The Beat Surrender

When the Town & Country Club closed its doors all those years ago in Leeds, it really did feel like a sad day. It had been one of the best venues in the country (as voted by the NME readers), but more than that it offered a good venue to see big bands in Leeds.

I personally saw some great gigs there in the 90’s from James, Manic Street Preachers, Morrissey, Blur, Suede, The Wonderstuff and Teenage Fanclub to name just a few. It wasn’t so much the bands that they attracted to the venue though, it was the atmosphere you used to get in that place, coupled with a decent bar area and good sound.

So I like a lot of other gig goers in Leeds was delighted to hear that the venue was being re-opened this year as part of the Academy Music Group chain and was promised to be restored to it’s former glories, with some additional improvements thrown in for good measure. The sound should be excellent as they have spent £4.5m in converting the listed building back into a concert venue and have looked at everything in minute detail.

It should hopefully prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Leeds Refectory as a venue, for too long this City has had to rely on it for large gigs, it’s got poor sound, is way too hot, gives you a poor view and the drinks are a nightmare, at last Leeds will have a venue back it can be rightly proud of.

The main room will hold 2,300 (including the balcony) and will also have a smaller sister room in the venue. Expect this to be packed to the rafters on 8th October when local heroes the Kaiser Chiefs (pictured above) open the venue with it’s first live gig.

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