The Wedgewood Rooms
The Wedgewood Rooms is an Independent Live Music Venue, in Southsea, Portsmouth, England, which hosts music and comedy events.
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| Location | Portsmouth |
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| Owner | The Wedgewood Rooms |
| Capacity | 400 |
| Opened | 1992 |
| Website | |
| www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk | |
It has a capacity of 400 people,[1] and is located on Albert Road in Southsea.[2] Recently it has hosted events from up-and-coming British pop and rock artists, such as You Me At Six, Kasabian, Mercury Prize winners Klaxons and Travis. It has also become a favourite venue for artists wishing to play more intimate venues, such as Renegades (band)[3] and Bowling For Soup,[4] as well as one-off / Warm-up shows for many bands, including Damon Albarn and Jamie T.[5][6]
The Wedgewood Rooms, also known as 'The Wedge' by locals, regularly hosts local band nights which help give these bands a wider fan base and a leg up on the music ladder. It also holds comedy, club and tribute nights.
The Edge of the Wedge, attached to the Wedgewood Rooms, regularly hosts local acts, smaller touring acts and DJs.
Venue History
One of Southsea's oldest landmarks, The Wedgewood Rooms in its past, has served as a storage space in WW2, a Ballroom, a Jazz Cub and a Community Function Room where Arnold Schwazenegger competed in a Body Building competition in 1968.
It is as a Music and Comedy Venue however that The Wedgewood Rooms gained its international reputation. Since launching in 1992, it has seen some of the world's biggest international touring artists take to its stage, earning a reputation as one of the UK's most prestigious independent venues. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, Mercury and Brit Award Winners have been regular visitors to the venue since the early 1990s. In addition, the Comedy Club has also played host to the likes of Jo Brand, Michael McIntyre, and Lee Evans, and is currently the longest running Comedy Club in Portsmouth.
Currently in its 28th year, The Wedgewood Rooms and its small team have helped turn Portsmouth into a primary destination for many artists and comedians on the touring circuit, becoming a hub for Portsmouth's creative arts communities in the process. Today, The Wedgewood Rooms is focused more than ever on building its eclectic reputation, having recently teamed up with independent Theatre companies, and gaining an artist in residence. The overall aim is to provide the community of Portsmouth with a unique, independent space in which to experience and perform alongside some of the countries most exciting and cutting edge artists.
Live Music
For over two decades The Wedgewood Rooms has been at the cutting edge of music. Working in partnership with independent regional promoters PVC, it has built a legendary reputation as arguably one of the best small venues in the UK, playing host to some of the biggest bands, and breaking new acts in the world; Gorillaz, Oasis, Pulp, Editors, PJ Harvey, Muse, Scissor Sisters, Paloma Faith, Catfish and The Bottlemen, Barenaked Ladies, Buzzcocks, Damon Albarn, Biffy Clyro ...the list is endless and reveals the huge range and diversity of talent on display at The Wedge.
Even after bands go on to fill large capacity venues and stadiums they return to the cosy confines of The Wedge for Festival and Tour warm-ups. Portsmouth fans have been lucky enough to spend an intimate evening with Primal Scream, Kasabian, James, Feeder, Placebo, Supergrass and Razorlight to name a few.
The venue also aims to encourage and support new talent, hosting an annual Showcase for local bands, many of which go on to secure prestigious support slots with touring acts and gaining recognition within the local music community.
With the addition of a smaller sister venue, The Edge, newer and local acts are offered a unique space to perform in and promote their own shows.
Comedy
From Jack Dee to Jack Whitehall the biggest names in comedy all launched their careers at the Wedge: Portsmouth's original and oldest Comedy Club!
Over the years many household names have graced the trusty boards at the venue as part of a national tour, or at the regular Wedge Comedy Club in collaboration with Off the Kerb
The impressive list of comedians who are now regulars on both the small and silver screen include Mark Thomas, Bill Bailey, Lee Evans, Dara O'Briain, Tim Minchin,Russell Howard, Jo Brand, Michael McIntyre, Rich Hall, Tim Vine, Omid Djaili, Rory Bremner, Frank Sidebottom and many, many more.
Eddie Izzard warmed up for a world tour with two nights at the venue, Jack Dee sold out five nights on his first ever UK tour (with support from a little known act, Lee Evans). BBC Radio Four have also recorded it's prestigious show Loose Talk live at The Wedge.
In addition to the Comedy Club, the best up-and-coming and established comedians in the world of comedy today can be seen at their Comedy On Tour shows.
Edge of the Wedge
The Edge of the Wedge is an intimate, 100 capacity mini-venue attached to the front of The Wedge.
There is a constantly changing line-up of events from the hottest local and "next big thing" bands on the touring circuit, to regular acoustic shows and eclectic DJ sessions, stand up comedy, aftershow parties and band signings for our big brother venue.
The Edge provides a small and well equipped venue which is accessible to new local acts as well as national and international touring artists.