TJ’s Bar

Satyagraha II was a night to remember. Held at TJ’s in Woodhouse it showcased an eclectic mix of bands and DJs, face painting, and crafts and junk percussion from the Ladybird Project. Well worth the £5 entrance fee!
What really stood out for me was the atmosphere — as the night picked up it seemed like everyone was dancing. The clientele were friendly and up for a laugh, with many in weird and wonderful get up. The junk percussion jam half way through the schedule saw a beautiful moment of punter participation with samba rhythms bashed out on tin cans and plastic bins.
The night kicked off with a folksy start showcasing Ewan D Rogers and the Thirty Minute Skiffle Hour and Ols Moore and the Gypsy Dogs, moving on to Electronica from Picture Book and ‘epic post dance’ from Old School Tie. Madam Laycock and Her Dabeno Pleasures were a treat as ever — a visual and aural feast with a wildly eccentric cabaret vibe.
Sandwiched between the bands were four DJ sets including Ordatron who never fails to get people skipping in joyful abandonment to his addictive mix of ‘gypsy, psy and all things fun’ and a memorable moment from DJ Freear with a post apocalyptic remix of the Christmas classic ‘walking in the air’. I think it’s safe to say a jolly good night was had by all!

I still can’t call it TJ’s, it will always be the Woodhouse Liberal to me. I’ve no idea why they changed the name, much less why they chose TJ’s, but it seems to have been a somewhat fortuitous rebranding, since it has grown in popularity in recent years.
Back in the day various different groups of friends of mine held all-​dayers and evening music events here, after all, the beer is cheap, there is tons of space and the stage is well laid out for bigger bands. At this time hoards of us would flock into the seldom visited main room much to the locals’ bewilderment.
And now, things are much the same, except the flocking and bewilderment happen almost every weekend. It may not have the notoriety of the Brudenell Social, or the trendiness of the Faversham, but it has its own unique quality and stands out as another of Leeds’ great music venues. As an extra bonus, it is situated near some awesome Indian restaurants too — perfect! Curry then bands — sorted!

TJ’s is a great music venue in Leeds that plays to host to many a good DJ, live band, or performer. Close friends of mine have held events here and also some famous artists, all genres welcome. They also play host to many a fundraiser which always gets a gold star from me.
The bar is reasonably priced and the recent refurbishment means it is a very comfortable place to be on a night out. The building consists of one main room for live music and performance which is large and has a raised seating area and bar, this is more frequently visited by the live music attenders. Then there is another room with more seating, another bar area and pool tables. This area is more visited by locals who used to grace the place when it was the Woodhouse Liberal Club, and are more interested in sitting around playing pool and listening to pop music. After it’s refurbishment it has managed to cater for a wide audience of music lovers without losing its original fasn, the locals. I always have a top night when I go here.
It also has big screens for those all important football matches and student offers such as £1.49 a pint everyday.

Previously know as the Woodhouse Liberal Club, TJ’s has stepped out of the shadow of the Brudenell and Burley clubs in recent years to become a decent live music venue in its own right. Presumably realising it makes financial sense to embrace a young, gig-​going crowd rather than alienate it (though the regulars don’t half give you funny looks when you stumble through to the smoking area in full fancy dress), TJ’s has opened its arms and its doors to host a diverse mix of musical events, from ceilidhs and folk bands to full-​on dance music nights. The beer is cheap and the charge on the door is never normally more than a few quid, so you can forgive it for having décor that reminds you of the bar at a Butlin’s holiday camp. Check out the frequent fundraisers held here in the run up to Unity Day, featuring an eclectic mix of live music and DJs all in the name of a good cause.