Royal Festival Hall, London SE1
'The sound is excellent here and you feel like you're somewhere with a very rich heritage' Photograph: Sophia Evans
'You can't beat a sweaty club for great atmosphere, but different venues are good for different things and this is one for people who really want to listen' Photograph: Sophia Evans
Manchester Apollo
'The Apollo has been in my life for as long as I can remember. I used to go there when I was about 6 or 7-years-old, when it was called the ABC cinema, to see Flash Gordon movies. I lived two streets away and it was an exciting place to have on your doorstep' Photograph: Gary Calton
'I never played the Apollo with the Smiths - the first time I played there was on the Red Wedge tour with Billy Bragg and Paul Weller in 86. I was terrified because I grew up with tales of the Beatles playing there, so it was like being a footballer and playing Wembley.
You’re often told not to play classic venues as you can make more money elsewhere but if people are still talking about a gig you played years later that can be more important than the money you make' Photograph: Gary Calton
The Macbeth, Hoxton, London N1
'The Macbeth is a bit on the edgy side. The lighting’s pretty basic. And backstage? You must be crazy! At times, it’s been like a constant building site, the toilets have not worked or flooded, but that adds to the griminess of it – it’s a legal pub, but it’s got a semi-illegal flavour' Photograph: Katherine Rose
'This place has got a mad energy. It doesn’t have the mega-corporate feeling a lot of clubs in London have. It’s owned and run by musicians and DJs and promoters – it’s a really good example of creative people handling business' Photograph: Katherine Rose
Wilton’s Music Hall, London E1
'This is the oldest surviving music hall in the world and it feels like the place aches, like it’s about to crumble at any minute. Unique venues are a dying breed in Britain. It’s the typical story of the dampening down of all the edges that really made our towns individual and our high streets quirky' Photograph: Sophia Evans
'We almost didn’t debut our latest album Smother here because of the costs involved. Ready-made music venues have sound systems and all the logistical preparations you need, but this is a shell, a place almost of the pre-electricity age. But it was fantastic: we played two really memorable nights' Photograph: Sophia Evans
