Latest news with #TwoRoom
BBC News
23-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
'Underdog' club in Norwich voted Europe's best dance venue
The owner of an "underdog" nightclub said he was "lost for words" after it scooped an international Two Room, a small club in Norwich city centre, won the Best Venue (UK and Europe) category at the BBC Radio 1 Dance for the coveted title, chosen by a public vote, included "mega clubs" in Ibiza, London and Manchester."To win it is weird, surreal, humbling, and amazing. I am a little bit lost for words," said owner Mike Baxter. "I think what is different about us is we have artists come and we treat them like regular people and bring them into our home."I think we show the world, and all of these mega clubs with huge numbers, that the Norwich community can do a lot when they come together on it, and that is amazing," he added. The winners of the 2025 awards - broadcast live - were revealed by Radio 1's Danny Howard, Sarah Story and Pete who picked up accolades included Charli XCX, The Blessed Madonna and Confidence Man. LISTEN: Radio 1 Dance Awards 2025 Presenting the best venue award to the Gonzo's Two Room team, Story said she had played at the venue twice and had been telling everybody about it."I'm like 'it's in Norwich', and they were like 'what's happening in Norwich?'"I was like 'the best club in the country'." Baxter said he had wanted to create somewhere dance music lovers could go for a night out that was not too commercial."We want to thank Norwich itself. Thank you for voting," he added. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
16-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The 'underdog' nightclub that brought Ibiza to Norwich
A city centre building that housed an accountancy firm just a few years ago is now known as one of the best dance venues in team behind Gonzo's Two Room on London Road, Norwich call themselves "underdogs", lacking the big budgets of nightclubs in London and is the story of how it came to be shortlisted for the BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards prize for best venue in the UK and Europe. Owner Mike Baxter wanted to create somewhere people could go for a night out that was not too commercial. "We wanted to make it a very clear and separate identity to anything else you would find in Norwich. We wanted a nice place for our friends and a nice place for our community."We weren't ambitious people by any means but one day we had the opportunity to buy the building."Our dad had hundreds of thousands of records growing up and so did we, we had CDs, and that's pretty much what we spent our money on as kids. "We were able to lean in and create the two-room, which is basically not for profit, but for the love of music." Gonzo's booking manager Levi De Belgeonne said: "We're not Ibiza, we're not London, not Liverpool, Manchester - we haven't had the budgets of some of those huge clubs, so when we're trying to attract DJs to pay, we can't go toe to toe when it comes to the financials but we do have a lot of love."Norwich has always been known as a good city for local bands, for indie bands, big touring Baxter added: "We are an underdog story and I think artists love that... it's not just a faceless identity in a big city full of clubs and venues, it's a real part of the community." He explained how the history of dance music in the UK stemmed back to 90s rave culture. "Lots of that was the illegal raves out on farms, the parties in the fields... some of the acts we have now were the teenagers themselves in the fields."For years after the rave scene, everything was locked up in the city. You would go to Ibiza for dance music, you would go to a super club. "For us to have found a way to bring that to Norfolk and make it so that people can celebrate that and see that in a small venue, I think has been really special." Social media and word of mouth is how Gonzo's has created a customer and fanbase. The nightclub has been shortlisted alongside 10 clubs in London, Manchester and Ibiza for the BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards prize for best venue in the UK and Europe. "I think the joke we've been making is we've heard of every one of those clubs except for us!," Mr Baxter said. Gonzo's is known as a place to finish off a night out and it seems to draw people back time and Savory, 21, said although it might not be able to match clubs in Ibiza, it had a "great atmosphere". He said: "I really do like it in there. It does get chaotic in there but I've only been there a few times. It is a good atmosphere if you like to have a dance and like your music." The venue is also memorable for 34-year-old Rachel Martin, who said: "It was our first baby-free night out and my husband and I had a few drinks... it was awesome."We didn't get home until 06:00 the next morning, so great times. "I haven't been to Ibiza but anywhere that gets us to stay out until 6am in Norwich should probably get some sort of award." The winner of the BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards prize for best venue in the UK and Europe will be announced live on Radio 1 Dance from 18:00 GMT on 21 February. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Norwich nightclub Gonzo Two Room up for international award
The owner of an "underdog" nightclub said he is "overwhelmed" after the venue was shortlisted for an international Two Room, in London Street, Norwich, has been named alongside 10 clubs in London, Manchester and Ibiza for the BBC Radio 1 Dance Awards prize for best venue in the UK and awards, which cover four different categories, will be decided on by a public vote, which closes on 14 Baxter, owner of Gonzo's Two Room, said: "We're very honoured, humbled and stoked [to be nominated]." Mr Baxter said that he and his team were "blown away" and added "any other word than surprised would be a lie".He said: "To see the names we're up against is mind-blowing."I think the joke we've been making is we've heard of every one of those clubs except for us! "It [live music] is a hard industry, but for us it was about making something awesome. "To see artists that - by definition - don't belong in Norwich. You'd see those at shows in London, Manchester and Ibiza. We've developed relationships now with artists where we're getting major artists that we've not seen outside of the major cities before who are coming for the crowd." Also shortlisted for the best venue award are:Amnesia, IbizaDrumsheds, LondonIndex, DublinSneaky Pete's, EdinburghBlackstone Street Warehouse, LiverpoolFabric, LondonHi Ibiza, IbizaMotion, BristolThe Warehouse Project at Depot Mayfield, ManchesterThe winners will be revealed live on Radio 1 Dance from 18:00 GMT on 21 February. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
