The first time I went to the Anarchy Brewery I was with my flatmates and my parents. We had gone to see the folk-rock band Black Water County – a band who know exactly how to raise a roof and give their audience a good time. I’ll admit that the initial journey to the Brewery didn’t give me much hope that it would be as nice venue, as we got lost near a building site trying to find the place. Once we did arrive, and saw how many leather jackets and dyed heads of hair there were dotted around, I did feel a little intimidated…
It felt like we’d walked into the middle of a motorbike rally, and I felt very out of place in my knitted jumper and jeans. Not to mention that my flatmates and I didn’t only stand out physically, but we also seemed to bring the average age down by at least 20 years.
However, we were embraced into the Anarchy Brewery with open arms. The bar staff were very lovely and were happy to explain the origins of their unique selection of beers. Though I’m not much of a beer drinker myself, I did try one of their pale ales and was pleasantly surprised! I do recommend at least trying some of their beers if you go (it feels wrong to go to a brewery and not drink beer).
Though I was initially intimidated to be surrounded by several men with dyed mohawks (I’ve honestly never seen so many in one place), I can safely say that they’re generally a delight to be at a gig with. The punk culture of the Anarchy Brew is what makes it such a unique, exciting and welcoming gig location.
The second time I attended the venue, I felt no less welcomed. This time my flatmates and I had returned to see Hannah Wicklund - a sensational American singer/songwriter. This time there were noticeably more people our age, though I did still spot a leather jacket or two and a singular mohawk bobbing near the front of the crowd. Hannah brought the house down with her incredible guitar riffs, and for her more acoustic solos, her voice echoed almost hauntingly through the warehouse. There’s something about the venue which does make it feel very isolated and separate from the bustling city centre, anchoring you to the moment and the space.
The Anarchy Brewery is not just a gig venue, they also host a range of different events from wrestling to football showings, and of course brewery tours and beer tasting. I recommend visiting at least once during your time at Newcastle. It’s a venue seemingly suspended in the Punk-rock era and is the perfect location to see live rock music. Or you could just go and taste some beer, your call.