O2 Institute Birmingham

Head down to Digbeth and you'll find yourself in front of a proper converted warehouse that's become one of Birmingham's most reliable live music spaces. The Institute has that brilliant energy where you're as likely to catch an up-and-coming band on the cusp of something big as you are an established act doing an intimate tour date. The room itself is spacious without feeling cavernous—there's real intimacy even when it's packed, and the sound system actually does justice to what's happening on stage. Whether you're here for alternative, hip-hop, indie, or pop acts, there's an unpretentious vibe that makes it feel like everyone's just here for the music, not the Instagram moment.