It’s no secret that smaller, independent arts venues are struggling. Barely a week seems to go by without one much-loved institution closing its doors, and we in Cambridge are not immune. It was only in March this year that Hank’s hosted its last gig before shutting down, joining the ever-growing list of lost venues. The urgency of their situation is evident. Independent music venues employ approximately 30,000 people; reportedly in 2024 one of these small venues was lost every fortnight, and approximately half of all venues made a net financial loss last year.
It’s easy to detach yourself from the scenario, but the importance of such pubs, clubs, and spaces cannot be overstated; they nurture and provide a stage for local talent, giving them an opportunity and you a great night out. There would be no Beatles were it not for Liverpool’s Cavern Club, nor would Northern Soul have reached Britain without Manchester’s Twisted Wheel. So, in times like these, it’s important to spotlight some of Cambridge’s most vibrant small galleries and gigs. Some you may already know, but all are worth paying a visit and supporting.
“There would be no Beatles were it not for Liverpool’s Cavern Club, nor would Northern Soul have reached Britain without Manchester’s Twisted Wheel”
Clare Cellars
This is surely a staple for any self-respecting Cambridge student. Its narrowed staircase leads you down to the stone arches and pillars beneath the chapel: a perfectly atmospheric setting for whatever they have on. Famous, of course, for its jazz nights there is always a wealth of artistic talent on show, from nights devoted to shoegaze, to poetry readings, and DJ sets. Its variety is its virtue; Cellars always offers a space and platform for all forms of student-oriented creativity. It’s not simply the stage which is given over to students, but the entire space. Cellars remains student-run and stands as an outlier in the ever-more corporate world of college bars. Of course, as a college bar Cellars is perhaps less vulnerable to the threat of financial struggles that looms over so many independent venues, but that doesn’t mean our support can wane. In fact, our continued support is indispensable. Because of the students behind the bar who run it, the students who perform there and launch their Cambridge careers, and those of us without a talent who simply want to see the newest in Cambridge culture, Cellars remains a diverse, vital, and vibrant venue.
Kettle’s Yard
Of course, Kettle’s Yard is beloved as a homely, intimate gallery and has been a mainstay in the Cambridge cultural scene since it opened its doors in 1970. It’s as if you’ve stumbled into the living room of a really cool person, and this closeness is seen as its especial quality by Inga Fraser, the gallery’s Senior Curator: “In the house you can encounter paintings and sculpture by artists whose work may also be found in the grander spaces of the Tate and other galleries in London, but here your encounter with these artists is so much closer, more informal.” It’s not simply visual art that has a home in Kettle’s Yard, but there are also around 20 concerts that take place a year, performed by various guest musicians and student creatives. Such concerts take place within the intimate, art-clad walls of the home, granting a rare interdisciplinary artistic experience. To showcase student talent in this way puts Kettle’s Yard at the centre of the city’s cultural milieu, and by their unique art loan programme, puts culture at the heart of student’s lives. Jim Ede, the founder, used to encourage students to knock on his door, have a cup of tea, and enjoy the space – and this attitude of openness continues to this day.
“There will always be an event worth trekking halfway across town for, but with the added knowledge that your night out is safeguarding Cambridge’s artistic future? Even better”
Junction
Since its opening in 1990 making the long, cold, and treacherous walk to Cambridge Junction seems a rite of passage for many students, but its inauspicious location, around an old cattle market well outside the city centre, means it may have gone under your radar. Hosting perhaps a more eclectic clubbing experience than the typical weekly rotation of Kiki’s and Revs, many students are grateful for its whisking them out of the Cambridge bubble, both physically and musically worlds away. Though you would be forgiven for forgetting it has a life beyond such nights, Junction hosts over 400 gigs, comedians, theatre, and dance shows each year. On top of this, they have a dedicated membership scheme for emerging creatives in the wider Cambridgeshire area, giving them a space and environment to nurture and refine whatever their act might be. It’s Junction’s duality that makes it so special, playing host to so many performances across so many disciplines whilst maintaining a commitment to the artistic vitality of Cambridge city itself. Of course, there will always be an event worth trekking halfway across town for, but with the added knowledge that your night out is safeguarding Cambridge’s artistic future? Even better.
