadhouse gets it right more often than not.
Come In The City time you’ll find bands doing sessions in the Roadhouse kitchen with John Kennedy on XFM. This place really is engrained and crucial to Manchester’s music scene.

The White Stripes
The Gossip
CSS
Aphex Twin
Death in Vegas
Kasabian
Lift To Experience
The Raveonettes
The Lemonheads
Sleater-​Kinney
Calexico
It might be dark and dingy but over the years, The Roadhouse has hosted some truly special gigs by some of the most interesting artists around. It doesn’t matter whether a band creates pop, rock, blues, funk or hip hop, if the boss and music programmer like the sound of them, they book ‘em! As a result, you could see an unsigned indie band one night and an established electro deejay the next.
Contrary to roadhouses in the U. S, this particular Roadhouse is in a basement on the border of the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly. The floor is sticky, the ceiling is low and the space is tiny. Luckily, all of this and the friendly staff makes for a great atmosphere and genuinely intimate venue.
Oh and they also have some cool club nights like Sex with Robots and Contort Yourself.
Gossip covering George Michael! Resistance is futile!!:

‘It’s all in the name.’ ‘You’re paying for the name.’ Just some of the phrases you will hear when money is passed for the sake of a clever moniker or the reputation behind it. So seems to be the case with The Roadhouse, as when I ask my musician friends (there I go again… it just happens to be the case! I move in those circles), they speak of it with disdain. Why is this the case when it’s so popular?
For one, ‘the sound system is shocking’. Out of the mouths of musical babes… but then I do recall, the few bands I’ve seen here I’ve not been able to hear properly, just a low-​set grungy fuzz noise that lingers in my ears long after my bedtime. Maybe that’s the idea. It’s retro, y’all. Beat down. Psyche. And whatnot. I’m not asking for crystal clarity by any means, but the audio aesthetics need to be reasonable. Perhaps it’s the way the place is built, with its low ceilings and absorbent walls. And that panel of glass can’t be doing anyone any favours.
Moving swiftly on, the drinks are a little too overpriced for the low-​key poor musician cheap student boho beatnik vibe The Roadhouse emanates, but the rule is, good bands, expensive beverages. I think. Indeed, a great deal of well-​respected artists pass through here as well as the usual unsigned fodder, and again this must have plenty to do with that good reputation. Although my beloved Blink 182, the first band I ever saw at a proper gig ten years ago (not one I got VIP tickets to via my famous indie star uncle… what?!? I know, my musical connections know no boundaries), were intending to play here but moved to the Academy instead. Hmm. Was this due to demand for tickets, or did they realise that pop punk on that fuzzy grungey sound system in a tiny room sounds worse than a five year old practising violin? Most likely the former, but I have my suspicions.
It may not be the greatest of venues in Manchester, but it’s quaint and dingy and authentic. If you catch a gig in there, maybe try those squidgy in-​ear defenders. You’ll look like the ultimate killjoy, but the aural joy will be all yours my friend. Even if you do look like you have neon chew sweets full of E numbers stuffed in your lugholes.

This place is small and very dark and feels a little grim. One thing that I will say about this venue however is that it has some of the best live music in the city.
I would say that this place is not a place that you go to if your all dressed up and ready to party. This place has a real rock/​grunge feel to it so be prepared to let your hair down and headbang to the early hours!

Getting down and dirty in a dindgy basement every week since the year dot, Roadhouse is a Manchester stalwart when it comes to unsigned acts who like to play LOUD. Just a quick glance over the website’s listings page will show you how serious this little man takes his music– it is jam packed with the best young talent this country has to offer. Dig out your Cons and get yourself down there this Friday– thank me Monday.

On its own, The Roadhouse is a grim little hovel of a bar with little to redeem it. However, it attracts some outstanding live music. As has been said in previous reviews, you’ll get to see bands here in a very intimate setting who might be massive in a couple of years time.
Occasionally they have slightly larger bands play, which is great but sells out quickly. Its also a fab place to see local talent at its best (and worst!). Other than the live performances though, I wouldn’t recommend it for a night out.

I don’t know how the Road House is doing now, but I loved going when I lived nearby.
I would walk downstairs with bikers, trashy mommas, and librarian teens into a small underground venue split by an open-​window wall. The ceiling was low, and everything was painted black.
It was here I saw Clinic just off their tour with Radiohead, and The Faint with Nylon Pylon before they got big. The former, that is, amongst too-​late American hipsters.
I didn’t go to country night or metal night, however.

Well known for live music but also hosting some tip top nights for people to get their groove on. Small basement tye venue with polite staff. Only thing that lets it down is the smell from the kebab shop upstairs!

I have been once to watch mull historical society. I like the music, but I really did not like the venue. It is dirty and i personally thought it is quite dangerous against health and safety as it was basement. But it is such a small venue, you can see the live more exciting and close to artists, which is good and give more energy! it would be good place to find new comer band before being famous! I think smaller venue is always better than bigger one !

I literally cannot believe that I haven’t already reviewed this place. Ah well, let’s fix that!
The roadhouse is one of the smaller gig venues in Manchester, catering almost solely for independent bands. As I’m more the kind of person who likes to have an idea about what they’re going to see, that means that I’ve not frequented the Roadhouse very often.
The two gigs that do stick in my mind are The Music (a Leeds-​based Madchester-​type band) and Roots Manuva (bit of a legend in the British Rap scene). Both times the place was packed and the atmosphere electric. The place is perfect for small moshy-​gigs, but i do dread to think what it looks like in the cold light of day…
I do recall the beer selection being terribly limited — like one or two piss lagers on tap — and nothing else. I remember resorting to drinking bottles of Newcy Brown Ale.

My first experience of the Roadhouse was an amazing, classic Cuban band they brought over for the night. Although dark, the surroundings were nice and relaxed and drinks weren’t too expensive either!
My fave night has to be a Monday when they play a great mix of 60’s Funk, Soul and R’n’B but it can get pretty packed, so grab your place in the queue early and hope it’s not too crazy.
Staff are great– can’t fault them. They even helped me out when? I lost some really important stuff in there

The Roadhouse has been here a LONG time, and the strain is begining to show a little. The nearby Night and Day Café tends to attract better bands nowadays.
This basement live music and club venue hosts events most nights. The décor is basic and the low ceiling and small size can make if feel a little oppressive, especially when it’s full.
However, I stll highly recommend the Monday club night ‘Revolver’ to anyone who likes their retro rock and soul. This night is always busy and attracts a stylish crowd.