Since 1986, the Rockstore has become an institution in the south of France.
However, the venue had to comply with new safety standards and, after closing its doors for a few months of renovation work, is now up and running again.
The Rockstore is located in the center of Montpellier, between Place de la Comédie and the train station.
This cult venue for rock music and Montpellier nightlife, with its listed façade, is visible from afar with its red Cadillac above the entrance, and has had a long and surprising history.
Built in the 12th century, the building was originally a convent.
With the signing of the Edict of Nantes in 1598, it became a Protestant temple before reverting to a church in 1685.
Napoleon's father lived there and died there in 1764.
In 1927, it became one of the city's leading venues for the cinema, then a disco temple in 1979.
In 1986, Elvis Presley's Cadillac was added to decorate the building's façade.
The Rockstore was born.
In 2009, the City of Montpellier acquired the Rockstore to preserve it.
With a capacity of over 800 people, this venue has hosted more than 3,000 concerts since 1986, including performances by bands that were “unknown” at the time but have since become cult favorites, such as Radiohead, Lenny Kravitz, PJ Harvey, Pulp, Placebo, Hole, Cat Power, Texas, The Kills, Suicidal Tendencies, Asian Dub Foundation, Faith No More, and more. ... but also big French names such as NTM, IAM, M, Bénabar, Etienne Daho, La Mano Negra, Le Peuple de l'herbe, Mickey 3d, FFF, Noir Désir... as well as most of the Montpellier scene: OTH, Rinocérose, Les Sheriffs, Marvin, Koacha, Les Noïs.
In the main room, the nights continue after the concerts.
DJ Lub and DJ Yann welcome you with a mix of pop, rock, indie, and more.
This room occasionally hosts electronic music nights with big names in techno culture such as Richie Hawtin, Jeff Mills, Laurent Garnier, and others.
The more intimate club is on the first floor and its parties vary throughout the week.
Sometimes electro, soul, funk, garage rock, sixties rock, or psychedelic rock.
The rock café is the bar for before and after concerts.
ROCKSTORE
20 Rue de Verdun
34000 Montpellier
Tel.: 04 67 06 80 00
www.rockstore.fr/
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