The Portland Arms
Slightly closer to home than Junction, The Portland Arms is a fantastic pub in its own right and well worth visiting regardless of whether or not there’s a gig on. But a quiet night at the Portland is admittedly a rarity, as behind the bar there lurks a 200-person capacity gig venue, complete with full PA system and lighting. It’s almost a hidden gem, if not for the countless acts that take to its stage on an almost daily basis. Cambridge University’s Amnesty International hosted their termly “Jamnesty” there in Lent, and various student and emergent acts have taken to the stage: The Last Dinner Party and Black Country, New Road are two of many performers who have graced the Portland and gone onto major success. The venue’s well-equipped setup and popularity with Cambridge residents means the Portland is always booked out by those looking to hone their craft. One such act is much-loved Cambridge band Den, who told me the “Portland Arms has been a huge help for us; it’s felt like a big deal to play there because it’s hosted countless bands that have gone on to be successful, but it still retains an integral grassroots feel.” Its accessibility is its strength; a great space that doesn’t feel in any way corporate is worth our attention in Cambridge – a lesson most college bars should learn – and as long as the Portland keeps welcoming great, emerging acts, we should keep going.
“A great space that doesn’t feel in any way corporate is worth our attention in Cambridge”
The Blue Moon
Found across the other side of Parker’s piece, The Blue Moon is another great pub that is also a great gig venue. It has a constant rotation of new acts encompassing indie music, comedy, and the best in Cambridge drag. This diversity and multiplicity of performances is one of The Blue Moon’s strengths, and through near-constant, and often genre-specific, open mic nights, the city’s best new acts are always given a platform, whatever they perform. It’s a personal favourite venue of mine, but its virtues are perhaps best encapsulated by Sophie Littlechild, a member of the venue’s managerial team: “We welcome some of the most creative people in Cambridge, whether that’s through the bands and DJs, artists showcasing in the exhibition space, drag acts, or creators selling at one of our markets.” It plays a major role in Cambridge Pride, hosting one of the after parties and providing an ever-welcoming space for the city’s queer community. It’s the thing Sophie and her team are proudest of, that it’s “truly beautiful… to be part of someone’s journey.” The point is, if a performer is not entirely sure where in the Cambridge cultural milieu they may fit, or perhaps if they would even ‘fit’ at all, then The Blue Moon is probably the place where they will realise that they can not merely belong to, but augment the city’s rich artistic tapestry.
The Six Six Bar
Just before you reach The Blue Moon, on the corner of East Road, you’ll find the Six Six Bar. Recently remodelled and fitted with a stage at its far end, it hosts some of Cambridge’s most adventurous and exciting rock and roll acts. From hosting tribute acts to rock legends Thin Lizzy and The Sex Pistols, to providing a foothold in Cambridge to Electric 6 and The Sherlocks. It’s an intimate venue, packing devotees together and providing the perfect space for a mosh pit. Its grunge and alternative focus provides a welcome counterpoint to the city’s perhaps over-eager focus on jazz-based cover acts, yet The Six Six is not guaranteed to be a permanent fixture in Cambridge’s milieu. The venue itself stands on the footprint of much-loved venue The Boat Race – where Oasis and Kasabian once cut their teeth. As such the Six Six is at once a hub of vibrant alternative music within Cambridge, but also an enduring reminder of how easily such independent venues can be lost. The Six Six themselves opened a crowdfunding page in 2024, citing reduced gig attendance and rising facility costs.
And there we have it, just a small slice of the Cambridge cultural experience that lies on our doorsteps. Though as we are all well aware, the challenges faced by these venues are slowly becoming insurmountable. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran of these spaces, always the first to buy a ticket or visit an exhibition, or if you’re unsure where to begin, all of these venues perform a vital service. They foreground local, original talent and turn it into a great day or night out for you. In an age where independent venues are fighting for survival, and our endlessly stressful degrees have us yearning for a break, your much-needed, great night out is an incredibly good deed.
