Music / Clubs
Cultural landmark named among top UK grassroots venues
A Bristol cultural landmark that has stood the test of time for more than 30 years has been shortlisted for a major BBC award.
Lakota on Stokes Croft has been nominated for Grassroots Venue of the Year at the BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards.
The music venue, located on the corner of Upper York Street and Moon Street, has been a staple of Bristol’s club scene for three decades, helping cement the city’s reputation as a top music destination.
BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards recognised the venue for its role in “helping underground dance music thrive over the past year”.
Lakota on Stokes Croft has been nominated for Grassroots Venue of the Year at the BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards – photo: Lakota
Bristol club is one of only two venues from the West Country on the shortlist, joined by THÊ DEPØ in Plymouth.
Lakota has also been shortlisted for our inaugural Bristol Legends awards which are taking place at Ashton Gate Stadium on March 6.
Speaking to Bristol24/7, the team at Lakota said the recognition “feels like recognition of the wider community around the venue”.
They said: “We’re really proud to be nominated for BBC Radio 1’s Grassroots Venue of the Year. Lakota has always tried to be a place for the people, all the people, and to genuinely support emerging artists, independent promoters and grassroots music culture in Bristol.
“This nomination feels like recognition of the wider community around the venue, from our staff and collaborators to the artists and audiences who continue to support independent venues like ours.”
Goldie on the decks at Lakota – photo: Lakota
Over the years, Lakota has hosted some of the biggest names in dance music, including Carl Cox, Sasha, John Digweed, Paul Oakenfold, Roger Sanchez and LTJ Bukem, as well as artists including Fatboy Slim, Goldie and Bristol’s own Mercury Prize-winning Roni Size.
Lakota was founded in 1992 on the site of the former Stokes Croft Brewery by the Burgess family, with Marti and Bentleigh Burgess at the helm.
It went on to become a hub for multiple genres including drum and bass, jungle, garage, techno, dubstep and psytrance, while also providing a launchpad for emerging artists.
Lakota has been a Bristol landmark that has stood the test of time for more than 30 years – photo: Lakota
The venue has weathered significant challenges, including the global pandemic and proposals to redevelop the surrounding site into flats and offices.
Those plans sparked strong opposition from supporters in Bristol and beyond, with a petition to save Lakota attracting more than 8,000 signatures while the proposals were under consideration by Bristol City Council.
Signatories who opposed the proposals highlighted Lakota’s economic importance to the city, estimating around £20m a year.
Lakota has continued to evolve, recently expanding with a new space called Moon Club, a 220-capacity room designed to support genre-fluid programming and emerging artists, underlining the venue’s commitment to grassroots music culture.
Voting for the award is open now and closes on Friday, with winners set to be revealed on Radio 1 Dance on February 20.
The full shortlist is: Amber’s (Manchester); Corsica Studios (London); Gonzo’s Two Room (Norwich); LAB11 (Birmingham); Lakota (Bristol); Meraki (Liverpool); Patterns (Brighton); Stealth (Nottingham); Sub Club (Glasgow); THÊ DEPØ (Plymouth); The White Hotel (Salford); The Warehouse (Leeds).
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On the Bristol Legends nominations, the team said: “Being nominated for a Bristol Legends award genuinely means a huge amount to us.
“Lakota has been part of the city’s music and nightlife culture for decades, and inclusivity and accessibility have always been at the heart of what we do.
“We don’t take that legacy lightly, and we’re really looking forward to the awards ceremony and celebrating Bristol’s music community alongside so many people and places we deeply respect.”
Located on the corner of Upper York Street and Moon Street, Lakota is one of the Bristol Legends nominees – photo: Milan Perera
To vote at Bristol Legends, visit www.bristol247.com/nominations; to attend the awards ceremony at Ashton Gate on March 6, visit www.bristol247.com/events/legends-awards-tickets and to attend the after party, visit www.bristol247.com/events/bristol-legends-party
Main photo: Lakota
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