Astonishing hidden gems in UK cities & towns that changed music across the world

FORGET queueing with hordes of tourists to get a picture on the Beatles Abbey Road pedestrian crossing – where should music lovers REALLY go to discover the hidden gems of Britain’s music scene?

Here, legendary radio DJ Jo Whiley reveals everything from the pub that once hosted the likes of Coldplay, Muse and Stereophonics, to the station where a young Keith Richards and Mick Jagger reunited, and the best pubs for gigs and pints now.

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Jo has recorded a series of audio guides on Britain’s best musical hidden gems at each tailored to a specific city, which you can listen to at nationalrail.co.uk/musicalroutes.

Here, as part of our Best of Britain series, Jo reveals her ultimate music travel guide.

Manchester ‘s chip shop stars

Jo said: “Manchester is home to The Stone Roses, The Smiths, New Order, Joy Division, and The Chemical Brothers – I mean do I even need to say any more?

It’s practically overflowing with musical history and filled with plenty of places worth visiting.

Why not head to independent musical instrument superstore Johnny Roadhouse Music on Oxford Road, about 20 minutes from the station, where Oasis and many other musicians have been buying their instruments for over 50 years.

The shopfront itself has had its own moment in the spotlight, as animated versions of Oasis walked past it in the video for The Master Plan.

Former nightclub The Boardwalk used to host local bands like The Verve and The Charlatans on their way up.

In fact, it was here, on October 9, 1991, that a then unknown new band going by the name of Oasis played a gig. Three years later, their debut album Definitely Maybe, became the fastest selling album in British history.

The club shut down in 1999, but a plaque marks the venue’s musical contribution – just a 15 minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly.

If you fancy a bit of live music, Night and Day Cafe, located in a former chip shop on Oldham Street, only 10 minutes from the station, has seen bands like Elbow, Arctic Monkeys and Manic Street Preachers pass through its doors on the way to stardom.

It still regularly hosts music events worth checking out and also serves food including sandwiches, wraps and burgers. Tickets for events can be purchased on its website. 

Or pay a visit to the Band on the Wall, a former cinema space that now offers live music from rock to reggae and folk, with a cafe/bar to enjoy a drink or two at, as well. Tickets for events can be purchased on its website. 

Or there’s the The Refuge, which is housed in Manchester’s iconic The Refuge Assurance Company building, dating back to 1858.

This DJ-run restaurant and bar serves small plates and delicious cocktails.”

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Bristol‘s hip Trip Hop boozers

Jo said “Bristol is the birthplace of Trip Hop, a music genre that’s basically a mix of hip hop and electronic instrumental music, and I feel like it’s almost like a personification of Bristol.

It’s super chilled on the face of things, but it’s also got this hidden energy in its underbelly and is home to over 100 live music venues. 

If you’re a fan of Trip Hop OGs like Massive Attack or Roni Size, then plan a visit to The Star and Garter pub in Bristol. Known as the spiritual home of Massive Attack, it regularly plays afrobeats, reggae and of course Trip Hop.

Then there’s the live music venue and pub The Louisiana, just 20 minutes from the station and situated beside the River Avon.

This legendary venue has hosted the likes of Coldplay, Muse and the Stereophonics over the years, and still hosts some great gigs today. Tickets for events can be purchased on its website. 

Wherever you are in Bristol, you won’t have to go far to find a good tune. Bristol streets are alive with the sounds of buskers turning concrete pavements into impromptu music halls.

Just take a wander down Park Street or stroll through the harborside area, and you’re sure to find some street singing that will make a stroll around the city feel like a musical adventure.

For a a great place to enjoy some beer after a long day of exploring Bristol’s music scene, the Left Handed Giant Brewpub is set on the river.

This brewpub is an independent brewery and bar in the centre of Bristol.”

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JO WHILEY’S QUIRKIEST MUSIC HISTORY SPOTS

Here, Jo shares some of the most surprising corners of the UK that influenced British music…

I was surprised to learn about the musical significance of Widnes in Cheshire. It was on the train station platform where Paul Simon – of Simon and Garfunkel – wrote the lyrics to the hauntingly beautiful Homeward Bound. He was sitting there waiting for the train back to London to visit his girlfriend.

Not far from Widnes station is Spike Island, where the famous 1990 Stone Roses concert took place. They were looking for a venue outside the norm to host a gig, and decided on a toxic waste dump called Spike Island. Since then it’s been completely renovated and turned into a lovely green space with waterways and views of the river Mersey.

