The venue has previously hosted acts that have become incredibly successful in the UK music scene – Lewis Capaldi, Sam Fender, and Wolf Alice to name a few. Maybe an artist you see here will go on to be huge.
Think Tank itself is small, with a bar in one corner and the stage in the other. The stage has no barrier, leaving millimetres of space to create a magnetic connection between fans and the artist. The venue feels like a garage almost reminiscent of a 2000s music video set, the walls covered in old music posters and album covers. Whilst the venue cannot hold a massive crowd, the energy of a festival can be created in that room with the enthusiasm of the act and fans colliding. The speakers are deafening, ideal for fans of rock and indie especially who love to mosh and sing at the top of their lungs.
Last November, I saw my favourite indie band the Clause perform an electric set at Think Tank. On the front row, I could touch the stage. The band could hear every heckle and chant in between sets. The tiny room got hot and sweaty quickly. Being right next to the speakers, my ears rang for hours afterwards. Yet it was still one of the best shows I have ever been to.
If you’re a fan of small, stuffy gigs by artists emerging from the rock and indie scene, Think Tank is the venue for you. In my experience, small shows can often be better than arena or stadium shows, and a venue like Think Tank is the perfect setting with its palpable energy. Upcoming shows at Think Tank include Zackri, Calum Bowie, Bronnie, and Erja Lyytinen.