Summer in residency at Concorde 2
Summer is always in residency at Concorde 2.
This Victorian seaside promenade holds the history of dance music within its walls. Born from one of Brighton’s biggest parties and a defining UK festival moment, it carries memories as much as it creates them. Its time-worn shell has stood the test of time, anchoring itself deeper into the city’s soundtrack with an enduring line-up of genre heavyweights and deep-cut greats.
Built in the late 1800s, Concorde 2 has lived many lives: a Victorian tea room, a bikers’ café, an amusement arcade – a true Brightonian dreamscape. The structure houses a disused wave-powered lift beneath a cast-iron walkway, integral to its social and historical roots. From its Victorian architecture to an underbelly of secret Regency passages, the venue is no longer such a secret.
DJ pioneer Fatboy Slim made sure of that. Following the closure of the original Concorde venue, which Slim’s Big Beach Boutique had made a household name, then came the next chapter. The revitalised Concorde 2 returned to serve a population screaming for an encore. American producer Moby played the first show, setting the bar for a legacy as a venue that listens to the crowd as much as the crowd listens to the artist.
It’s the sound waves that now lift the room. Its interior shifts with every set, shaped by each artist it hosts. Audiences have watched it transform from an electronic oasis – hosting DJs like Orbital, Jamie xx and Sammy Virji – to an indie sweat-fest, with trailblazers like Foo Fighters and Amy Winehouse igniting the stage.
No night is ever the same – and that is Concorde 2’s greatest strength. Unfazed by one demographic, theme or USP, its desire to serve remains its hallmark. A powerful light and sound set-up does the heavy-lifting too, hosting everything from Pride after-parties to death metal and tribute acts.
Off the back of its 25th anniversary last year, this summer is set for another scorcher, with all-day terrace parties and DJs including Kelly Lee Owens, Leon Vynehall, Dusky and O’Flynn already confirmed – along with the legendary Fatboy Slim making his Big Beach return. Grab a ticket to the seaside and travel back in time to where it all began.
www.concorde2.co.uk | Madeira Drive, Brighton BN2 1EN
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