O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

This former BBC theatre is far and away the best thing about Shepherd's Bush, holding 2,000 standing or 1,300 seated with decent sound everywhere (except the alcove behind the stalls bar). The Empire's gig roll puts many bigger contenders to shame: David Bowie, Kylie Minogue, Erasure, Elton John, Smashing Pumpkins and The Rolling Stones have all played here, though the most widely reported event took place on March 10 2003, when Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines caused uproar by declaring on stage that she was 'ashamed the President of the United States [George W Bush] is from Texas'. The Noughties, eh? What a wild time.