The Portland Arms hosts gigs and open deck nightsAWooldridgeS

So I will wholly admit that when I moved to Cambridge last year, my expectations for good live music were not staggeringly high. That said, the London cynic in me was reassuringly met with a surprisingly vibrant music scene, with a fun variety of gigs at the center of it.

Don’t underestimate the importance of music when you are first arriving as a fresher. Making your first friends is pretty much defined by desperately grasping at one thing the two of you may have in common and making it into an alliance. Music is key for this, and has personally been tried and tested. Nothing breaks the ice more than asking a girl you’ve met like twice to go and see Father John Misty with you on the other side of Cambridge – but we have been friends ever since.

The silver lining of a city the size of Cambridge is the small venues. Often, you can see bands perform in a venue a quarter the size of what they would play in London, and often in tiny spaces like pub attics where you get a low-key and intimate experience that is really special.

For the best selection of alternative shows, the Portland Arms is undoubtedly the best port of call. Do not let the name deceive you – whilst the Portland Arms is a pub, it is a little hub of live music. They have some really exciting acts and are a classic stop for artists touring the UK; last year I saw Hinds and Låpsley both at the Portland Arms while they were on their European tours. Looking at the calendar for this term, they have some really cool people. Look out for Sorority Noise on the 11th October, and Hooton Tennis Club on the 3rd November.

The Cambridge Junction is a worthwhile trekMagnus Manske

The bigger acts will likely play the Corn Exchange (right next to Market Square) and last year it was the tour stop for The Vaccines, as well as The Last Shadow Puppets. A likely popular show will be Laura Mvula, playing the Corn Exchange as part of the Cambridge Jazz Festival on 24th November, so look to grab tickets as soon as possible.

Most arriving in Cambridge will soon find that their notions of ‘far away’ will radically change. The Cambridge Junction is located a repulsive 28-minute walk from the centre of Cambridge – but if you can stagger there (or just get a cab), it is often the host of really cool live artists and bands. Junction is actually made up of three different rooms, which can be split for smaller shows. The Mystery Jets are playing on October 12th, and Primal Scream on December 5th, which should be really cool. Sometimes, for larger nights the entire place is opened up, such as when Junction hosts drum and bass/house nights, which are the largest of their size in Cambridge (but remember, this is Cambridge – not Bristol – so do not get your hopes up massively).

Going out and finding new venues and attending these gigs is a really great way to keep your head slightly outside of the immersive college bubble that you will likely find yourself living comfortably in as a fresher. But there are also lots of opportunities for live music closer to home. Keep an eye out for what is going on within your own college (most host regular open mic nights of some sort). There are also college-hosted nights that are open to all, and student bands that perform. In particular Clare Ents is a fun night hosted within the cellars of Clare College, as well as King’s Bunker nights that are located underground at King’s College.

So, the point is that, in terms of live music in Cambridge, there is a lot more than meets the eye. Some events you have to go out and find, and others you just have to roll out of bed and stumble to your college bar. For the best updates about what live music is coming up, I would recommend utilizing Facebook by liking venue pages for new announcements, or just checking the calendars on each venue’s website. Go out, explore, and remember that if it’s more than 20 minutes away, it is probably more effort than it’s worth.