Around the UK in 80 Venues: Sheffield Leadmill

Location: 6-7 Leadmill Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 4SE, England

Website: http://www.leadmill.co.uk/

Capacity: 900.

Come to see: Despite living in the musical shadow of other major northern cities like Manchester and Liverpool, Sheffield too has its own proud place in the British musical firmament. Its vibrant and varied scene has, in the past, given us Def Leppard, Warp Records, Pulp and a host of others. The Leadmill was -- and still is -- an important venue for live music in the city and plays host to the latest next big things and established indie names. There are regular club nights, too.

The atmosphere: Full of northern hospitality. The Leadmill is famous for its friendly atmosphere and welcoming staff. In 2008 Sheffield was hit by a major power cut which shut off the lights during a sold out show from Sam Sparro. Regulations meant that the club had to be evacuated so the staff put on their own show outside before everyone was allowed back inside for a drink on the house.

You saw them here first: The Leadmill opened its doors in 1980 and was the site of early shows by many local legends. In the '80s the Human League, Heaven 17, the Thompson Twins and a pre-Britpop incarnation of Pulp graced the stage. More recently Sheffield's latest heroes the Arctic Monkeys played a now legendary 2004 show to an ecstatic crowd in a sold-out Leadmill.
Claim to fame: Legend has it that in 1983 the Leadmill turned down the opportunity to book a certain Madonna Ciccone for her first show on UK soil. The reason? Her fee, allegedly. She's believed to have charged a whopping £75, so the Leadmill decided to book a band called Ipso Factor instead. They charged £25. Bargain.

You should also know: In the '60s the Leadmill site was known as the Esquire Club, a legendary venue in its own right. Many future megastars performed on its tiny stage which was constructed using two grand pianos with the legs sawn off. Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix, the Who and the Small Faces are just a few of the names who paid a visit to the Steel City's top nightspot between 1962 and 1967.

Booking now: Peter, Bjorn and John, Noah and the Whale, Passion Pit, Nine Black Alps, Idlewild, CKY, Gong, Babybird, We Were Promised Jetpacks