Trades Club takes on O2 Arena for Music Week's live venue of the year award
Wednesday, 12 March 2014
Hebden Bridge's Trades Club is taking on the world famous 02 Arena in a David versus Goliath race for Music Week's live venue of the year award.
Music Week is the industry's bible and the Trades Club won the nomination to take on the 20,000 capacity 02 Arena thanks to votes from acts who have played the club and their promoters.
Trades Club Promoter Mal Campbell said: "Although it is brilliant we have made the shortlist for one of the industry most prestigious awards the real pleasing thing is we are there thanks to the support from acts that play our venue that is owned and run by its members.
The Fall at The Trades - photo Anne Ward
"We have invested heavily in a new PA, and we always make a real effort to look after the acts when they are with us, but the real reason we have been nominated is because of our brilliant audiences who the bands love playing to because they create such a great atmosphere."
The turning point for the 200 capacity club that began life as a union hall for local weavers in the West Yorkshire town was persuading punk legend Patti Smith to play her smallest gig for decades. Since then there have been sells out gigs from Buzzcocks, Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, folk legend Nic Jones, Edwyn Collins, art terrorists CocoRosie, Temples, Jimi Goodwin, Joan As Police Woman, The Fall and four sold shows from radical comic Mark Thomas. (Photo of Patti Smith outside the Trades: Bev Manders)
The other venues in the running are Camden's The Black Heart, The Leadmill in Sheffield and London's The Lexington London. The majority of awards will be decided by hundreds of judges in senior positions across the industry and the winner announced on Thursday 24 April, 2014 at The Brewery, Central London,