20 Bands You Won't Believe Have Played Rescue Rooms

The Libertines (2003)
One of the very first bands to play Rescue Rooms was The Libertines, in February of 2003. The venue erupted into an immediate mosh pit when the band opened their set with Horror Show, demonstrating high levels of energy that was maintained throughout the show right until the end, when the band encouraged the crowd to rush the stage. 

Amy Winehouse (2004)
A very special show took place at Rescue Rooms in April 2004: The one and only Amy Winehouse. With her smoky voice and powerful stage presence, she quickly became known as one of the most talented and distinctive singers of her generation. Although her life was cut short at just 27 years old, she left behind a legacy of music that will endure for generations to come. 

Calvin Harris (2007)
In May of 2007, Rescue Rooms welcomed Scottish musician and producer Calvin Harris, just prior to the release of his debut studio album, I Created Disco, a month later. The album was a huge success, producing two top ten hits in the UK, and his second studio album, Ready for the Weekend, only built on this success when it was released in 2009, debuting at number one in the charts.

The Courteeners (2008)
2008 started with a bang at Rescue Rooms, with The Courteeners being the first show of the year. Their debut album St. Jude was released mere months later, and would cement them as one of the best indie bands of the mid-noughties. They have since released several critically acclaimed albums and performed in some of the most prestigious venues and music festivals around the world.

Sia (2008)
Following the release of her fourth studio album, Some People Have Real Problems, Sia took to the Rescue Rooms stage. A few years later, she would become a worldwide sensation thanks to hit collaborations such as Titanium (with David Guetta) and Wild Ones (with Flo Rida) and their massive commercial successes cemented Sia’s place as one of the most talented musicians of her time.

Ellie Goulding (2010)
Back in April 2010, Ellie Goulding graced the stage of Rescue Rooms. With her debut studio album Lights topping the UK Albums Chart and selling over 850,000 copies shortly before, it’s no wonder that the crowds were eager to see her perform. Her powerful vocals and magnetic stage presence created an electrifying atmosphere in the room as she serenaded the crowd with hit after hit.

Bastille (2011)
After closing for the summer due to renovations, in October of 2011, Rescue Rooms welcomed Bastille to take over the stage at Stealth vs Rescued, delivering an unforgettable DJ set. The band emerged onto the music scene the year prior with singles Flaws and Icarus, which would later appear on their debut album, Bad Blood, which is now certified triple platinum in the UK.

Jake Bugg (2012)
In November of 2012, there was a special hometown performance by the one and only Jake Bugg, who at this time was capturing the hearts of audiences across the UK with his distinctive voice and clever songwriting. His debut self-titled album was released just a month prior, reaching number one in the UK charts, selling over 600,000 copies, and ranking as the 57th best-selling album of the decade.

Disclosure (2013)
The electronic music duo sold out Rescue Rooms in March 2013, only months prior to the release of their first studio album, Settle. It quickly caught the attention of the mainstream and was nominated for the Best Dance/Electronica Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards. Now, they have achieved three such nominations, marking them as one of the biggest electronic groups in the world.

Bring Me The Horizon (2013)
Back in 2013, Bring Me The Horizon were in the midst of a shift from metalcore band to genre-bending sensation, as a result of keyboardist Jordan Fish joining the band. With the release of their groundbreaking fourth album Sempiternal, they transcended boundaries to become one of the most exciting and innovative bands in the music industry. 

Ella Eyre (2014)
Ella McMahon, aka Ella Eyre, gained recognition for her work with Rudimental on the hit UK number one single Waiting All Night. But at the time it was hitting the charts, her debut album wasn’t due to be released for several months. Despite this, the demand for her first solo tour was so high that dates had to be rescheduled to larger venues, relocating from The Bodega to Rescue Rooms. 

Jess Glynne (2014)
Back in 2014, Jess Glynne’s debut single Right Here entered the UK charts at number six. She embarked on her first UK tour that autumn, starting in Sheffield at The Foundry and ending at London’s Electric Brixton, with a date at Rescue Rooms in between. When her debut album I Cry When I Laugh was released a year later, it debuted at number one in the UK charts and saw international success.

Years & Years (2015)
In February 2015, Years & Years were moved over from The Bodega to Rescue Rooms due to high demand - and this was before their debut album Communion had even been released. The album went on to top the charts, with the hit single King charting globally. They performed this song as part of their encore at Rescue Rooms, to an electric reaction from the crowd.

Charli XCX (2015)
Starting her career by posting songs on Myspace in 2008, it was her 2012 collaboration with Icona Pop I Love It that put Charli XCX on the map. Ahead of her show at Rescue Rooms, she released Boom Clap, which appeared on the The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack. The track skyrocketed, and it was sitting in the Billboard Hot 100 at number sixteen around the time she performed.

Stormzy (2015)
Croydon-based rapper Stormzy quickly rose to fame on YouTube with his electrifying performances. With his unique style and captivating charisma, he has solidified his place as a leader in the grime music scene, leaving a lasting impact on fans and fellow artists alike. Back in 2015, he hadn’t even released his debut album, but his meteoric rise saw him take to the stage at Motorpoint Arena in 2022.

Dua Lipa (2015)
Would you believe us if we told you that not only did Dua Lipa perform at Rescue Rooms, but she did it for FREE entry? She made an appearance during the venue’s Pressure club night, back in November 2015. Since then, she has become one of the world’s biggest pop icons, with enough fans to sell out the biggest stage in the county over at Motorpoint Arena last year.

Anne Marie (2016)
Anne-Marie rose to fame with chart-topping hits like Rockabye, Alarm, and Ciao Adios, with her debut album Speak Your Mind reaching number three on the UK Albums Chart. More recently, she has released her third album UNHEALTHY, and you may recognise her as a coach from ITV’s The Voice UK alongside Olly Murs, will.i.am and Tom Jones. 

Tom Grennan (2017)
A feature on Chase & Status' All Goes Wrong in 2016 put Tom Grennan in the spotlight, and he went on the perform at Rescue Rooms the following year, prior to the release of his debut album Lightning Matches. If you were lucky, you might have seen him headline Motorpoint Arena earlier this year, in the build up to the release of his third album, What Ifs and Maybes. 

Lewis Capaldi (2018)
Another artist who headlined the Arena earlier this year is Lewis Capaldi. But back in 2018, he captivated a smaller audience at Rescue Rooms, with an evening that combined a full-band show and a stripped-back acoustic performance. A few months ago, he was seen enjoying dinner at Notts independent restaurant Little Brickhouse, so not only does he have a brilliant voice, he clearly has good taste, too. 

Becky Hill (2019)
Following an appearance on ITV’s The Voice UK, which would see her reach the semi-finals on Jessie J’s team, Becky Hill went on to become the show’s first contestant to reach the top spot of the UK Singles Chart. Fast forward to 2023, she has won the Brit Award for Best Dance Act two years in a row, and has teased her highly-anticipated second album, which will be released next year.

@rescuerooms