'Worst summer ever' for Hull's famous Adelphi music club - but the show will go on
HULL'S Adelphi club is widely regarded as a legendary music venue but it has experienced its "worst summer ever".
Owner Paul Jackson has grafted for almost 30 years to build up its reputation and many famous acts have graced its stage, from Oasis to Franz Ferdinand.
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Franz Ferdinand at the Adelphi. Picture by Ian Rook.
But with music fans preferring to stay at home rather than watch live music, Mr Jackson has contemplated shutting the club.
It is not the first venue to struggle this summer as Lamp closed a few months ago and Hollywood And Vine in Beverley Road has reported significant losses.
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Paul, 58, said: "There has been a bit of a rallying call after huge losses week by week and the comments on Twitter are quite heartwarming.
"There have been unacceptable and unsustainable levels of borrowing from my family, which has brought me closer than ever before to throwing in the towel.
"We certainly couldn't sustain another summer such as this.
"There has been little in the way of pleasure for me these past few months."
Mr Jackson said it was hard to pinpoint the reason music fans are deserting the venue in De Grey Street, with national acts playing almost every night of the week.
He said: "What we need is extra income streams and, fortunately, we are on schedule for this to happen later on in the year with the release of the long-awaited Adelphi DVD.
"Hopefully this, combined with a swanky new website, will help us stagger through next summer and towards our 30th anniversary in 2014."
Earlier this year, BBC Radio 1 DJs Zane Lowe and Huw Stephens broadcast a live show from the Adelphi with rising rock band Pulled Apart By Horses.
Focusing on its folklore and the legendary names that have taken to the stage, the event attracted a huge crowd of fans.
As for forthcoming shows, there are plenty of acts to watch from Scottish folk duo Twelfth Day to Daniel Martin Moore and Joan Shelley, who are signed to record label Sub Pop of Nirvana fame.
Mr Jackson said: "The acts are often quite specialised and sometimes far too good to stand much chance of commercial success.
"We also do quite a lot of stuff that works brilliantly live, where the recorded work doesn't make sense until you actually see the performance.
"Over the years, we have had some huge acts play and my favourite corporate bands have been Radiohead and Pulp – they were great to work with.
"This is the place were 110 per cent performances are dragged out of people.
"I just hope we're turning a corner now."
Comments
by Dasher13
Wednesday, September 05 2012, 7:57AM
“I'm 45 and I love live music, yet I only know a handful of people who still go out of their way to see bands performing...used to go to Lamp regularly and I've been embarrassed for the band's who've played to less than a dozen people...I don't think there are many bands who make a return visit to Hull when very few turn out to see them...”
by GEvans76
Sunday, September 02 2012, 11:22PM
“I love the Adephi.
One of the last remaining venues of it's type left.”
by Bobsy666
Sunday, September 02 2012, 6:33PM
“I see they're throwing an all-day event to help raise funds today... why is this not mentioned in the article?!”
by geniepink
Sunday, September 02 2012, 2:07PM
“n'naw, i love adelphi, hull would be a VERY different place if it wesnt here, the decors a tad run down but who cares? (its just very lived in)the atmosphere is amazing, the people who go there are interesting and the owner paul is fab. i honestly dont care about what the place looks like as i only go to enjoy the people and music and the fine guest ales! its not like going bloody camping or anything! ha! what do you expect when you go to see bands? i just ask for good vibes good sound and a nice pint! walls and floors dont even come into it. adelphi is the bomb and we have alot to thank it for.... simple. ;-)”
by Demonica666
Sunday, September 02 2012, 11:42AM
“I like the Adelphi but it does need some updating. I have seen bands in awful places, so I'm not asking for shiny sparkly surroundings (I don't do stadium/arena music) but it would be nice not to stick to the floor even when the Adelphi has just opened, use a toilet with decent facilities and not have to examine my glass every time I get a drink. The Adelphi is a crown in Hull's music scene but it cannot rely on loyalty of the populace to survive. Yes, the music is the most important thing here but it needs to persuade people to get into the local music scene. It does not advertise itself well and many potential regulars visit once then never again. This is a real shame.”
by IllaGhee1
Sunday, September 02 2012, 9:47AM
“Ive heard its a dump people have come a long way from urinating and and doing burnouts on their leather jackets!!”
by mpgal
Saturday, September 01 2012, 10:16PM
“I like the Adelphi. My band played there earlier this year and it's a good venue. It was a real shame that there weren't more people at the gig though despite the venue promoting. I saw some photos from other gigs this summer and they were equally deserted. The summers are pretty notorious for lack of gigs and tours with bands and PR focussing on festivals. I suppose it's also tough for venues in cities, like Hull, when the students go home as well. Also, the night we played it was pouring down which didn't help. People can be lazy unfortunately and the smallest thing can deter them from going out. I really hope the Adelphi can carry on and things turn around. There are some great gigs coming up from current bands who have the potential to be "the next big thing" and it's good that a venue supports the unsigned and lesser known artists to give them somewhere to play shows.
Having read this article the only thing that I think is holding the venue back is the fact that there is so much talk about bands who used to be big in the '90s and 2000s playing there.. That's great but maybe it's time to start looking fwd and promoting the next big thing that focussing on the successes of the past. It's important to recognise the achievements but it's also important to look to the future.”
by mpgal
Saturday, September 01 2012, 10:14PM
“I like the Adelphi. My band played there earlier this year and it's a good venue. It was a real shame that there weren't more people at the gig though despite the venue promoting. I saw some photos from other gigs this summer and they were equally deserted. The summers are pretty notorious for lack of gigs and tours with bands and PR focussing on festivals. I suppose it's also tough for venues in cities, like Hull, when the students go home as well. Also, the night we played it was pouring down which didn't help. People can be lazy unfortunately and the smallest thing can deter them from going out. I really hope the Adelphi can carry on and things turn around. There are some great gigs coming up from current bands who have the potential to be "the next big thing" and it's good that a venue supports the unsigned and lesser known artists to give them somewhere to play shows.
Having read this article the only thing that I think is holding the venue back is the fact that there is so much talk about bands who used to be big in the '90s and 2000s playing there.. That's great but maybe it's time to start looking fwd and promoting the next big thing that focussing on the successes of the past. It's important to recognise the achievements but it's also important to look to the future.”
by philby3
Saturday, September 01 2012, 9:04PM
“a message for mr paul jackson, i not think you could go too wrong if you can take constructive critisism from the comments stated here. give it atry paul and see what happens!. it,ll be better summer next year!!.”
by derkoi
Saturday, September 01 2012, 2:04PM
“It needs a lick of paint.”