Loco Club

Loco Club is one of Valencia's leading small concert venues, a place where touring bands from abroad share the calendar with Spanish acts and up-and-coming local groups. It holds about 300 people and puts on more than 200 concerts a year, so on most nights there is something worth seeing. The sound system and acoustics are a point of pride, and the venue has a reputation among musicians and audiences alike.

The programme is broad, covering many styles of popular music, and the calendar changes constantly. Because it supports emerging bands as well as established names, ticket prices vary widely, from cheap nights for local acts to higher prices for international tours. Check the club's website for the calendar and buy tickets in advance for popular shows, which sell out.

The venue opens in the evening, from around 19:00, and stays open until the early hours, with concert times varying by event. There is bar food, including pastrami sandwiches and tacos, which is handy if you are coming straight from work or sightseeing. Like most music venues, it is standing room only for concerts, and it gets hot and crowded when a show sells out, so dress accordingly and keep valuables secure.

Loco Club suits music fans, groups of friends and solo travellers who want to hear live music outside the tourist circuit. The audience is mainly local, which gives a good sense of Valencia's own music scene. It is less suited to anyone looking for a quiet drink; for that, the old town's cocktail bars are a better bet.

A tip for planning: concerts in Spain often start later than in northern Europe, and the venue stays open well after the last band finishes. If you want to eat beforehand, an early dinner nearby or the bar food at the club itself avoids a rush, and checking the door and stage times on the event page saves waiting around.

The club is on Calle Erudito Orellana in Extramurs, the district just west of the old town, a short walk from the Plaza de España and about 15 minutes on foot from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Several metro lines serve nearby stations, and buses 60, 62, 64 and 92 stop close by. Taxis are easy to find on the main avenues after a show.