The Sorry Head - well they did warn you.

I've lived in Exeter now for over 10 years, which is both scary, when I think how fast all that time has flown by, and unadventurous, when you consider the plethora of varied locations I could have chosen to live over all that time. But I’m still here. Exeter has become my home, and it has offered me everything I have wanted over the years.

However, nothing is perfect, and I believe one of the city’s biggest failings has been the lack of live music venues and places where you can go in an evening and listen to some good bands, with good music, in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. This is changing though with a number of new venues popping up over the city as well as a number of long running establishments increasing the frequency and quality of live music. But the spark that started this blaze of melodic uprising began when The Sorry Head opened its doors on Blackboy Road over five years ago.


Back in my student days (yes, unbelievably I have had some level of formal education!) I remember walking into this pub back when it was called the Horse and Dray, soon after I had moved in just around the corner, and being met by a full on bar fight as I walked through the door. Needless to say this was not the most pleasant of establishments, and neither was it the most respectable when it finally closed its doors after numerous police raids. So a bigger turn around you couldn’t expect when it was re-opened as the Sorry Head with an emphasis on atmosphere, friendliness, and most of all live music.

 
With its bar in the centre of the room separating off the pub into two areas; a pool table being the focus on the left and the music stage on the right, you have a balance of traditional British pub and raucous music venue. There is no food menu here. This is not a modern day Gastropub with its Ikea furniture and ‘cut and paste’ decor. They have not tried to make the place bland and inoffensive to try and attract as many people in as possible, but have gone for a lived in and well used look that stems from the simple fact that the place is lived in and well used.

On any given night you will find a good mix of locals, both young and old, and students from the ever increasing population that are finding their way to that end of town. But the place really finds its rhythm on Tuesdays and Thursdays when they stage their Open Mic and Jam Nights respectively. Unlike most pubs and venues that make do with a microphone and a couple of leads, The Sorry Head provides all the instruments and tech you could need. I wide variety of guitars and basses hang on the walls that you can pull down, plug in, and start playing away. You can bring your own instruments and they will fix you up so you can be heard. Since it has opened it has attracted some of the highest calibre local musicians around and still sets the standard for amateur live music in the city. The house band, which is made up of whichever locals happen to be in attendance that night, is exceptionally good and is one of the best funk/blues bands I’ve seen in a long time (Check them out below). The biggest problem is trying to follow them after they kick of the Open Jam nights. I can tell you having played after them on a couple of occasions; they set the bar pretty high!


Exeter currently has a thriving local live music scene with a lot of bands and musicians playing regularly across the city, but The Sorry Head is the heart and soul. Imagine Later with Jules Holland on a smaller scale and more beer. It gives anyone a chance to get up and play in front of a live audience and the rest of us the opportunity to go somewhere and to listen and have fun. If you’re ever in need of some good live music, or are even after somewhere to get on stage yourself, then The Sorry Head is the best place to start.

Check out their up coming gigs and special offers here:
http://www.sorryhead.co.uk/


https://www.facebook.com/TheSorryHead