Wandering around York, it won’t take long before you stumble across a street performer busking on the corner. This was the case for John Squire of The Stone Roses, who came across Chris Helme busking along Main Street. Before long, Helme would be the frontman of The Seahorses, Squire’s post-Stone Roses project which over the years has grown to cult status amongst British rock fans. What started for Helme as busking on the streets of York and performing at open mics in pubs would quickly lead to him performing at Glastonbury in 1997.
Helme’s story perfectly epitomises the strengths of York’s music scene and the incredible opportunities its many venues, open mics in pubs, and spaces for performance provide. York is by no means on the touring circuit for large bands or headline acts, but what it does offer is a wealth of smaller venues and an inclusive, welcoming and supportive community for new bands to get up and running.
In this way, York is the perfect city for people hoping to start a band and get noticed. Its relatively small population and wealth of performing spaces mean there is ample opportunity to land yourself a gig and with luck, amass some fans, becoming known in the city and beyond.
The starting point for most bands is the University incredible Band Society, who offer regular meet and jams to help you meet like-minded potential band mates and provide a space in the University to perform. Bands, such as Everything After Midnight, Gents and Ginger, and Suspicious Liquid, have followed this path and made a name for themselves in the city, playing at the Battle of the Bands and going on to perform at venues in York and beyond.
The standout locations for someone wanting to watch quality live music must be The Crescent and The Fulford Arms. This converted working men’s club is a special place at the beating heart of York’s music scene. Independently run, it serves as both a quality pub and community space as well as a brilliant 300 capacity venue. This makes it perfect for hosting bands of various sizes for intimate gigs, as well as DJ sets, Reggae and Rave nights, and even open decks if you fancy trying your hand at DJing. Some notable acts that have played this venue recently have been The Big Moon, Personal Trainer, Bull, Serotones, English Teacher and Billie Marten. Any self-respecting music fan would be mad not to follow The Crescent to keep up to date with future gigs being announced, such as Pip Blom this December. It's fair to say that experiencing a performance at The Crescent is special; one that you will not easily forget.
The Fulford Arms has a smaller capacity but is no less busy with performances. Offering a regular space for local bands from around York, this is often the first point of call if you are to make it big in the city, whilst also providing a space for the occasional bigger name. For example, The Bluetones performed an acoustic gig there in March. The Fulford Arms also hosts the finals of the Battle of the Bands, an event not to be missed - it is the highlight of the year for Band Society.
If you’re after a more established act to watch then the York Barbican has you covered, with Ryan Adams, The Pretenders, Squeeze and The Waterboys all scheduled to play this coming year. It's safe to say that whilst the Barbican is a brilliant venue, it nevertheless caters to an older audience than the University. In my opinion, where York shines is the opportunities it provides bands with before they get big. If you want to truly embrace York’s music scene, you must embrace the unexpected; take a chance on a band you haven’t heard before and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.
This is where York’s music scene excels and where the best memories are made. Having the opportunity to watch someone who then may go onto establish themselves as one of Britain’s leading bands is something I find exciting. Plus, spending £15 supporting local venues and up-and-coming bands as opposed to £150 to watch a mega star from a restricted view in a stadium, is a far better investment.
Finally, York’s music scene should not be viewed in isolation. As York is blessed with incredible transport connections, the North is your oyster! Trains to Leeds take only thirty minutes and you can get to Manchester in under an hour and a half, both with services running into the early hours of the morning - so there’s no chance you’ll be stranded overnight. Leeds and Manchester both have incredible venues and attract some of the best bands around, so don’t be afraid to travel, as great music is never far away in York.
