Editorial
Brighton packs more live music into a square mile than almost anywhere in Britain, spread across seafront halls, railway arches and the back rooms of pubs. The Great Escape built a festival on it, and the city books bands every night of the week without trying. We worked the venue guides, the listings and the local press to land on these nine, all of them places where you catch a set with a drink in hand.
Start near the station, where the Green Door Store and the Hope and Ruin sit minutes apart. The rest spread along the seafront and through the Lanes.
The seafront holds the bigger rooms, the Lanes keep the late night bars, and Hove runs the busiest calendar in the city. Pick by the sound and the hour.
For touring acts, Concorde 2 leads the city. For new bands on the way up, the Green Door Store and the Hope and Ruin rarely miss. For a late night that mixes a band with a dance floor, the Mesmerist wins. Brighton keeps a stage busy every night, so read the listings and follow the noise.
The Altitude. A sharp Asia Pacific eye for skylines, rooftops and rooms where the drink has to stand on its own. Notes the booking window and the dress code so you do not have to.