Chris Martin of Coldplay was born here, Beth Gibbons of Portishead grew up here, and The Cavern has been putting future headliners on small stages since 1991, hosting Coldplay, Muse, Mumford & Sons, and Kaiser Chiefs before the rest of the world caught on. Exeter's live music infrastructure runs deeper than a single venue, though: the Exeter Corn Exchange, Exeter Phoenix, and the University of Exeter's Lemon Grove and Great Hall all sustain a circuit that has at various points welcomed The Who, Pink Floyd, U2, and Bob Marley. Independent infrastructure is equally serious, with labels including DMF Records, Est.1954 Records, and My Hart Canyon Music all operating out of the city. In 2016, Exeter hosted Radio 1's Big Weekend, confirmation, if any were needed, that this mid-sized Devon city punches well above its weight on the national live music map.
