Inn at the beginning

Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Coldplay, David Gray, Ash, Radiohead, Moloko... This isn't the line-up at one of this year's major festivals but just some of the bands that have played in the 150-capacity back room of a little pub in St Mary, Southampton.

The Joiners Arms, in St Mary Street, has become an institution in the music world and it is still a great place to see up-and-coming bands, often just months before they break into the big time and leave pub gigs behind in favour of stadiums and international tours.

It became popular as a port of call for bands about to hit the big time in the late 1980s when a former band promoter, Mint, and a few friends, persuaded the then landlord to let him put on some gigs on weekday nights.

The night was billed Next Big Thing and the venue became established as part of the 'toilet circuit', a network of smaller venues, some of which were so small that the band had to change in the loo.

Mint is still involved as a promoter and the team has expanded with several people booking upcoming bands for the venue.

Among the legendary gigs that he booked was Oasis in 1994, with the Manchester lads getting £100 for their efforts.

And back in 1991, the Manic Street Preachers, with Richie Edwards still in their line-up, took to the small stage. Legend has it that the band signed an important contract in the cellar dressing room.

When Mint booked the Charlatans they were unknown but by the time they played their gig, in February 1990, they had become darlings of the music press thanks, in part, to The Stone Roses declaring that Tim Burgess and co were their favourite band.

It's not unusual for bands to name-check the venue. When Suede recently played at Southampton Guildhall, Brett Anderson spoke fondly of his memories of the pub and Richard Ashcroft recently told a music magazine that the Verve's 1992 performance at The Joiners was "one of the greatest gigs I've ever played in my life".

And it's not just bands that are enthusiastic about the venue.

Vic Toms, who recently became manager and promoter at The Joiners confirms that for everyone involved in the venue it's a labour of love.

"It's exciting but it's also very difficult," he says.

"It's only love that keeps us going."

Vic admits that, despite the big names, keeping The Joiners going can sometimes feel like hard work.

"Location is a problem. Students are often encouraged not to come down here, although it's getting better."

But even if it can sometimes be difficult attracting students to the venue, The Joiners manages to entice some surprising people through its doors.

"Evan Dando turned up rather drunk at the end of last year," says Vic of the Lemonheads singer who also starred in the movie Heavy alongside Liv Tyler and reportedly dated Courtney Love.

"He behaved like a true rock and roll star and got up on stage and did a few Lemonheads songs."

Dando was in the area and decided to pop in and see his friends, Sneeze, who were headlining, so it's worth keeping an eye on who the well-known friends of bands are as well as what the music press has to say about the bands themselves if you do a bit of celebrity spotting.

But it's not just celebrities unexpectedly popping in that makes The Joiners a unique music venue.

"There was the time when one of the bands decided to swing off the lighting rig and we thought it was going to break," remembers Vic.

"And the lead singer of D4 jumped off an amp and punctured his foot, then played the rest of the gig before being rushed to hospital!

"Then last year we had a reunion of Carter USM on stage."

The Joiners doesn't only book national bands who are on their way up. They also play an important role in promoting the local music scene.

The venue holds regular showcase nights for local talent and most bands that come to play are supported by a local act.

The Delays, who recently released their first single, are among the local groups that The Joiners has given a leg up to.

And the most memorable gig that Vic has been to also featured local lad Will Champion with his band Coldplay.

"When Coldplay played it was packed - it was amazing.

"It was when they were really starting to take off and we sold out pretty quickly."

But what's the Joiners' secret for booking so many bands who become huge?

"We've got a team working at the front of the industry and we do a lot of research - we know who's doing what.

"We can't guarantee that anyone who plays here will be famous but a lot of people have gone on to bigger things."

So if you want to be able to say 'I saw them before they were famous' about the next Oasis or David Gray, you know where to go.

For more information about The Joiners Arms, call 023 8022 5612 or visit www.joinerslive.com.

THE JOINERS ROLL OF HONOUR:

Ash

Blur

Catatonia

Charlatans

Coldplay

Cooper Temple Clause

David Gray

The Delays

Echobelly

Levellers

Libertines

Manic Street Preachers

Moloko

Oasis

John Otway

Muse

PJ Harvey

Primal Scream

Pulp

Radiohead

Shed Seven

Skunk Anansie

Suede

Sultans of Ping

Supergrass

The Thrills

Toploader

Verve