The best live music venues for Birmingham students

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About the author: Hi! My name is Ash, I am a Digital Media and Communications student at the University of Birmingham. I am an aspiring lifestyle, arts and culture journalist and all-around geek. In the times I’m not spending an absurd amount of money in restaurants, you can usually find me tucked in the corner of my bedroom with a coffee and my latest cross-stitch kit, rewatching a Marvel movie or listening to Broadway soundtracks until I am sick of them.

The live music scene is what keeps Birmingham in orbit; you’ll know this if you’ve ever walked Brindleyplace. From pub performances to the Utilita to the Black Sabbath Bridge, music is at our absolute core. It also makes for a fabulous night out, so whether you’re on a budget or looking to splurge on concert tickets, here are a couple of recommendations for when recorded music isn’t quite hitting: 

The Sunflower Lounge

Just around the corner from New Street station in the City Centre, the Sunflower Lounge houses Birmingham’s up and coming—all with great potential, most study at one of many performance schools in the city. The lounge itself is quite small, with the live music happening in the basement, but the grungy aesthetic makes for a great night of jumping around to heavy bass. The music is mostly indie and rock, but is also the home of the intimate performance, having housed greats like Wolf Alice and Dua Lipa in the past. 

The Rainbow

Cut from a similar cloth to The Sunflower Lounge but sitting deeper in Digbeth is the Rainbow. Yes, this is another pub with a dingy little basement, but the Rainbow brings in acts from all over the country and has a packed lineup almost every night. The basement is small but even the smallest crowd echoes off the walls, making it sound like you are standing in the pit of an arena. The music is indie-esque but with a bit more give. I’d strongly recommend you attend one of their B-Town Indie Nights for a great selection of music and all-around good vibes. They even have balloons and glow sticks—if that’s not a seller, I don’t know what is. Not to mention all tickets are under £10!

O2 Academy

This is where things get a little bit pricey. The O2 Academy contains three separate venues in one building and remains one of the most versatile music destinations in Birmingham. This is where you’ll find your middle-of-the-road acts like dodie or FINNEAS, who can’t quite sell out an arena but sure can cram 3,000 people into a room. The queue up Bristol Street and around the big roundabout is sure to get you the most excited you’ll ever feel, and you are much more likely to make a friend than you would in the Utilita line, with people airdropping memes and their Instagram handles as the tension builds. 

The venue is mostly standing but has a small balcony where you can book seats for an extra fee. If you're below 5'3, I would recommend getting there early enough to be towards the front, or clinging to one of the side walls to ensure the best view.

Utilita Arena

The newest of Birmingham’s music venues but by far the most popular, the Utilita Arena stands in the depths of Brindleyplace just around the corner from the Lego Discovery Centre. It is grand and beautiful, and one of my favourite places in town. You will be spoilt for choice when booking tickets at the Utilita; it houses the music industry’s biggest and best of all genres, having featured Sabrina Carpenter’s Short ‘n’ Sweet Tour, and just announced JLS’s 2025 run. There isn’t a seat that's too far away and even if you are up in the high tiers, the excitement rumbles the room—it’s also a lot of fun watching the people in the pit (the best people-watching experience I’ve had was Fall Out Boy Halloween 2023; I have never seen so many Barbies). 

The venue has screens for those of you who don’t want to squint your eyes. The arena bowl is also fabulous, with a great range of food and treats. It is expensive though (much like the tickets which are usually upwards of £50) so maybe save buying their heavenly brownies for a special occasion.

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