The Knowhere Guide

The Local Music Scene in Ayr, South Ayrshire*

Ayr, South Ayrshire Record Shops and Venues

Record Shops

• HMV's new store in the Ayr Central. It's a bit smaller than I hoped for and it isn't cheap. However, when they have a sale they really DO have a sale. Unfortunately it's often the same stock that gets cycled through these sales.
• Planet of Sound are dirt cheap and carry more rock and metal stuff than any of the big chains do.
• HMV.
• There's a groovy wee shop with a frail old man that sells the most sought after records, vinyls...wait, my friend's just told me he's dead.
• Planet of Sound seems to be a thriving wee shop, their selection is a bit limited but they're decent enough.
• Orion is the best place, in the post office across from the Odeon, but there is not much room and they have no vinyl :-( Also there isnt really many underground records in there just a lot of the better known bands, hardly any black metal.
• Asylum is totally closed now. Orion Records has a bit in Burns Statue Square. It's a sublet inside the newsagent/sub post office.
• Planet of Sound is bloody good! I spend all my spare time there hahaha, just cause it's got fairly cheap CDs and a good selection...
• Planet of sound....ROCK ON!
• Update, Asylum on Dalblair Road had a few small traders sharing the one building. It now seems to have closed down and the traders went elsewhere. One guy has a bit at the back of the Burns Statue Square sub post office, he sells CD's and DVD's there. There's a tatoo parlor in the same street as MFI that have a small selection of CD's. There's a new shop called Planet of Music on the main street up near the Tam O Shanter pub
• Asylum IS the old indoor market record stall. It was started by video stall, music stall and tatooist when the market closed. Video guy has since moved on but others remain. --- Check wollies for bargain bin deals also. V shop if you don't care about money.
• There's a new shop called Planet of SOund, or Planet of Music or something like that, that's opened up near the Tam O Shanter Inn.
• Orion Records in the Asylum off Burn's Statue Square has the best selection of rock, metal, punk, indie and weird stuff I've ever seen. Usually £10 or less an album.
• The besty place yto go is, asda coz they are extremely cheat
• ASylem
• V-Shop, Woolies, and WH Smiths. That's about it if I remember correctly.
• the indoor market music stall was amazing if your into rock/alternative, but since it got closed Woolies and Virgin are about all
• A V-Shop, the former Our Price, but they are extortionate. Asylum, is a cool record/video/comic combo shop in Dalblair Road. They have a fair selection of stuff.
• There's a place called Asylum on Dalblair Road that sells a lot of music.
• the market on Dalblair Road, cheap and also houses a tattoo parlour!!
• Used to be a few - Trash Records and Up Records - but now you're confined to Woolies, WH Smith and V.Shop
• A new record shop has opened in the high street-Virgin,
• Billy McEwans is the best music shop around
• Indoor Market has the best record shop ever - cheap, second hand and brand new, friendly and stands out in value from high st. shops.
• Buy records from Up! Records.
  [But, 1997:] UP Records has been closed for years.

