Warwick Arts Centre: Does our campus promote live music?

The Warwick Arts Centre (WAC), a key landmark on the University of Warwick’s central campus, should be the perfect hotspot for student entertainment. Yet, the venue’s live music programme does not cater well for the student population.  

Last academic year, the WAC held more music events than any other live offering, with approximately 120 concerts compared to its 90 family events or 80 comedy shows.  

The performers however, which included Alfie Boe, Jools Holland, and the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain, are unlikely to have brought in swathes of student audiences. With a predominant focus on classical and orchestral music with almost no mainstream artists, it seems the WAC would rather attract off-campus locals in the Midlands than the students on its doorstep.  

Warwick students can enjoy acts like Alfie Boe if they are that way inclined, but until the 53-year-old singer has a Warwick society named after him, I would argue that there might be more attractive artists out there.  

It’s clear to see that the venue can bring in big names

Comedians Nina Conti, Josh Widdicombe and Chris McCausland all performed at the WAC last year, with Romesh Ranganathan set to bring his upcoming tour to campus in December. It’s clear to see that the venue can bring in big names that cater to wider audiences, they just choose not to for music. 

Up-and-coming popular artists could realistically play the WAC. Artists like Matt Maltese, Sofia Isella, and Griff, who have performed at Birmingham’s O2 Institute, could book the WAC’s Butterworth Hall as a date on their tours, given that the venues are of a similar size. However, unlike the O2 Institute, the WAC is not in the centre of a large city, but a university campus full of students who may not be as dependable as the public when it comes to filling seats.  

With 35% of music events at the WAC already free or student-led, perhaps we are expecting too much of a venue which must, of course, put profitability first. However, there is a clear demand for all kinds of live music among Warwick students. The University has multiple music societies and is home to the well-attended Battle of the Bands and Warwick Student Arts Festival, which host plenty of student musicians.  

Furthermore, according to a survey conducted by The Boar, 64% of students who said they attended a live music event during term time stated that the event was held off campus. The Utilita and bp pulse LIVE arenas in Birmingham are perfect for mainstream pop-leaning acts, with recent performances from Lorde, RAYE and Conan Gray.  

For a more relaxed event, Bedford Street Bar in Leamington Spa is home to laid-back and intimate Jazz Wednesdays. Surveyed students also recommended live music at Assembly and Kelsey’s in Leamington Spa, HMV Empire and The Arches in Coventry, as well as The Castle & Falcon and O2 Academy in Birmingham. 

Change doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon

Given that only 9% of students surveyed had attended a live music event at the WAC, the venue could certainly broaden its musical variety. Their upcoming schedule continues to cater to an older demographic, though, with performances from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Country Hits Live, and countless nostalgic tribute acts to music legends of the past, so change doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon.