BIRMINGHAM

Organisation: Aston University

Date launched: June 2020

Birmingham has approximately 232 music venues scattered throughout the whole B-postcode (BLMP Map v4.0). With over 190 venues located in the epicentre of the city (B1-B48). These venues, if filled to capacity on a single evening, could accommodate approximately 98,000 attendees. This figure represents about 10% of the city’s population and includes venues ranging from smaller, intimate settings like the Sunflower Lounge in the city centre to larger venues like Resort World on the city’s outskirts. As of 2023, the city’s total capacity for concert-goers in a single night has increased to over 104,000. The majority of Birmingham’s live music venues are bars or pubs that host music events, accounting for about 39% of all venues. The city also has a significant number of social and student clubs, theatres, and small venues dedicated solely to music, most of which have a capacity of up to 400 people. When compared to other cities such as Liverpool, Oxford, Glasgow, and Newcastle, Birmingham’s live music scene exhibits similar characteristics.

Like Liverpool, nearly half of Birmingham’s venues are bars and pubs. However, Birmingham stands out due to its relatively large percentage of ‘unorthodox’ venues. These include university buildings, restaurants, social clubs, and outdoor spaces that are not traditionally associated with live music. For instance, the city hosts numerous outdoor events at locations like Moseley Park, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, and the Vale Fest. Furthermore, Birmingham has the capacity to host a large-scale urban festival in the city centre.