It may be DHP Family’s most intimate venue but the Bodega has deservedly earned a reputation over its 15 years for packing a punch way above its weight when it comes to talent spotting artists to play at the Hockley hangout.
With a capacity of 220, the upstairs room at the Pelham Street venue can boast an artist list that would be the envy of many. The Strokes , White Stripes, Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters, Klaxons, the Libertines, MGMT, Savages, The XX, Snow Patrol, Interpol and Haim are just some of the artists who have graced the stage in front of the clued up crowd before going on to play much bigger venues.
And don’t forget that as well as being at the epicentre of the live music scene it has played host to some of the city’s most revered club nights – The Pop Confessional, Liar’s Club, Sounddhism,
Itchy Feet, Highness Soundsystem, Electric Banana and Barefootin for starters, making it a favourite haunt for students and locals alike.
Timeline of landmark gigs
Coldplay played 14th March 2000
Strokes played on 11th June 2001
White Stripes played on 31st July 2001
The Libertines played 22nd May 2002
Franz Ferdinand played 9 Oct 2003
Scissor Sisters played 11th Dec 2003
Arctic Monkeys played April 25th 2005
MGMT played 28 Feb 2008
The XX played 7 Oct 2009
Django Django played 24 Feb 2012
The 1975 played 13 Feb 2013
Savages played 7 May 2013
Danielle Sorsby, Bodega’s venue & promotions manager, says: “We’re really proud of our track record in bringing in artists to play our small room. Our crowd know we often bring them something special and trust in our knack for spotting acts before they make it big. We’ve even borne witness to bands like the Klaxons and Friendly Fires getting together inside our four walls. We’re looking forward to seeing lots of our regulars and a few special guests coming along to celebrate with us this weekend.”
As the Bodega gets ready to party all weekend (including a no doubt rowdy get together of many of the staff who have worked there) on Nov 28 & 29, we asked the staff to share some backstage stories behind some of those landmark gigs.
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All recollections provided by DHP Family staff:
“When Albert Hammond Jr played here earlier this year we showed him the original poster from the Strokes show in 2001. He loved it and he signed it for us.” Danielle Sorsby (Promotions Manager)
“Jake Bugg was down here playing nearly every week. He used to do a lot of support shows here. He was underage at the time so staff had to keep an eye on him to make sure he wasn’t drinking.” Danielle Sorsby
“The Arctic Monkeys gig in 2005 is famous in DHP circles for being the gig that literally no one knows who booked. They played the local bands’ night on a Monday but the booker has no idea how they got on the bill. That’s the show where Domino signed them! When they came back the next year to play the NME Awards tour at Rock City, it was the day their album came out so it was a huge party afterwards at The Social (as the Bodega was formerly known) and we had a few other bands along too – We Are Scientists, Maximo Park, The Kooks and The Automatic.” Daniel Ealam
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Bodega’s 15th Birthday will take place across two days on November 28 & 29.
On Friday 28th, The Heartbreaks will play live with support from local band Bitter Strings. After the show there will be a 90s themed Pop Confessional clubnight celebrating the music, fashion and culture of the decade that Bodega was born.
On Saturday 29th, there will be a free entry acoustic session in the bar from 5pm with Clay Shaped Boy, Josh Wheatley, Molly & Jack, Scribble Victory and George Holroyd celebrating the new talent to come out of Nottingham over the recent years. Then, taking us into the early hours we have old friends of Bodega entertaining us! Claw Marks, White Finger, Endless Grinning Skulls and Bus Stop Madonnas will be playing live whilst we have DJ sets from Riotous Rockers, Nightmoves, Selectadisc, Kagoule, Liar’s Club, Fists and The Music Exchange.
Tickets are available online for both events now from www.alt-tickets.co.uk