From wine cellars to skyline views: 5 gig venues to check out in London
Thursday, December 08, 2016
It's been a great month for live music in London.
Last week it was announced that Fabric would reopen in January, and music lovers around the world rejoiced. Following suit, The Good Ship in Brent was granted the right to renew their 3am late license, while the folks behind Finsbury Park’s Silver Bullet, which closed down in June, are now holding monthly club nights at different pubs across the city.
This proves to city councils everywhere that London’s music scene is important as ever.
After all, live music is synonymous with London: the music scene here is as vibrant and diverse as the city itself. It’s this city that launched The Sex Pistols and Adele into super-stardom, where the Beatles famously crossed Abbey Road, and home to Jimi Hendrix’s last gig. And it’s the location of some of the most exciting music venues in the world.
So I chatted to five London-based industry experts about their favourite places to catch a gig. Featuring wine cellars and skyline views, it doesn’t matter if you’re a grime fan or prefer something more acoustic, there’s something to please any music lover’s ear.
1. The Scala
Andy Backhouse, last year’s SRA Selector winner who now works with BBC Introducing, thinks that it’s hard to pick a favourite venue. “There’s so many to choose from,” he remarks. “But my favourite has to the Scala.”
The Kings Cross venue scales four floors and features regular club nights as well as live gigs during the week. The likes of Bastille, Paloma Faith, and the Foo Fighters have played the main stage. But as Andy mentions, it’s a venue that caters towards upcoming acts ready to make a jump to the big time. “Whenever a band plays the Scala it’s a stepping up point,” he says. “There’s a sense of arrival and conviction in their music, they’re about to release an album, and you feel like they’ve really found their audience. It’s a big room, but bands don’t tend to make the leap unless they think they can sell it out. For that reason it’s my favourite venue in London.”
Nearest tube station: Kings Cross
Upcoming gigs: Frank Hamilton, Beach Slang, Saint Motel
Go underground to the vaults of this Holborn wine bar for a chance to see some outstanding acoustic acts. “You have to see it to really understand how amazing the venue is,” says Georgia May-Parker, the production coordinator at No Sheet Music. “When you go through the bar you end up in the vaults. The arches go so far back that you can’t see the end, and they light them up with fairy lights.”
Known for their specialty wines imported from around the world, it’s not the pinot noir's that keep Georgia coming back. Instead, it’s the atmosphere and the “absolutely insane” acoustics.
Past guests of honour include Katey Brooks, Stick in the Wheel, and The Kensington Raider, making it a regular stop for indie and folk acts. “I saw Blythe Pepino there, the lead singer of The Vaults, and it was amazing. It’s definitely a venue for the more low key, softer artists.”
Nearest tube station: St. Paul’s, Chancery Lane, or Farringdon
Upcoming gigs: Spiro, O’Hooley & Tidow
Follow Georgia on Twitter: @Georgia_May
Hidden away on the seventh floor of Shoreditch’s Ace Hotel is the 100 Room. Mostly used as an event space for business meetings, art openings, and banquets, the insanely hip 100 Room is also privy to the occasional gig. And Ben Fairclough, the station manager at Radar Radio and assistant producer at BBC Radio 1, considers it his favourite spot for live shows.
Upcoming gigs: Nothing in the 100 Room, but The Lobby holds free gigs hosted by Tom Tom Magazine weekly! Next up is Anna Prior from Metronomy, then Savages.
Follow Ben on Twitter: @BFairclough
After all, live music is synonymous with London: the music scene here is as vibrant and diverse as the city itself. It’s this city that launched The Sex Pistols and Adele into super-stardom, where the Beatles famously crossed Abbey Road, and home to Jimi Hendrix’s last gig. And it’s the location of some of the most exciting music venues in the world.
So I chatted to five London-based industry experts about their favourite places to catch a gig. Featuring wine cellars and skyline views, it doesn’t matter if you’re a grime fan or prefer something more acoustic, there’s something to please any music lover’s ear.
1. The Scala
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Scala in Kings Cross [Credit: Extra Geographic, CC by SA 2.0] |
Andy Backhouse, last year’s SRA Selector winner who now works with BBC Introducing, thinks that it’s hard to pick a favourite venue. “There’s so many to choose from,” he remarks. “But my favourite has to the Scala.”
The Kings Cross venue scales four floors and features regular club nights as well as live gigs during the week. The likes of Bastille, Paloma Faith, and the Foo Fighters have played the main stage. But as Andy mentions, it’s a venue that caters towards upcoming acts ready to make a jump to the big time. “Whenever a band plays the Scala it’s a stepping up point,” he says. “There’s a sense of arrival and conviction in their music, they’re about to release an album, and you feel like they’ve really found their audience. It’s a big room, but bands don’t tend to make the leap unless they think they can sell it out. For that reason it’s my favourite venue in London.”
Nearest tube station: Kings Cross
Upcoming gigs: Frank Hamilton, Beach Slang, Saint Motel
Follow Andy on Twitter: @andybackhouse
2. Winemakers Club
Go underground to the vaults of this Holborn wine bar for a chance to see some outstanding acoustic acts. “You have to see it to really understand how amazing the venue is,” says Georgia May-Parker, the production coordinator at No Sheet Music. “When you go through the bar you end up in the vaults. The arches go so far back that you can’t see the end, and they light them up with fairy lights.”
