What would you think a venue would have to do in order to maintain a Number 1 position for 21 years?  I wasn’t sure either till I went to Concrode 2 which is Brighton’s Number 1 Venue and it shows.  This is what they say:

Concorde 2 has been Brighton’s Number 1 Music Venue and Nightclub for 21 years, bringing you an electric atmosphere with innovative music and hosting some of the greatest bands in the world.

And at last nights Chase & Status I got to see why this is.  They venue seems to know what to put on and what people would be interesting in coming to see, the only issue is many of their shows sell out and last night was no different.  Their line up is diverse and that’s what people want, from world musicians like Tinariwen (who are playing on the 28th October) and Amadou & Mariam, both these guys played Glastonbury’s pryamid stage and blew us away.

And this is what Alexis Petridis of The Guardian had to say about Amadou & Mariam when they played Concorde 2 in Febuary this year:

The core elements are fabulous: Mariam’s voice, at its most vulnerable and affecting on Sabali; the cyclical riffs of Artistya and Magossa, sounding somehow inventive, fresh and oddly familiar at the same time. On Masiteladi, Amadou peels off spectacular guitar solos, fluid, gutsy and effortless. On stage, the duo are insouciantly cool: both blind, they stand virtually motionless, huddled together, while their tough, insanely funky music bounces off the walls. During romantic numbers, Mariam strokes the arm of her husband, whose between-song announcements are in French. The audience invariably respond with: “Yeeeeah!”…

Here is just a few of the highlights for October 2009, for more information and to buy tickets visit their website HERE :

2nd Tinchy Stryder (Sold Out) – 4th Marillion (Sold Out) -  6th Skunk Anansie (yeah sold out) – 7th Noah & the Whale - 9th Funeral For A Friend + Skream & Benga - 15th Adrian Edmondson - 17th Scratch Perverts - 22nd Little Boots (Sold Out).

Previous shows have been as diverse and genius as it comes from The Magic Numbers, The Wild Hearts, Natalie Imbruglia and Balzin’ Squad (who’s new single released a few months ago was actually quite good) to Sister Sledge, Elliot Minor, Florence and the Machine. During November 2009 some highlights we recommend will be Glastonbury act VV Brown (she was really awesome), Just Jack, and the newly reformed Brand New Heavies.

We are really excited about being part of what Concorde 2 have on offer over the new few months and we are going to be bringing you all the news, views, and reviews from Brighton’s No. 1 Venue (we might even get do an interview or two).

This was one of the night I had really been looking forward to and was a little unsure what to expect. So like never before I decided to have a little look at the guys before they came on and have a look and see if they where as good as I had been told they where. The club itself didn’t have as many stag or hen parties as it normally does (which may have been a good omen) and the crowed seem pretty keen to get the night started and the first of our 6 acts hit the stage.

After being introduced by Jason Cook our evening’s compare (more on him later) a very nervous looking John Whale came onto the stage carrying his little shoulder bag and started off with something of a gamble. His first bit seemed to be about drinking and how there was loads of words for being drunk and very few for not (makes sense really). This got him his first good applause which got him onto his main bit – Joseph Fritzl moreover Lorraine Kelly’s whole take on the situation. Reading from Kelly’s actual article with a slight bit of bitterness towards Kelly this was one amazing bit. A topic that shouldn’t be funny was made unforgettable by John’s cute, shy in parts, and great delivery.

It was hard to see if this was in fact a real case of nerves or whether this was something he was playing on. The topic itself was original and simple, he had a core to his storytelling that was genius and the way he recounted the tale was a great opener, and his topic turned to Hitler ‘a bad fella…’ and his two copies of Mein Kampf was an inspiring move.

John was focused and not as nervous as some people had said during the interval, coming on first must have its pressure but he kept his 10 min set simple, direct, and to the point and delivered and solid performance.

Carl Hutchinson had it a little hard almost from the get go. There had been a heckler in the audience who was just a prat simple as and was a shame as it did seem to throw Carl just a bit. His set though was well performed and some of his bits had been done a bit which allowed it to go pretty smoothly. I have to admit though I had wanted him to do the X-Factor contestant!

With that said he was still giving a good set (minus the heckler) and his focus seemed more on the ignorance of the obvious, drink driving and claims direct. But his best bit was the Piracy funding Terrorism which was a good bit and got the crowd pretty stocked. Just as he was about to do his final bit the heckler started up again and no matter how much persuading he wouldn’t let. Carl did say ‘…he’s like a charva on the metro just pretend he’s not there…’ which got a big laugh.

Even without the heckler Carl did a good set and was a bit more boisterous than the John and, like John, seemed an natural. I would say he has been funny all his life, and sort of knew it and how to make people laugh, but John probably never knew he was a funny as he was (and we get more from these guys later on).

Tonight sees the first ever BBC Comedy presents come to the world famous Hyena Comedy Club in Newcastle Upon Tyne. This is one of the most unique places to head out to in the North East and as long been established as the best comedy night out in the region.

On the bill to night are three more preformers who will join David Cook and Seymour Mace in showing just what the North East comedy circuit has to offer.

John Whale

You can see from this short clip what you can expect from John. He has a rather innocent graps on the everyday that makes listening to him hard because your laughing so much. Another geordie-boy on the bill (they all are) and all am sure excited about being part of the first BBC Comedy event in the North East.

Carl Hutchinson

Now things are really starting to heat up and Carl isn’t just an award winning comedian (winner of the Frog & Bucket’s Beat The Frog World Series new act competition in Manchester in 2007) he is also my favourite stand up comedian – am allowed to be bias.

Chris Ramsey

I don’t really have to say much about Chris the video speaks for itself, he is a legend and from South Shields no less where Mohammed Ali got married in the 1970s.

Tonights shows are more than a unique opportunity for the BBC Comedy presents to come and showcase some of the finest North East acts there is but there is such a wide variety of comic that I don’t think you will ever get the opportunity to see such a class line-up agian – go get down there!

Tickets are only £7 (or £6 conc.) and you can book via their website www.thehyena.com or by calling 0191-232-6030

REAL MUSIC CLUB Brighton is a great concept and coming from the North East finding great concepts is hard. Brighton is on the ball and the Real Music Club is an amazing idea and we know the 25th is