Clubs (Dance Music) and Music Bars

• the place to go is fury murrays(if over age of 25)the rest of them i.e madisons,club de mar are for new fresh clubbers really!furys have mixture of indie grungey style music and rock,my fave.
• club de mar, four cats, madisons...basiclaly all in the same street. The Ark and The Space Place for the 'younger generation' who would never at any point in their lives even THINKof trying to smuggle drink in....
• Well, whoever commented about Suburbia needn't bother now, since it's shut down.
• i really think the babylon nite club in ayr would be great as a coyote club because of where it is people would have to pass it to go into ayr honestly think it would be a hit
• Sad lack of any decent clubs with original or imaginative decor / music / themes. Someone totally missed the point with Suburbia. Took a great looking old building in the High St and made it look like the interior of Holiday Inn lobby from the 1970's. I suggest the owner goes to Bar Gandolfi or even Babbity Bowster's in Glasgow to get some new ideas!
• Powerhouse, sorry, Harleys? God, the name changes more than I change my underwear. (Although frankly, that's untrue, because I do change my boxers MORE than 3 times in a 15 year period.) I liked the pub McArthurs - my mates boyfriend managed it (Mark?) and I used to get in to the club next door free of charge. (Club De Mar?) it was called at the time. I worked at the Gaiety Theatre and saw some amazing music events, but apart from that, nah.
• The Ark is out of action due to the recent fire and it's still not known if the building will ever be restored to it's former self.
• Fury Murrys is the only place that plays any kind of decent rock.
• The Ark and Bobby Jones have just suffered a really bad fire, so that area is off limits and according to the Ayrshire Extra (formerly the Ayrshire Leader) part of that building is to be demolished.
• Harleys, Furry Murrys, Billy Bridges, Liquor Lounge (god the dentist chair rocks) ... all with "REMARKABLY young patrons" ...if such patrons were to say arrive just before rush time and stay put for fun.
• Club de mar is rotten
• Babylon shut down about 6 months ago m8
• POWERHOUSE IS GONE! but it hadn't really been powerhouse for a few years. I believe the new metal era ruined the once sacred space. Indie, grunge, metal, rock, punk, baggy? yes. Angry-ignorant-awful-new metal? norra chance buddy! Do you think the average punter wants to deal with that? Only underagers and the terminally stupid do.
• Arkadia is now known as Madisons and is as horrible as ever. Babylon is full of neds. I've never been in Bobby Jones, so I can't comment on it. The Powerhouse has stopped playing rock and started playing hip-hop, so it might as well be anywhere else. Club de Mar is still overpriced, hires rubbish DJs and is full of posers, but the birds are the nicest to look at.
• Club De Mar - CLUB TOO FAR! A place of many memories, though not exactly a high quality establishment. Bouncers can be eejits, but there's not usually that much trouble. Thursday nights were always "student" night, but Saturdays are still for the oldies! Madisons - no longer Smelladia people! It's OK, very R + B. Mixing's OK, but it's a wee bit on the scabby side. Powerhouse - the best club in Ayr! When you learn to ignore the sticky floor and some of the questionable looking punters, the music's great, it's totally relaxed and everyone has a laugh. I wouldn't annoy the bouncers too much though! Babylon - Scabylon. Need I say more?! And as far as I'm aware, XS was shut down ages ago. Good to note that everywhere in Ayr seems to have gone mental in the IDing stakes. I think it's the amount of police about, slightly exesssive, but never mind. Oh, I don't think they're accepting a lot of student IDs either, so watch out.
• The powerhouse is a shithole. Don't go, the staff are wankers, the boss is a prick, and the bouncers have a habit of bouncing the 'kids' of the walls. And I haven't got on to the music.
• XESS IS DEAD!!!
• OOfft-was amused by the punters slaggin the mar.Its good these days! Arkadias now owned by the same folk that have mcarthurs, 4 cats and stuff...and its called madisons...in my opinion a big pile of pish! Room red in the mar is the best...but think the dj's need to buy less hip hop compilations......ha ha.(no offence boys but i could stay at home and listen to ma cd's!) Richards an arse but the other one..(alan??) is a bit of a hottie.....
• How old is this page!!! Club de Mar is mint, Babylon, Madisons and Non existent xess which got shut down for GOOD are all pretty pathetic.
• when was this site updated i used to go to hanger 13 and im 47 now i was 16 when i was a usual.all the clubs in ayr are s**t u have to be steemin to go to them. bobbys has good tunes but scarry ectode teeny bopers, i saw somebodys head smaking off the bar table, cdm is pish and expensive ,im off to get chongod to the max
• Arkadia, Club De Mar, Babylon
• AS i have been a young patron, in my day going out in ayr. i use to say Xess was the best night club to go to, but now the place to be is the bobby Jones at the top of town with there back to the old school tunes pumping out every friday. club de mar has all been a greet night out for thouse ho don't won;t to forget the likes of wham, dead or alive ect. I don't think the dj has bought any new records since that era (could be wrong not been in ages).If you like Xess u should go to it's pre club bar the liquer lounge (aka Elliots) they have a excellnt spin the wheel. Dantes is a great pub/bar which serves bang up meals fit for a king, and has drink promtions regualy, and a smashing pool table. Mcarthers is a good pub as well with very fine bar maids, a good drinking crowd (dance floor at the back makes it popular with the ladies) the four cats aka tobi zaxs(say it fast: the fukits as in fukit we will go there) is new and have only been in once to watch the ary v rangers game on there big screen, the decor is nice, and the pints were good.
• CLUB TO FAR IS FULL OF POSERS INSTEAD GO TO BOBBY JONES WHERE ALL THE NORMAL PEOLPLE HANG ABOUT
• Club de Mar is officially the worst club in the world. The music is so dire it is unbeleivable. The crowd are young wannabes who think they are untouchable and gorgeous. Reality check for these people as majority of crowd look as though they have been beaten by an ugly stick for years! DJ's can't mix, decor sucks, crowd sucks, entry price over-inflated for what you get and the bouncers are knobs. Worst club ever: I think so!
• POWERHOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Arcadia! Its fairly new, pretty hip and full of tasty guys (hello everyone from Belmont 6th form!) Club De Mar is not bad. Ayr is good as the entry is free, drinks are cheap and nights out are good. It cant be good for those over 20 though as the crowds are young. Ive seen my little sisters friends out for gods sake!
