For Anna Calvi, it's a place where every tiny detail of the music can be heard and appreciated, whereas for Roots Manuva it's somewhere with a grimy, semi-illegal flavour that turns him on. Johnny Marr gravitates towards a space with a rich legacy and a sense of grandeur – and history matters too for Wild Beasts, who would rather taste the dust of the world's oldest music hall than play somewhere functional and soulless with sticky carpets.
But what makes a good music venue for you? What's your favourite in the UK and why?
For this Sunday's Observer New Review – and online now with a gallery of pictures – we've asked some of the country's best-loved musicians to nominate their favourite venues in the UK and give us a performer's perspective on what makes them so great. Now we'd like to hear from you.
The question of what makes a great venue seems particularly relevant at the moment. Earlier this month, a live music bill amending the 2003 Licensing Act was cleared by the House of Commons, paving the way for small venues around the country (with a capacity of under 200) to host live music without having to apply for a licence. At a time when the UK music scene is increasingly dominated by large corporate venues devoid of individual character, this should come as welcome news for music fans. The bill, which is expected to pass through the House of Lords without opposition, looks likely to inundate us with new concert-going options.
With this in mind, what ingredients do you think are needed to make a knock-out music venue? Are intimate venues better or is it equally possible to have a transcendent experience in somewhere the size of a football field? Is it all about perfect sound, or does atmosphere matter more?
You can also post pictures of your gig-going experiences to our Flickr group.
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