Krakatoa, Concert hall in Mérignac, France

Krakatoa is a concert hall in Mérignac, Gironde, with a 1,500-capacity main room and a second 250-seat room for smaller concerts, following a 2024 renovation. Its pale grey upper facade has rows of rectangular windows with blue-glass panes, and the white lower wall bears the name "KRAKATOA" in black capitals, with "BILLETTERIE" beside the entrance. The entrance has glass doors under a canopy of metal trusses supporting transparent semi-cylindrical vaults.

Didier Estèbe, then manager of Noir Désir, founded the Transrock association in 1989 to promote amplified music. With the approval of Mérignac mayor Michel Sainte-Marie, the former Arlac district hall, built in 1966 with 800 seats, became the venue. The first concert, by Les Soucoupes violentes, took place on 17 March 1990. A 2024 renovation raised capacity from 1,200 to 1,500, plus a 250-seat second room.

The Transrock association runs this space and supports emerging musicians through the La Pépinière program. It serves as a meeting point for fans of different musical styles from the region and beyond.

The venue is reachable by public transportation as Mérignac is part of the greater Bordeaux area. Visitors should check ahead about arrival times and how to navigate the space efficiently before a show.

Since 2005, high school students organize their own concerts here and direct profits to charitable causes. This project lets young people learn how a live music venue operates from behind the scenes.