• Arcaidia a new club open next to argoes great for pulling
• Xess is the best club in the town theyb have two dance floors one with resident djs billy reid and dj decco they play [pop music thursday party music fridays and hard club music on saturdays upstairs u have dy stavev who plays hard trance jungle proper hard music. the club is very affordable too as it is only £2 on thursday on fridays it is free for ladies and £2 for guys and on saturday it is £3 b4 midnight and £4 after the drinks are dirt cheap too 50 p for vodka and dash and only £1 for promo bottled beer the clubs other attractions are the gorgeous sexy cage dancers, foam party nights, shag tag night, traffic light partys and beach party's.i may be a bit biased to the place as i work there but it has been my fave club for years and i only started a couple of weeks ago so go check it out you wont regret it
• Arkadia is worth a visit for any self respecting person who doesn't fit in with the morons in CDM. Except they've now employed a useless abusive guy to work the door which will be handy for kicking in some little girls head in as that's what he's famous for around ayr. everyone in ayr knows who i mean. sleeveless vests and tight jeans along with floppy peroxide hair will give you a clue.
• The powerhouse is a great friendly club with decent rock music. Dancy folk might like Excess or Club de Mar. There's a new club in the old Carrick Arcade called Arcadia which seems OK, Babylon is a bit dodgy though
• X-ess is mostly full of younger people.The music isnt very good but its quite cheap.£2 with a flyer on a Fri.Alcohol also quite cheap! Club30 (Bobbies) is a good club.Good music but quite expensive. Other clubs also include Archadia (quite new), Babylon and Club De Mar.All very good clubs.
• Bobby Jones is full as dirty little neds and bambs
• Babylon - Main Street (***) Xess - Nile Court, off High Street (***) Club De Mar - Arthur Street, off Boswell Park (****) Arcadia - off Boswell Park (****) Club 30 (Bobby Jones) - Burns Statue Square (***)
• The Powerhouse (rock), Club 30, Excess, Club de Mar, Babylon (oh dear)
• club de mar; bring your homework, I'm sure a sleazy ned will be more than willing to help!
• Okay, it's summer 2001 and this is the perfect night out in Ayr(in my opinion) If you are 30-ish then take note. Go to the West Kirk for about 8. No music, but everyone goes here to get started. Then across the road to the Treehouse for about 10. Spend an our in here. Then a 2 minute walk to the west of the moon. This is where the girls are deciding who their man will be for the night. So get stuck in here. Buy your ticket for the club de mar inside west of the moon and you avoid the big que outside. Straight in the back door!! C de M has got a lot older, 25+ so it is not called club de crech anymore. Good music good women and a guarenteed score. good luck!!
• Club De Mar................ My era. Opened approx 1988 Great nights out used to be held there with all my girlie chums. Not as bad as some make it out to be. Saturday nights are a bit under 18 ish!!! But a Friday night is good. Always have a half hour montage of late 70's and 80's music...Van Morrison, Wham my kind of stuff. Think I might hold my Funeral wake in Club De Mar. Why party anywhere else in Ayr? Started partying there may as well finish. Keep it up Club!
• Arcadia a new club has just opened, a bigger club! No more to be said really??
• Club De Mar.....poser city which suits the people of Ayr down to the ground. Avoid at all costs. That new place isn't bad though. Arcadia's the name and will be pretty cool if they can avoid the usual Club Too Far crowd.
• Powerhouse is a dive. Club de Mar is cheesy, but usually a good laugh. But I'm 26 and still get asked for ID every week! X-ess is okay for the size of it.
• Xess - Small but good. Club De Mar - Bigger and Better. I haven't been to Babylon or Club 30.
• Hip-Hop night, STRICTLY BUSINESS at Club 30, Burns Statue Square, Thursday 15th June, £2. I f this goes well, there'll be more. No dress code, £1 drinks.
• Ok so it 7th June 2000 and i'm out in Ayr every weekend! Club de Mar is the best club as bobby Jones is neddy and x-ess is full of underagers and druggys.Best pub is Tobby Zaxx (2 stunning barmen)and for 21+ it's Chapman Billies but a new pub WEST OF THE MOON HAS OPENED AND IT IS A LOT OLDER CLUB DE MAR FOLK but i hope to see you out. x
• Well Excess is good with their under 18 night and also as an overs venue as wll but Glasgow is better and there is an excellent transport service up there. CLub de Mar in Ayr is still crap and full of teeny boppers Bennets in Glasgow is your best bet or Archaos
• We currently have 5 night clubs but the best is the Bobby Jones at the top of the town if your ever in iam the one at the bar with the pink hair.
• when was the last time this board was updated there are atleast 3 new pubs in Ayr and 1 new night club. Also Hanger 13 shut down years ago and never got its licence back.
• Club de mar, has reopened and the bouncers seem to know the value of asking of I.D Average age has improved but it still charges ridiculous prices for everything. Powerhouse, good rock/indie venue. No hassle, reasonable prices, brillant music, generally a good all round LAUGH, unlike all the dancy clubs.
• Should be Club, not ClubS!! There is nowhere else to go. Flip used to be good on a Thursday night and we all thought it would get better when Dance Nation took over. Did it? No!! The door prices went up and so did the price of drink!! What a scandal!! As for X-ess, There is more space in my living room for a dance! This is all coming from someone who used to hate Club de Mar, but now I have been left with no other choice!!
• The Club De Mar is no longer in existance because it has lost it's licence because it paid people to strip. There is now X-ess but after last night it might not be open now either because Afton Electronics next to it went up in flames. Fridays are poor the music is mainly 70's and 80's with some new tunes. Saturdays are pretty good but can be just too busy
• TJ's Powerhouse,wait for BANG ON though(about once a month)it's best.
• Ex-ess (previously The Temple), based in Nile Court, Ayr this is one of the newest clubs in Ayr and getting to be one of the busiest. It's actually pretty basic but good for a change from the "Club-de-Creche" !!
• Pavilion - used to be Hanger 13 but before that it had Powerhouse indie nights which were brilliant. It's got its licence back now so who knows what will happen.
• Jonesies - an okay indie/rock night
• Bobby Jones - techno, techno, techno
• Club de Mar - full of younger people