Another great story is that Dartford station (pictured above) is actually where a young Keith Richards and Mick Jagger bumped into each other, recognising each other from primary school. They got chatting about music, sparking a close friendship, and the following year they went on to found The Rolling Stones.

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Liverpool‘s rock ‘n’ roll institutions

Jo said: “As the home of The Beatles, I think Liverpool has to make the list. It’s amazing to walk around the city and see all the places that influenced their songs – from Penny Lane, to Strawberry Field and even Eleanor Rigby’s grave.

But Liverpool is also home to so much more, no wonder it’s designated as a UNESCO City of Music. 

Liverpool had always been a musical city, but it was the import of American rock and roll records via the city’s docks that really changed the sonic landscape.

The locals hungrily embraced the new sounds coming from across the Atlantic and gave it their own Liverpudlian stamp, a rock ‘n’ roll phenomenon that became known as Merseybeat.

It was Merseybeat that influenced the likes of The Beatles. In fact, much of The Beatles’ history began in The Cavern Club nightclub on Mathew Street, just a 10-minute walk from Liverpool Lime Street Station.

It was here that The Beatles honed their live performances, performing regular lunchtime gigs. At one of those concerts, they were spotted by Brian Epstein, who would help them secure their first recording contract. Check if you need tickets for events on its website. 

Mathew Street is also home to the Liverpool Wall of Fame, featuring every number one hit single from a Liverpool-based musician since 1952. There are 54 in total – a Guinness World Record! 

The British Music Experience is set on Liverpool’s waterfront and a 20-minute walk from the station. It’s  the UK’s only museum dedicated to celebrating British music.Tickets can be purchased on its website. 

Situated alongside some of the other music institutions in Liverpool’s Mathew Street, you’ll find Eric’s, a tiny basement club that’s seen several big bands perform early on their path to stardom.

The post-punk venue still hosts local bands and artists today, if you fancy catching them before they make it big-time.”

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Cardiff‘s retro record hangouts

Jo said: I love Cardiff, and I think Wales is very aptly called the land of song, because whenever I do my 90s anthems DJ gig there, they definitely sing back the loudest! It’s also the home of the Manic Street Preachers, who I love.

Less than a 10-minute walk from the station, you’ll find Morgan Arcade, one of Britain’s best preserved arcades from the 19th Century.

Within the arcade, you’ll find Spillers Records, the oldest record shop in the world. Opening its doors back in the 1890s, it’s been a go-to spot for records and CDs for over a hundred years.

In fact, it’s here that the Manic Street Preachers spent much of their early career, either inside browsing for records or busking on the street outside.

Womanby Street is just a 10-minute walk from Cardiff Central Station.

Here you can find a number of amazing live music venues like The Moon, Fuel and The Welsh Club, a cultural centre where some of the stars of Cool Cymru – a musical and cultural movement that was born in Cardiff in the 1990s – cut their teeth and made their name.”

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Birmingham‘s heavy metal tributes

Jo said: “Of course I have to have Birmingham on the list! Coming from the Midlands myself, it’s the place that I went to see my very first concert.

I was out with a group of friends and they said ‘hey, we’re going to see this band called The Clash’, that I’d never heard of, so I went with them to Bingley Hall in Birmingham, and that was my initiation into the world of music. 

Back in 1968 a local band called Earth played their first ever gig at Birmingham’s The Crown pub.

The story goes that the club’s promoter, Jim Simpson, saw them play and offered to manage them on the spot. Not long after, they changed their name to Black Sabbath, and one of the biggest bands in metal was born.

If you want to join the band in their hometown, there’s a Black Sabbath bench on Broad street, only a 15 minute walk from New Street station, where you can sit side by side with the city’s most legendary proteges.

In the 1970s, another influential venue, The Rum Runner, was making its mark on the city’s music scene. The venue was where, throughout 1979 and 1980, new romantics Duran Duran built their fan base and started to make their mark on music history.

The club’s owners took the fledgling stars under their wings, becoming their managers and letting them use the club for rehearsals, and the rest, as they say, is history.

If you’re visiting Birmingham, of course you have to visit the Balti Triangle, a cluster of balti houses just south of Birmingham city centre. From Shabab, to Al Frash to Adil’s and more – you’ll be spoilt for choice.

If you’re on the hunt for the best pizza in Birmingham, you have to try Otto. Located in the Jewellery Quarter, with wood-fired pizzas served alongside craft beers from local brewery Burning Soul in a rustic interior, what more could you ask for!?”