One-off anniversary gigs are being held at The Bodega – as the iconic Nottingham venue celebrates 25 years since opening.
The city’s Sleaford Mods will close out a week of live shows, club nights and DJ sets on Saturday (November 30).
The special gig will celebrate the venue’s history of showcasing local talent and acting as a starting point for many bands who later achieved worldwide success.
The White Stripes, The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, The 1975, and Charli XCX are among the bands who played at the intimate venue on Pelham Street in the early stages of their careers.
Jason Williamson, one-half of Sleaford Mods, has a long history with the Bodega and says the institution is important for local bands.
“I saw many bands come through, everyone from Coldplay to White Stripes to The Strokes,” he said.
“All in their infancy, later to go on to big things. My first gig there as Sleaford Mods was supporting The Pop Group in 2014.
“The Bodega is an important part of Nottingham’s creative ecosystem. Nottingham has always had a rich musical culture, but so many of the grassroots venues I played coming up are now closed.
“The Bodega is the only one left at that level and it’s important that it remains open to keep Nottingham on the musical map.”
The venue opened on November 30, 1999, as The Social. It was then taken over by DHP Family in 2004 and renamed The Bodega three years later.
Anton Lockwood, DHP’s Director of Live, was instrumental in bringing many acts to the venue and says it continues to champion new rising talent.
“In the past 25 years I’m certain I’ve watched more bands – and drunk more pints – at The Bodega than I have in any other place on the planet,” he said.
“It’s a venue that has been the site of many great nights, with many artist careers launched into the stratosphere and the odd crash too.
“I’m delighted to have played a part in its success, but even more happy at the way it’s continuing to thrive with a new generation of people at the helm.”
This year, the venue has already seen 150 Nottingham artists play its stages across headline shows, support slots and festivals.
Dutch indie darlings Pip Blom – signed to Heavenly Records, which opened the venue in 1999 – are playing a headline show on Friday. A DJ set from Lily Fontaine, from English Teacher who have just won the Mercury Prize, will be followed by the Pop Confessional club night.
25 local artists took to the stage on Monday as part of the anniversary week celebrations, which included a Bodega-themed quiz the following day.