Live Music Venues

• Space Place, the Ark...
• Burrowfields at the bottom of parkhouse St has a great acoustic night every thursday, which kicks off about 9:30.
• Peter Andre once came to Ayr, he came to Ayr Academy for a one of gig - touring schools in the UK I think, he had just released his diabolical single and was promoting it. Oh dear me. His car was plastered in thick pink lipstick, and the words...oh the words...well, he wasn't pleased. And YIPEE! He mentioned us on This Morning a few weeks later.
• the citadel south harbour street 4th june sucioperro and 4 local bands
• Zest but it burnt down, od id love to have seen Maiden in Ayr!!!
• mmm....nope pretty much nothing there....oh wait yeah "THEE ARK" big woop :/
• Ayr is crying out for a venue. Should re-open the piv and have a similar thing to the Glasgow garage. Decent sized venue and then use as a club also. Got decent bands back in the day Primal scream, iron maiden etc and would again. Think how cool it would be... Ayr has no real music scene at moment but hundreds of bands that would play it would easily sell out the piv.
• Harley's have quite a good selection.
• Go to the space palce, best place ever!!!!
• Shaws
• Ha, ha. One Supernaturals gig in the Civic and one danni Minougue gig in the Gaeity does not a live venue make.
• None, except harley's who have a wicked live set on a sunday night.
• Harleys has a good band on every weekend. That's about it though
• Harleys bar usually has a couple of good bands on every weekend, Millers (sometimes), O'Briens (sometimes)
• Anywhere the police aren't. They would or should I say have arrested someone for singing Jingle Bells on Christmas Eve. (Wheres your Christmas Spirit PC Cooper)
• Harleys has live rock music on in the bar most weekends and its free entry usually. Its in Nile court off the High Street. It tends to be heavy rock or blues and attracts a bit of a "mullet" crowd.
• None really in Ayr but the Gaiety Theatre is the place where most go
• The Civic the Supernaturals are to play there soon. Harleys aswell they have a lot of tribute bands play there like No Way Sis, some prodigy rip off.

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Last updated: 2007-11-16