Toilet circuit
Encyclopedia
The toilet circuit is the network of small music venue
s in the United Kingdom
which rising indie, rock
and metal bands must visit to gain support and promote themselves. It is so named after The Forum in Tunbridge Wells
, a staple venue of the toilet circuit, which is actually a public toilet converted into a venue. Most of Britain's large towns are home to at least one Toilet circuit venue, although a regular toilet circuit tour is only around 20 dates long at the most, meaning not all of the said venues are present in all toilet-circuit tours. Some towns however, such as London
, Manchester
, Glasgow
and Nottingham
, appear on almost every tour, and these towns accordingly have many venues which could be described as "toilet venues".
Rock Sound
TV has used the "Toilet Circuit" moniker to film a series of acoustic performances in the grimiest locations filmed in bogs, lavs, showers and crappers at music venues across the UK, featuring bands like The Blackout
, Thrice
, Futures
, Lights, Vessels and Deaf Havana
.
Music venue
A music venue is any location used for a concert or musical performance. Music venues range in size and location, from an outdoor bandshell or bandstand or a concert hall to an indoor sports stadium. Typically, different types of venues host different genres of music...
s in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
which rising indie, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and metal bands must visit to gain support and promote themselves. It is so named after The Forum in Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells
Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex...
, a staple venue of the toilet circuit, which is actually a public toilet converted into a venue. Most of Britain's large towns are home to at least one Toilet circuit venue, although a regular toilet circuit tour is only around 20 dates long at the most, meaning not all of the said venues are present in all toilet-circuit tours. Some towns however, such as London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, appear on almost every tour, and these towns accordingly have many venues which could be described as "toilet venues".
Rock Sound
Rock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
TV has used the "Toilet Circuit" moniker to film a series of acoustic performances in the grimiest locations filmed in bogs, lavs, showers and crappers at music venues across the UK, featuring bands like The Blackout
The Blackout (band)
The Blackout is a post-hardcore band from Merthyr Tydfil, Wales, formed in 2003. After some time backing Lostprophets on their Liberation Transmission Tour, along with Dopamine, Covergirl, Kids In Glass Houses, The Guns and Men, Women and Children, they released their first mini-album The Blackout!...
, Thrice
Thrice
Thrice is an American rock band from Irvine, California, formed in 1998. The group was founded by guitarist/vocalist Dustin Kensrue and guitarist Teppei Teranishi while they were in high school....
, Futures
Futures (band)
Futures is a four-piece rock band from Buckinghamshire, England. Futures received critical acclaim and widespread popularity whilst remaining unsigned and in June 2010 the band signed to Mercury Records.-History:...
, Lights, Vessels and Deaf Havana
Deaf Havana
Deaf Havana are an English alternative rock band from King's Lynn, Norfolk in the UK. The band was formed in 2005 at the King's Lynn campus of The College of West Anglia...
.
Notable toilet circuit venues
- The CharlotteThe CharlotteThe Charlotte was a live music venue in Leicester, England, on the edge of the City Centre, on Oxford Street, opposite De Montfort University. The venue finally closed on March 13th 2010....
, LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest... - The Cockpit, LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
- Esquire'sBedford EsquiresBedford Esquires is a pub, nightclub and live music venue, located in the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England.The venue is housed in a converted 19th century chapel. On the ground-floor is a regular pub and nightclub, mostly specialising in indie and alternative rock music.Both floors are used...
, BedfordBedfordBedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town... - The ForumTunbridge Wells ForumThe Forum is a 250 capacity live music venue in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent.The Forum is an independent music and arts venue in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.-Location:...
, Tunbridge WellsRoyal Tunbridge WellsRoyal Tunbridge Wells is a town in west Kent, England, about south-east of central London by road, by rail. The town is close to the border of the county of East Sussex... - Joiners ArmsJoiners ArmsThe Joiners Arms is a Public House and small music venue at 141 St Mary's Street, St Mary's, Southampton, England. It has played host to many up-and-coming bands such as Oasis and Coldplay. There are gigs most nights of the week by national acts and local bands. The venue is currently owned by...
, SouthamptonSouthamptonSouthampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest... - King Tut's Wah Wah HutKing Tut's Wah Wah HutKing Tut's Wah Wah Hut, also known as King Tut's, is a live music venue and bar in on St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland. It is owned and managed by Glasgow-based gig promoters DF Concerts...
, GlasgowGlasgowGlasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands... - The Leadmill, SheffieldSheffieldSheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
- Rock CityRock City (club)Rock City is a club in the city of Nottingham, England that focuses on live music.-Overview:Rock City, based in Nottingham City Centre, has a capacity of 2451, and is known for its intimate atmosphere. It has been described by NME as "sweaty, but truly indie". Rock City is divided into two rooms:...
, NottinghamNottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group... - The Rescue Rooms, NottinghamNottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
- The Victoria Inn, DerbyDerbyDerby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
- The SquareThe Square, HarlowThe Square is a 250 capacity live music venue in Harlow, Essex. It is managed by SquareOne Entertainment LLP who took over the venue in July 2008. Previous to this it had been run by Essex County Council...
, HarlowHarlowHarlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889... - The Sugarmill, Stoke-on-TrentStoke-on-TrentStoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
- T. J.'s, NewportNewportNewport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
- The WaterfrontThe Waterfront, NorwichThe Waterfront is a live music venue/nightclub in Norwich, Norfolk. It is in King Street, on the bank of the River Wensum, opposite Norwich Riverside. It has been managed by the Union of UEA Students since 1993. It is not however a student club, and entrance is open to the public. The building...
, NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom... - The Wedgewood RoomsThe Wedgewood RoomsThe Wedgewood Rooms is a venue, in Southsea , Hampshire, UK, that hosts music and comedy events.It has a capacity of 450-500 people, and is located on Albert Road in Southsea. Recently it has hosted events from up-and-coming British pop and rock artists, such as You Me At Six, Kasabian, Mercury...
, PortsmouthPortsmouthPortsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island... - The ZanzibarThe ZanzibarThe Zanzibar is a live music venue located on Seel Street in Liverpool best known for being the home of regular clubnights such as "The Bandwagon" and "Valhalla" among others...
, LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... - Fibbers, YorkYorkYork is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
- The ZodiacThe Zodiac (club)The O2 Academy Oxford is a music venue in Oxford, England, which is part of the O2 Academy brand operated by Academy Music Group. Prior to 2009, it was known as the Carling Academy Oxford and before that, as The Zodiac. To many, the club remains "The Zodiac".-The Zodiac:The Zodiac was a club on...
, OxfordOxfordThe city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...