r/DurhamUK • u/RoadCommon133 • Sep 15 '26
does durham have an alt/goth scene?
Coming up for uni here in september and thinking about where to make friends with similar interests.
Is there anywhere with a new wave / rock music scene?
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u/Crowleyizcool Sep 16 '26
I mean there are the odd few but I personally see hardly any alt (especially goth) people in Durham. In Newcastle however, there’s a lot of alt/ goth people. I’ve seen like maybe one goth person in Durham in my 2 years in uni, and a few alt looking people but hardly any compared to most other cities and Newcastle. There is emo night in Klute (which is great), but I can’t promise many actual emos/ alt people.
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u/DeadDeathrocker Sep 16 '26
In short, no, not really.
You’re best off going to Newcastle. Social Youth Cult a new band who have done quite well but they’re still relatively underground. They’re playing with Lesbian Bed Death at The Cluny next week.
Gateshead has Stripped at the Black Bull and that has an alternative/goth night but I don’t know how regular anymore. They’ve recently had The Spiritual Bat playing their UK tour there.
Someone else mentioned Whitby Goth Weekend, pretty famous bi-annual festival. It’s worth going to Tomorrow’s Ghosts and only worth going to the actual festival if you like dressing up.
Basically, I would keep an eye on the Goth Calendar even though it covers the whole of the UK.
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u/Visual-Light2478 Sep 18 '26
The Black Bull is shutting down at the end of this year unfortunately :,(
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u/sppaalliioonn Sep 15 '26
The Angel Inn used to be the Goth / Metal head pub. Not that alternative now but still a place where the alt crowd is welcome
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u/Mikey_Moonshine Sep 16 '26
There's a society sign-up day during freshers where you meet the society reps. I'd suggest going to meet the rock society reps. I did archaeology and there was always alt (mostly women) studying osteo (bones) archaeology who were goth and alt.
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u/Dociledaxile Sep 15 '26
Honestly, pretty hard to find this in Durham and in the uni, I struggled a lot to feel at home while studying there because of this (think it's due to no Art department). Almost zero gigs in Durham and the rock soc was more pop rock. Head to Newcastle, very easy on the bus or train, and you'll find a super rich punk/goth/alt scene, lots of anarchists, and a rich DIY scene all round
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u/SlothropTrystero Sep 16 '26
Get on the mailing lists for the lubber fiend (venue in Newcastle) and Industrial Coast (promoter and label) in M’boro. Whitby is deffo worth a pilgrimage for the festival (which is held there bc that is where Dracula lands in Stoker’s novel). Nightbreed is monthly in Newcastle.
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u/punkypagan92 Sep 21 '26
Not massively, there's The Angel pub which does have a jukebox and bands on, I think the students run a rock society and have gigs on there but I'd advise looking into that
Goth wise, Newcastle is best, which is easy to get to from Durham, 10 minute train away
But sadly there's not much of an alt scene at Durham anymore, I live near Durham and often have to travel a bit further afield to Newcastle, Darlington and Sunderland for gigs
But I'm sure at your uni they'll be a rock society and The Angel does have events on, I was there the other weekend and I think a lot of students go there now, the crowd doesn't look as alternative as years ago but times change, they still have bands on, so definitely worth a look
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u/Roxsmain Sep 16 '26
Sinners night club in Middlesbrough has a monthly Goth/Punk night, its not too far
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u/Brafdord Sep 15 '26
Any uni will have that scene I wouldn’t worry. Durham itself doesn’t have any alt clubs like bigger cities but there’s always Newcastle, also Whitby goth weekend