A music scene does not make a town either.
In Bath/Bristol / Oxford, there is So Much MORE, than just live music. As one poster previously stated.
We have enough good quality venues, i don't understand the desperation for a "big" venue 5k or more) We really don't need one.
If you want to go to big gigs go to Oxford / Reading / Bristol / London. We have more than plenty of oppertunities to watch tomorrows big acts in Swindon. Focus more on that!!
Remember when Minus The Bear played? That Fucking Tank? Chris TT? Funeral For A Friend? Pitshifter? The Hoosiers? Newton Faulkner? Frank Turner? Cats and Cats and Cats? Seafood? Theres your scene you bang on about right there.
In fact my only "problem" if it can be called that is, the architecture. Otherwise there is every thing else, in one form or another - just lacks the slickness and possibly the support of other towns. Oh the the nations "opinion" of the town - see the moorgate theory. We all have impressions of towns, and unfortunatly Swindon dosn't ignite good ones. But post Radio 1 interest, maybe that will change?