There is a reasonable selection of alternative nights in Leeds, so there is bound to be one or two nights that you will like. While there may be a few that have been missed out, the nights that are covered should all be given a go at some point during your stay in Leeds.
Leeds University Union
As a contender for being the most commercialised union in the country, it would be against such a character for our beloved union to not cash-in on the general desire students have to drink late into the night whilst attempting, and for the most part failing, to move their body in time to some music in a manner that increases their chance of finding a willing mate. Thus the union has a plethora of nights resident in its three club rooms. The largest of these is the leviathan that is Stylus with its dance floor that demonstrates the earth's curvature and a main bar so large it has gained satellite bars. Mine is the medium room and just like all other medium-sized things is of an average size for a club room and has a bar that is reasonable in size yet is able to carry the same selection of drinks as Stylus. The baby of the three is known as Pulse and only comes with a bottle bar and dance floor that can be made to look full with a minimum of people. Unsurprisingly, the drinks prices are the same across all three bars and are expensive compared to the regular bars but about right for clubs that have been outfitted in the manner that they have (i.e. higher quality than would really be needed for a student club)
Where is it?
Inside the union building.
Price: 2
Overall: 3
Two Smokin' Barrels
The great prophet Nostradamus once made the prophecy that "There shall be a club night that cures AIDS and cancer, brings about world peace and allows humanity to ascend to a higher plane of existence. All that pay its very reasonable entrance fee shall become millionaires and fashions will change to make them all the sexiest people that ever existed. This night shall be known as Two Smokin' Barrels and shall be held every month at the LUU". Now parts of this prophecy have come true as there now does exist such a club night. Better still, this night is run by RockSoc so YOU can become involved in this night! We try to keep the night as open to every genre of rock as possible, so if you don't like what we play, let us know, as it is YOUR night. The night is usually every fourth Wednesday and runs from 9pm until 2am.
What do they play?
ACDC, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Muse, NIN, Nirvana, Prodigy, QOTSA, SOAD and Slayer
Where is it?
Pulse
Price: £4.00 (£1 discount for RockSoc members)
Overall: 5
Rock of Ages
Rock of Ages is, as you probably worked out from the name, a classic rock night. This night has grown up to become one of the most popular nights out in Leeds and a particular favourite of RockSoc, mainly because this is THE night to get the air guitars out and show Angus Young how the duck walk should really be done. The largest amount of time is given over to 80s rock and metal and with 70s rock and metal hot on its heels. You will occasionally see select 90s tracks with bands such as Guns and Roses and even the latest tracks from the rock gods are played now and then. We really recommend that you give this night a go as it never fails to deliver. It happens every First Saturday of the month from 9pm until 3am.
What do they play?
AC/DC, Whitesnake, Buckcherry, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Led Zep, Motley Crue, Queen, Megadeth, Guns and Roses
Where is it?
Mine
Price: £5.00 (£3 for RockSoc members)
Overall: 5
Wendy House
For those that were unaware, Leeds has had one of the longest-running Goth scenes on the planet. While some of this history is now lost (R.I.P. Phono), The Wendy House has for a long time been the centre of that scene. The Wendy House has a claim to be second only to London's Slimelight in size, certainly the largest in the north of the UK. People from far away make the monthly pilgrimage to this club night. One of the more... interesting... aspects of this night is the dressing up. From PVC to frilly ball gowns, corsets to fish-nets... and that is just the men! Any manner of crazed attire is welcome and encouraged at this night. In the main room there tends to be a mix of rock, goth related music, some metal, and the occasional bit of pop as well. In the second room, Mutate, you'll find darkwave, industrial etc, so it's the preferred room of the cybergoths. The night is every third Saturday of the month and runs from 9pm until 2:30am.
What do they play?
Room 1: Sisters of Mercy, Rammstein, Nine inch Nails, Cure, Marilyn Manson, Smiths, Depeche Mode, System of a Down, Pantera and... Britney Spears.
Room 2: Prodigy, VNV Nation, Pendulum, Chemical Brothers, Front 242, Faderhead, Scooter, CJ Bolland, Tiesto, Cybercide.
Where is it?
Stylus and Pulse
Price: £5.00 (£1 discount for RockSoc members)
Overall: 5
Leeds Met Student Union
A cheap night of drinking can be found here and there are usually different offers available. It is a pretty clean club which has two rooms, adequate seating as well as reasonable dance floor sizes. However, the place can feel like you are clubbing in a canteen a little bit, though it may just be personal taste as to whether this feels slightly uncomfortable.
Where is it?
Head in to town from the Parkinson building and it is on the right opposite the boat.
Price: 4
Overall: 3
F*U*E*L
This night features two separate rooms. The first room where the bar and all the seating is plays pretty standard metal and hard rock music and although it can get a bit heavy it covers most metal and hard rock bands including Metallica, Lamb of God, Disturbed, As I lay dying, Pantera and so on. The other room is much larger with music that many of us find lacking; think Fall Out Boy, Dizzee Rascal and Paramore though this is good if you are trying to drag less rock-y friends out to have a fun night of dancing. The set lists can often be pretty similar and overall it’s a very hit and miss place. Depending on the people you are with and everyone's moods it can be awesome or a bit shit. It is worth a visit though.
What do they play?
