The Louisiana Public House

The Louisiana Public House — commonly known simply as The Louisiana — is a small, independently owned live music venue and pub in Bristol, England. It operates a 140-capacity room and describes itself as a "proudly independent, family-run venue" that has been putting on musicians for over 38 years. Its address and full trading details are not given in the available sources, but it is identified as a pub in the City of Bristol, England, UK. The venue's reputation rests on its role as an early stage for emerging acts. Its own history notes that after a fire at The Fleece in Bristol in 1996, two local promoters asked to use the upstairs room at The Louisiana; in the first week Placebo and Super Furry Animals played there, even though there was no stage at the time. A stage was built a week later, and regular gigs followed. The Louisiana has since been described as a barometer for new bands, with early appearances by acts such as The Scissor Sisters, Florence and the Machine and The National, the last of whom first played to 20 people there. Amy Winehouse, Muse and Dua Lipa are also cited among artists who have played the venue. Beyond hosting touring acts booked by external promoters, The Louisiana positions itself as a platform for homegrown talent, giving local acts slots and recommending promising bands for national support slots and festivals. It also runs club nights and DJ events, and has hosted low-cost entry nights in the past. The venue sells tickets for its own programme of gigs, typically priced with a booking fee, and works with a range of promoters including DHP, Live Nation, AEG Presents, Crosstown Concerts and others. The Louisiana is a private, independent business rather than part of a large chain or listed group. It has engaged in community and sector initiatives, including a pledge to Bristol Zero Tolerance and a Patreon campaign alongside The Exchange to support the venues. Its website serves as the main public listing of upcoming events and news.

The Louisiana Public House is a live music venue and pub in Bristol, England. According to its own account, it has been working on putting on musicians for over 38 years, making it a long-standing grassroots venue in the city. It describes itself as a 140-capacity, family-run venue that aims to give musicians and audiences the perfect communion. A turning point came in 1996, when a fire at The Fleece in Bristol led two local promoters to ask whether they could use the upstairs room at The Louisiana instead. The venue agreed, and in the first week Placebo and Super Furry Animals played there — at a time when The Louisiana did not even have a stage. Gianni built a stage a week later, which proved fortunate because within weeks more promoters became involved and gigs were being staged on a regular basis. The venue also brought in up-and-coming DJs, charging only 50p entry; The Chemical Brothers played one of these events, and club nights began in the basement at weekends. Over the years, The Louisiana has been seen as a barometer for new bands. The first time The Scissor Sisters played there it was as support to a Bristol band, but by the third time the venue had to escort them to the stage so they would not get mobbed. The same pattern applied to Florence and the Machine and to The National, who first played there to 20 people and later played to 20,000. The venue notes that it has always been the first port of call for most new bands doing a national tour. While external promoters book the national bands that perform at The Louisiana, the venue also makes sure it is a platform for homegrown talent. Many local acts approach it, and it tries to give them slots as much as possible. If it believes a band has real talent, it supports them as much as it can and recommends them for suitable national support slots and festivals. Labels, agents and promoters regularly ask the venue for tips on the best new music coming through. The Louisiana continues to operate as an independent venue, hosting a busy programme of gigs booked by a range of promoters and selling tickets for its own events. It has also taken part in sector and community initiatives, including a pledge to Bristol Zero Tolerance and a Patreon fundraising effort with The Exchange to support the venues.

• A fire at The Fleece in Bristol leads two local promoters to use the upstairs room at The Louisiana; Placebo and Super Furry Animals play in the first week.

• Gianni builds a stage at The Louisiana a week after the first gigs, enabling regular gigs.

• The Chemical Brothers play one of the venue's low-cost DJ nights.

• The Scissor Sisters first play The Louisiana as support to a Bristol band, later returning to headline.

• The National first play The Louisiana to 20 people.

• The Louisiana pledges to Bristol Zero Tolerance.

• The Louisiana and The Exchange launch a Patreon fundraising effort.

A proudly independent, family-run grassroots music venue and pub known as a barometer for new bands.

• Live music gigs

  Regular gigs booked by external promoters and the venue itself, featuring touring and local acts.

• Club nights

  Weekend club nights in the basement, including low-cost DJ events in the past.

• Pub drinks

  The venue operates as a pub alongside its live music programme.

1. 1The Louisiana Bristol, Live Music Venue & Pub - Bristol, UKthelouisiana.net
2. 2About | The Louisiana, Bristol | About The Lousiana, Bristol | Live Music Venuethelouisiana.net
3. 3The Louisiana Public House - Wikidatawikidata.org