Mosh is history, but city pubs are showing music fans that the dance is far from over

EARLIER this year, a few of us at the Derby Telegraph realised that a big name in the city's clubbing scene had not been spoken or heard of in a long while.

- By OSCAR FISHER

Friar Gate's Mosh, born out of the flagship site in Leicester, was long home to Derby's alternative and hard rock scene as well as everything in between, from pop cheese to emo to heavy metal.

But last year, following an announcement that it would be closed throughout the summer before reopening in September 2024, the social media pages went silent, the branding was removed from the doors, and Mosh seemed to have sung its last tune.

While the city has seen bigger tragedies, there's no doubt that losing a place where edgy music lovers can unite is a big shame.

So, has the curtain been drawn on our alternative and hard rock venues?

What better place to start than where some folks would argue it all began, the Bless, formerly the Blessington Carriage, where the slogan in the smoking area reads: "You're never alone when the Bless is your home."

Alongside Vines in Sadler Gate, the Chapel Street venue was among the first in Derby to apply for a late licence, requiring it to put on entertainment and to charge admission after a certain time. Many will know the experience of handing over a pound coin to the friendly doormen.

Now, that same blueprint is what we see in towns and cities across the UK, and while the Bless has changed over the years and doesn't have live music as regularly it's certainly still a place to enjoy good music that strays away from the regular "pop" of 2025.

General manager at the Bless, Dec Callaway, who worked his way up from being a glass collector around 16 years ago, spoke about the closure of Mosh and how the Bless could attract crowds looking for that alternative fix.

"Anything leaving the city like that is sad. It's been a part of the nightlife for so long. No one wants to see pubs and bars closing," said Dec.