THE ORIGINAL ENTRY:
There are a lot of places in Dundee where bands can play - and do! Some of the most frequented ones are listed here, but as some drop away, others appear - if any venue is not listed here, then that's probably just 'coz I've not yet got round to finding the address or I've only ever been there to see one band once in a blue moon - altho' on that score, the Art Bar and Bank Bar are here, so maybe anything's up for grabs - whatever, take a peek at this and go for a drink there, at least!

THE MARCH 2007 REMIX:
Seems that most decently sized (and not so decently sized venues) in Dundee are looking to feature live and DJ-played music, some more often than others. Across the city now, between a Thursday and a Saturday, sometimes you can find up to 8 venues with gigs on which is good for the whole music scene. Anyway, I'm going to spare you the original entries for the venues featured here and just update this part when and where necessary.

THE JUNE 2007 REMASTER:
Dundee has exploded with live music venues - that there are enough bands to justify it, is one thing. Now all they've got to do is tell the audiences. Some venues advertise in the Courier and the Evening Telegraph, while both do great gig guides. Tay-FM's weekender remains the manstay for local music to be heard, while occasionally the daytime TAY-FM will play something, although hearings of local talent on Wave-102 are more akin to sightings of the Loch Ness Monster. Either way, the venues are doing their bit - let's hope the audiences follow suit!!

FEB 2008 UPDATE:
Still the venues feature live music, but just a handful of the smaller ones - naming no names - think that all you have to do is put a band on, maybe stik a poster outside the venue the night it happens, and then expect a good turnout. Sure. the band is gonna advertise its gig - but the venue also has a respomsibility for it too - ever heard of "planning ahead", people? Other than that, it's still healthy, but still more audiences need to be aware of the music played by the bands, in order to go out to see them - myspace is not enough - but that's a whole other issue I'll have on the agenda for 2008:
APRIL 2008 VERDICT:
Don't know about anyone else, but I've got to the point of being utterly fed up with going to small pubs with crappy sound systems and hearing bands sounding like they're playing through a wall of rice pudding. In the end, it doesn't do anyone any favours. So, time for a rejig of the venue listings at long last, so................

SETEMBER 2009 CHANGES:
The only thing that's really changed is that The Doghouse has now moved to a new venue in Ward Road - a disused church, no less - the only way is up!!

AUGUST 2010 VIEW FROM THE BARS:
You haqve to feel sorry for the guy at DD Promotions - he was doing gigs at Chambers, then it shut, so he moved to The Bread, then thast shut, so he moved to The Cooler (the old Rendezvous), then that shut, so now he's at MacDaniels - if I were them, I'd be worried (just kidding!!). Somewhere along the way we seem to have lost Fat Sams Live, while the Westport Bar keeps making threatening return noises and, in possibly the strangest one yet, The Barrels (formerly John Barleycorn, formerly Three Barrels) up at Hilltown of all places, is making forays into the live music scene. So, here's the update now.....

NOVEMBER 2011 HEAD-IN-HANDS UPDATE:
Well, for original bands, the city's never short of venues - only thing is that, apart from the first 4 listed here, the rest come and go faster than a national rail timetable. OK, so you can go and see a ton of tribute and cover bands any weekend in all number of venues - and, OK, they have their place - but that's not what we're here for so, with the gift of never knowing what's round the corner, here's the latest...

THE SERIOUSLY EXCELLENT MUSIC VENUES

DEXTERS, 24 Castle Street, Dundee Tel:01382-228894
Have a quality PA as well as a laser, lights and a smoke machine. They do lunchtime meals Thur-Sat, feature regular blues concerts on Saturday afternons, were the home of the Mermaid Rock Promotions "Sabotage" series of Classic Rock concerts in 2007, and have featured many of the city's leading bands. Getting more of a name for featuring Dundee's and Scotland's up and coming indie bands, the venue is most certainly "on the map". Paul is the ever so friendly guy who runs the place, while their own promotions go under the name of Interzone Promotions, although they will feature outside poromotors' gigs, too.
Dexters Website

THE DOGHOUSE, Ward Road
Now in a swish venue that used to be a church - Sarah Hill is at the helm, so it can only be good!! The venue has a stunning PA care of Audio Wave and is, without argument, the leading music venue in the city as far as live original bands are concerned. You can go in there and marvel at the artwork and the overall ambience of the place during the day, while most nights are choc full of local and touring bands crossing all walks of music, with Sarah's inimitable Wednesday night quizzes making a name for themselves now and most Thursday nights being Open Mic acoustic nights. A fabulous venue, with main barman Mark attending to your every need, it's simply THE place to be in Dundee.
DOGHOUSE - IN DEPTH!!

Doghouse Myspace Website

DUKES CORNER, Brown Street, Dundee
What used to be the old Doghouse, is now Dukes Corner, only they've added extra seating outside, most of it covered, and added seating inside in the form of benches and tables and chairs, since they now serve food. Very much a more "upmarket" venue as far as clientele is concerned, but they do a lot of gigs, too, focussing mainly on the sort of folky, jazzy, pop, tribute bands' side of things, but most weeks they do feature something in the original band stakes once a week, so they have to be applauded for that. Sound-wise, it's good - the few local indie bands I've seen there could have sounded a bit clearer and less "dense" but overall it's on par with the others. Dukes Corner Myspace

BEAT GENERATOR LIVE, North Lindsay Street, Dundee
A venue that, as Hustlers previously, made rapid rises in the Dundee live music stakes as a venue to play. Run by a friendly Canadian guy called Dave, with Dundee legend Stuart on the mixing desk, they have a place that is about as wide as the Westie, but actually longer, although only the first half of the place is used when it comes to most gigs. Good seating combined with a front-of-stage dancefloor, makes it a great lay-out. The sound is excellent,and, altho' looks more like an old seventies rock club, the atmosphere really fitting to rock, indie and acoustic gigs alike.
Now given a paint-over and with some extra lighting, it's run by John of Beat Generator Promotions and features everything from unsigned through tribute to touring bands, not to mention several indie and rock discos

