http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23645
Also an extensive music education programme including the annual National Youth Music Camps whose alumni include Guy Chambers, Dominic Miller, Thom Yorke, Alec & Jacqui Dankworth.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23645 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18571
Holder of the world record for biggest Irish session held in a pub.

Session every Wednesday, live Irish music every Saturday and Sunday. Friendly staff, cosy atmosphere.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18571 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18547 www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/apr/09/manchester.musicbars). It's home to Acousticfest - Manchester's premier acoustic showcase, which has been running for about three years and has hosted acts from as far away as Australia in its monthly acoustic festivals.
Highlights have included live sessions from Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets fame, Mike McGoldrick (BBC Instrumentalist of the Year), Eleanor McEvoy (from Ireland's best selling folk album - Woman's Heart).

Watch out for its A-A Festival from April to August featuring more than 80 acts including an Alternative Glastonbury weekend in June and Dylan Festival in August.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18547 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18029 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/18029 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17803 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17803 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17799 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17799 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17798
While we're at it: catch the Tivoli in Utrecht, NL, before it disappears! (Zeche, Bochum, D, is probably Europe's finest: it's got everything.)]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17798 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17779 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17779 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17778 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17778 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17738 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17738 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17737 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17737 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17728 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17728 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17701 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17701 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17687
Beautiful courtyard setting, small and intimate, slightly sloping down to the stage to give a good view, and some cracking acts. Kasabian and Prodigy playing there stand out as being awesome gigs. Even though it can sometimes take a while to get a beer, at least they have a orderly and well managed queuing system!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17687 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17686
The only downside is having a toilet attendant trying to offer you aftershave - you may want that in a nice bar but not midway through Maximo Park!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17686 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17681 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17681 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17676
A great performance at the Astoria ultimately proves whether you can last or fade. Sadly it looks like the Astoria itself may die a death before too long.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17676 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17670 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17670 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17671 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17671 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17669
Despite the venue being miles from any sort of humanity, the looming site of this magnificient glass building with its atriums and arches makes the one and half mile trek up the hill all worthwhile! Once inside Ally Pally you will be amazed by the amount of space there is and the decadent interior: gold-painted scrolling handrails on winding marbled stairs carpeted with lush velvet makes going to the loo feel like a royal visit!

The huge expanse of the building means that acoustics travel far and wide, making even the smallest band sound magnanimous. An excellent example of this was The White Stripes gig where the stark two-piece made so much noise that many were afraid Jack White's shrieking vocals would shatter the glass ceiling.

Alexandra Palace is truly a venue fit for kings!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17669