Room 1: Metallica, Killswitch Engage, Slipknot, Rammstein, Machine Head, Pantera, Tool, Limp Bizkit, Bullet For My Valentine, Lostprophets.
Room 2: A Day To Remember, Blink 182, As I Lay Dying, Beastie Boys, Billy Talent, Prodigy, Fall Out Boy, Brand New, Dizzee Rascal, Alexisonfire.
Price: £4.00
Overall: 3
The Cockpit
The Cockpit is a good-old-fashioned independent alternative club situated underneath 3 railway arches. It is a wonderful place, packed with music, dancing and a plethora of club nights! The Cockpit often attracts a myriad of bands so keep an eye on their website to see who is playing.
Where is it?
At the archway leading to the train station entrance, follow the road down hill and under the railway arches.
Price: 3
Overall: 3
Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk is a brilliant all rounder for all tastes in music. You can mosh to Metal, skank it up with a bit of Ska, rock out to a little Punk Rock, or you could actually dance to some Hip hop, Dubstep or Alternative Dance all in the same building. Now, that's bound to keep everybody happy right?
What do they play?
Room 1: Paramore, Blink 182, Jimmy Eat World, Billy Talent, New Found Glory, Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, Brand New, The Offspring, Rise Against.
Room 2: Deftones, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Pantera, Korn, System Of A Down, Bring Me The Horizon, Parkway Drive, Metallica, Every Time I Die, Lamb Of God
Price: £3.00
Overall: 4
The Session
A personal favourite of some of us. If you like good old-school Indie, Brit Pop, and a splash of Electro get on down to Session. Held weekly on a Friday night it is normally packed with a good mix of people. Usually there are good drinks offers on doubles. Expect to be dancing to The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nirvana, MGMT, Kasabian, The Smiths and a whole lot more.
What do they play?
Room 1: Friendly Fires, La Roux, The Cribs, The Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, MGMT, Radiohead, Bloc Party, Nirvana, Kings of Leon.
Room 2: Oasis, Blur, The Stone Roses, Primal Scream, Bob Dylan, Small Faces, The Jam, Arctic Monkeys, The Rolling Stones, Kasabian.
Room 3: Prince, Talking Heads, Bowie, Devo, Blondie, The Ronettes, The Smiths, The Cure, The Big Pink, Jay Z.
Price: £4.00
Overall: 4
The Garage
The Garage is The Cockpit on a Saturday. Featuring three rooms devoted to the gods of rock, the first two rooms have a weekly pounding of Metal, Punk, Hardcore and Rock. The third room has now evolved into a beautiful medley of four monthly club nights. Feast your eyes on this!
Pinky Swear - First Saturday of the month. Pop Punk/Hardcore/Emo.
Pop Rocks - Second Saturday of the month. For those guilty, guilty pop pleasures. Or to take you rock-phobic mates to.
Power Ballads - Third Saturday of the Month. A pure chunk of unadulterated rock at it's best. For hair swishing, air guitar strumming goodness.
Return to... - A proper old fashioned sticky floored classic punk night. A celebration of being young and angry, and having something to say.
What do they play?
Room 1: AC/DC, Prodigy, Slipknot, Biffy Clyro, Beastie Boys, System of a Down, Blink 182, Kings of Leon, Fall out Boy, Led Zeppelin.
Room 2: The Strokes, MGMT, Pixies, The Cure, Nirvana, The Clash, The Ramones, The Smiths, Blondie, Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
Price: £5.00
Overall: 4
O2 Academy
By night, the O2 academy is an unassuming mid-sized venue where many great bands play. By err... night... it transforms into a host venue for a mix of different club nights. While these nights have traditionally are the type to avoid, an alt-night has just opened up in their basement giving us reason to actually visit the rooms that the club nights are held in. While you do find yourself following a winding corridor to actually get to said basement, once there you find yourself in a room of size best described as "just right". From then-on you are bombarded with all manner of light effects. There is a reasonable amount of seating around the outside of this modern-decorated club room.
Where is it?
Just before you hit the Technology Collage heading into town from the university, turn right. It is the church-like building.
Price: 2
Overall: 3
Crisis
This is the new kid on the block of the Leeds alternative music scene, but seems to be gaining momentum with its mix of bands on the cutting-edge of rock and those songs that overwhelm you with a sense of nostalgia. This is one that you should definitely check out.
What do they play?
Alexisonfire, Deftones, Wu Tang Clan, Biffy Clyro, Hot Water Music, Blink 182, Protest the Hero, Glassjaw, Rival Schools, and Paramore.
Price: £5.00
Overall: 4
The Library
The Library has a medium-sized function room upstairs. This room, while not as looked-after as the downstairs area has begun to host club nights in addition to its usual repertoire of comedy nights. The bar selection is a scaled down version of the downstairs bar. Being normally used for comedy acts, the lighting for a club atmosphere is a little lacking.
Where is it?
Opposite Takeaway Row
Price: 4
Overall: 3
Flock
On the first Saturday of each month the Library is host to Flock, a great night with DJs playing the best in goth, industrial, 80s, punk and new wave tunes. This night has a brilliant atmosphere and the amazing outfits on display mean that even when you need a break from boogying you can entertain yourself people watching.
What do they play?
Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Combichrist, Angelspit, Gary Numan, VNV Nation, Depeche Mode.
Price: £4.00
Overall: 5
- Printer-friendly version
- Login or register to post comments