Hustlers Myspace

READING ROOMS, Blackscroft, Dundee Tel:01382-450432
Original:The only major Dundee venue I've still never been to - lord knows how I've managed this rare feat, but I have - so unless they put something on that doesn't clash with a higher priority (the reason I've never got there so far) or let me put something on there (not that I've tried - I've never been there, you see - stop laughing, this is serious!!), then the entry here will have to remain as it is - sorry Reading Rooms!!
Update March 2007: Finally got there to a "Go Dundee" gig and the place reminds me a bit of an old railway engine shed with a similar feel to a much smaller and squarer version of London's Roundhouse. With a stage of quite a height that you'd need ropes to absail up it, and a large dancefloor, bar outside the concert hall and all adds up to a pretty decent place to see bands.
Update April 2008: Firmly established as the leading venue in the city when it comes to all things of a dance derived nature from top drum 'n' bass to underground house and all points in between.
Reading Rooms Website

SMALL AND MIGHTY

THE BOND - 57 Dock Street Dundee
Refurbished, redecorated and actually a nice place to have a drink at, and the closest to the waterfront that does live music. Lenny, there, was booking bands and artists to play but that idea sems to have dropped off when it comes to local live original bands - although they do feature a number of original blues and jazz acts - preferring to satisfy a usually crowded venue of clientele with covers bands. A small-ish square-ish place with a decently high ceiling. Also got the PA right now, and it's loud and clear!
The Bond website

DROOTHY NEEBORS, Perth Road (Next To Art Bar)
Back in action for live gigs after a long absence, Droothys basement is now host to indie, rock and acoustic concerts so, if you fancy playing in a broom cupboard and don't turn it up too loud, you'll find a neat little place waiting for you. It's arguably THE best Dundee venue for acoustic gigs, since every time I've been to one there, the audience is there to listen, which is great for the players and fans alike.

MacDANIELS: Whitechapel, Dundee
T-shaped pub/venue with small stage but usually PA supplied by the bands or the promotor. Sound is good as long as you don't have it too loud. Raised bit at back ensures that everyone gets a good view.Mainly tribute bands at weekends.
McDaniels Website

THE PART-TIMERS

ART BAR, 140 Perth Road, Dundee (opp Art College) Tel: 01382-227888
Small L-shaped place - you'll have to provide all the technical gubbins but it's OK. Feature the occasional DJ or band or comedian or suchlike. Isis used to play there and rock the place, but they've not done the venue for ages - come to that neither has anyone else....

BANK BAR, 9 Union Street, Dundee Tel:01382-205037
Smaller than the Art Bar but has regular acts on - only ever seen Mr Spider play there but they had Gerry Jablonski a while back (which I missed - curses!!)

KAGE - St Andrews Lane
Three flights up some of the narrowest stairs known to man is this unprepossessing room with a bar at the back, a low ceiling, a video screen at the front and the most enormous volume this side of a jet fighter as, Thur-Sun, the place becomes engulfed in a hurricane of hardcore dance, industrial rock and mighty metal, all nights featuring DJ's whose sounds could punch holes in battleships at half a mile. Clear, loud and guaranteed to rattle your fillings, the extreme side of discos. Occasionally promotes original metal and punk concerts - occasionally...
Cage Website

LYRICS: St Andrews Lane, Dundee
Opposite The Cage and now hosting their trademark weekend tribute band gigs. The main area for the concerts is opposite a long bar that has a DJ console built slap in the middle of it and looks more like a preachers pulpit than anything, but the concert dancefloor is of a good size and they have this massive screen to one side of the venue on which you can watch the stage action, should you not be able to get near the stage, which is basically this area on a level a few steps above the dancefloor. Good sound, too.
Lyrics Bar Website

THE SOCIAL - South Tay Street
Just recently started to do gigs again on Tuesday nights featuring local bands so you can't argue with that. A U-shaped place with two bars on each arm of the "U", the area for the gigs is the right branch of the "U" and it's decent size, wide enough stage and, now the promoter has taken charge of the PA, sounded good enough for The Peski Kings the other week. Let's hope they get the support (Summer 2009 update: they didn't and the gigs stopped almost as soon as they started - Hey Ho!!).
The Social website

SOUL NIGHTCLUB, St Andrews Lane:
The official blurb goes like this - "Soul Nightclub is a 300 persons capacity venue that has hosted numerous regular club nights and gigs ranging from Techno to Rock and Roll our music policy is all about quality not genre. We are looking to support local bands/musicians/DJ`s or any other general noisemakers or sonic crusaders, who are looking for a venue to hold their events. We are a nightclub and as such our opening/closing times(10.30pm-2.30am) are ideally suited for club nights,afterparties, late gigs/showcases etc". Fair enough - you can only access the place by a lift, bizarrely enough, a it's 3 flights up on the same level as kage and just round the corner. The room itslef is large and rectangular, bar at the back, seats at the side and by the bar, dancefloor and, for dance disco nites, a sound system to which you have to dance to save yourself going deaf.
Soul Nightclub

THE UNDERGROUND, South Tay Street
...and it is too - underground, that is. A sort of dog leg of a place - in terms of its structure, that is, and although I've yet to go to a gig there, I would imagine it ranges from loud to less loud depennding on who's playing. Let you know!!
Underground Myspace Site

VENUES THAT LIKE DUNDEE BANDS: