When you think about rock and alternative music you’d naturally think of London or maybe even Sheffield or Manchester at a push. I came to university with the same impression, thinking I would be lucky to find even one gig in a whole year. So far I’ve managed to scout two, cheap but incredible, gigs: one at The Grove and another at Trillians, both were great; they were engaging and truly encapsulated the small gig experience.
I’ve also experienced the other side of the alternative scene; the club scene was something I never experienced at home, all the clubs only played club classics. My first experience of an alternative night started at Mojos, which I will say is fairly pricey, but the general vibe of a classic Americanised rock bar (and the offer of beer pong) can be a great start of a night - maybe after spoons though. Later in the night, we moved to Grey's Club's Saturday night alt-night: 'Rise', with three different rooms there’s always a vibe that will fit your mood for the night.
A few honourable mentions, which I personally wouldn’t call rock but more indie pop, the Dog and Parrot is iconic amongst students and with its decent drink deals it’s no surprise. All the times I’ve visited, they have played very classic indie and pop-rock artists like Sam Fender and The 1975. It's definitely a good place to stop between pubs and clubs. Another solid mention is Filthies, a live music bar which offers live bands every Monday and Wednesday, an open mic night every Tuesday and a DJ on Friday and Saturdays. It’s definitely an underrated spot and worth going to when you want a chill night.
The alternative music scene is severely underrated in Newcastle, with a plethora of places offering a range from live music to themed club nights; there’s something for anyone whether you like The Arctic Monkeys to Pantera.
