See unsigned bands, the next big thing and legends play intimate shows or take your dancing shoes out for club nights where guitar music rules the airwaves.

The Venue
Found on the Kingsway leading into town near the castle, Barfly is tucked in between a bank and shop. Follow the steps from street level down into the basement. The club is an underground space, dark and sweaty. It has low ceilings plastered with band posters, plenty of graffiti on the toilet walls and low lighting, which means the club is a perfect setting for a rock and roll party.

The People
The club fills up with indie kids, music types and alternative dressers. Everyone looks like they want to be in a band, are actually in a band or have the necessary t-shirt displaying their favourite band (usually The Smiths) to justify their presence. The bar staff look like they are just killing time behind the bar before they play the stage. The bouncers have seen every possible piercing or tattoo combination come through the doors, so they aren’t easily shocked. This is the sort of place you can strike up a conversation with anyone and not feel intimidated.

The Music
Most nights live bands play. Bands range from the well known and signed, to the completely unknown. Barfly was instrumental in building the fan bases of bands like Franz Ferdinand and The Strokes, so you might see the next big thing, at a fraction of the price, before anyone else.

There are four different club nights. Tuesday is Hammertime, a crowd pleasing night for students. It’s a 90s night where Oasis, Blur and Pulp are played on repeat and cheesy pop anthems give the crowd something to sing along to.

Thursdays is Discord. Scream your way through the best in alternative metal, rock and punk with the likes of Jimmy Eat World, System of a Down and Weezer.

Mad For It on Friday is pure indie and alternative tunes. Strut your stuff to The Stone Roses and The Smiths and hit the dancefloor with a confident swagger. Drink offers and competitions often feature.

On Saturdays Fly Swatter is a crowd-pleasing night of rock and roll, indie and all things pop. It’s an alternative night filled with music from the likes of Hot Chip, Editors and Artic Monkeys.

The Drink
There are drink offers, £1 on selected drinks like shots of the lethal Jagermeister or bottles of Fosters, plus they have cheap house versions of spirits such as vodka and whisky. Doubles are usually only fractionally more than a single. It’s the sort of place you can confidently order a Snakebite and Black. Don’t expect anything fancy or unusual to drink, its all pints and mainline spirits.

The Last Word
If you’re an indie kid, with a music collection that veers towards the alternative not the mainstream, then Barfly is where you can dance the night away. Come watch live bands before they hit the big time, then boast to your friends that you saw the next big thing.