Get the party poppers out - one of our city’s most beloved music venues is celebrating the big 2-0 this month. For two decades, The Bodega has been hosting emerging and established musicians from across the globe, as well as serving as a damn good nightclub, and boasting one of the most stellar beer gardens in town.
With a knack for hosting massive acts before they strike the big time, The Bodega occupies a special place in the hearts of locals, students and music fans alike. To honour all that’s cracked off between those hallowed walls over the past twenty years, Promotions Manager Sam Keirl and Production Manager Maddy Chamberlain rounded up some highlights from across The Bodega family – from those who pull pints of Bodega lager, to those who book the bands.
Five bands you wish you'd seen
“There are so many good ones that it’s really hard to squeeze it down to five. It’s crazy to think that bands come to us and play to around 200 people in Nottingham, and then a couple of years later, they can headline Glastonbury. It’s exciting to see who’ll be next.”
- White Stripes, July 2001
- Scissor Sisters, Dec 2003
- Two Door Cinema Club, March 2009
- Florence and the Machine, November 2008
- The xx, October 2009
Five local acts who cut their teeth at The Bodega
“From Saint Raymond getting a Top 10 album to Amber Run touring the US, there’s a lot of Notts-born music to be proud of. D.I.D and Do Nothing have spent probably 90% of their formative years between our four walls, while Georgie has brought her gorgeous tunes to us many a time.”
- Do Nothing
- Saint Raymond
- Georgie
- Amber Run
- D.I.D
Five times the floor nearly caved in
“The raucous ones are always the best. These five gigs certainly tested the flooring of the upstairs room, but seeing bands like IDLES and Arctic Monkeys causing the best kind of carnage is a sight to behold. If the floor is shaking, it’s a sign of good things to come.”
- IDLES
- Shame
- The Libertines
- Fat White Family
- Arctic Monkeys
Five highlights from 2019
“There are definitely lots of names to be looking out for. With a gig on most nights, we see a lot of amazing bands. Some go on to huge things and some stay underground hidden gems – each of them different in their own right.”
- Sports Team
- Stella Donnelly
- Amyl and The Sniffers
- Feet
- Willie J Healey
To mark the occasion, The Bodega are throwing a series of 20th birthday gigs, including a massive hometown show from Kagoule on Sunday 1 December, who will be joined by a thrilling lineup of equally special guests.
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