Known for their specialty wines imported from around the world, it’s not the pinot noir's that keep Georgia coming back. Instead, it’s the atmosphere and the “absolutely insane” acoustics.
Past guests of honour include Katey Brooks, Stick in the Wheel, and The Kensington Raider, making it a regular stop for indie and folk acts. “I saw Blythe Pepino there, the lead singer of The Vaults, and it was amazing. It’s definitely a venue for the more low key, softer artists.”
Nearest tube station: St. Paul’s, Chancery Lane, or Farringdon
Upcoming gigs: Spiro, O’Hooley & Tidow
Follow Georgia on Twitter: @Georgia_May
3. Roundhouse
"My favourite venue is Roundhouse,” writes Hannah Beeching. She’s a Promotions Assistant at Hart Media and has a special place in her heart for the historic performance space. “I’ve seen some incredible artists like Elton John, Alicia Keys, The 1975 and Feeder there,” she lists.
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Roundhouse in Chalk Farm [Credit: Dean Ayres, CC by 2.0] |
Situated directly across from the Chalk Farm tube station, the Roundhouse is one of the most iconic venues in the city. It’s where Pink Floyd held their debut gig, and it has a history as rich and diverse as the city it calls home. It used to be a railway repair shed in the1800s before being converted into an arts space in the 1950s. After a few years of musical theatre, a punk phase, and a major refurbishment, it’s now home to a world-class creative centre that spotlights young talent.
From youth poetry slams -- Hannah attends the final every year -- to cheap rehearsal space, Roundhouse is a “beautifully intimate” venue that’s a vital part of London’s music history.
Nearest tube station: Chalk Farm
Upcoming gigs: Adam Ant, Lisa Hannigan, Roundhouse Rising Festival
Follow Hannah on Twitter: @hannybeeching
4. 100 Room at Ace Hotel
Nearest tube station: Chalk Farm
Upcoming gigs: Adam Ant, Lisa Hannigan, Roundhouse Rising Festival
Follow Hannah on Twitter: @hannybeeching
4. 100 Room at Ace Hotel
Hidden away on the seventh floor of Shoreditch’s Ace Hotel is the 100 Room. Mostly used as an event space for business meetings, art openings, and banquets, the insanely hip 100 Room is also privy to the occasional gig. And Ben Fairclough, the station manager at Radar Radio and assistant producer at BBC Radio 1, considers it his favourite spot for live shows.
“The promoter has to set up the system, but the room has the most incredible views across London and it faces the sunset,” he says. Modern decor, floor-to-ceiling windows, and yes, the skyline views, are proof that this isn’t your typical music hall.
“It’s more of a place for launch nights rather than regular residencies, but it’s generally quite new UK artists that are hip hop, grime, or bass orientated,” recalls Ben. “It’s just a crazy space and it serves decent beers, too.”
Nearest station: Shoreditch High StreetUpcoming gigs: Nothing in the 100 Room, but The Lobby holds free gigs hosted by Tom Tom Magazine weekly! Next up is Anna Prior from Metronomy, then Savages.
Follow Ben on Twitter: @BFairclough
5. Moth Club
Cerys Kenneally, Associate Editor for Best Fit Music, describes the atmosphere inside Hackney’s Moth Club as “intimate.”
“It’s a small space,” she tells me, “but the names they’ve had recently really make it a more intimate gig experience.” And the lineups are the reason it’s her favourite: The Lemon Twigs, Her, and even Lady Gaga have all played sets there.
While it’s only been open for a little over a year, the Moth Club is quickly becoming a local institution that mixes live music with club nights, performance art, and weekly rounds of Bingo. Gold sparkles adorn the ceiling while a curtain of shimmering fringe hangs behind the stage. There’s also a retro dancefloor straight out of the 1950s. It’s a quirky nightlife destination that shines, and not just because of all the glitter.
Nearest tube station: Hackney Central
Upcoming gigs: Allo Darlin’, The Clientele, The Proper Ornaments
Follow Cerys on Twitter: @Cerysimo
Now get out there and enjoy the music: Crowd-surfing optional.
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| Moth Club in Hackney [Credit: Paul Hudson, CC by 2.0] |
Cerys Kenneally, Associate Editor for Best Fit Music, describes the atmosphere inside Hackney’s Moth Club as “intimate.”
“It’s a small space,” she tells me, “but the names they’ve had recently really make it a more intimate gig experience.” And the lineups are the reason it’s her favourite: The Lemon Twigs, Her, and even Lady Gaga have all played sets there.
While it’s only been open for a little over a year, the Moth Club is quickly becoming a local institution that mixes live music with club nights, performance art, and weekly rounds of Bingo. Gold sparkles adorn the ceiling while a curtain of shimmering fringe hangs behind the stage. There’s also a retro dancefloor straight out of the 1950s. It’s a quirky nightlife destination that shines, and not just because of all the glitter.
Nearest tube station: Hackney Central
Upcoming gigs: Allo Darlin’, The Clientele, The Proper Ornaments
Follow Cerys on Twitter: @Cerysimo
Now get out there and enjoy the music: Crowd-surfing optional.
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