Venues again
More London music venues we've liked
In the beginning, there was a canal, with a few twee, hippy-type shops around it and a music venue called Dingwalls. At least, that's how I remember Camden Town in the early 70s. I found Dingwalls a bit beery, smelly and depressing (maybe I just had a few bad nights there), but it was a good place to see medium-sized gigs, as well as being something of an institution, thanks to its location and relative longevity. It became Jongleurs when someone decided that comedy is the new rock 'n' roll and has now been revamped as Lock 17.
The Bass Clef: Hoxton - when it wasn't fashionable
The Bass Clef was a jazz club in an area which was, in the mid 80s at least, profoundly unfashionable, namely Hoxton. At night, it was dead - except for the Bass Clef which I remember standing out from the surrounding area because it was the only building that wasn't completely dark. The BC was a little more civillised than your standard rock venue, in that at least it had a restaurant that served food you could actually eat. More to the point, it also had something about it that made you feel you were getting more than the mass produced, rock ritual experience offered by most venues at the time. The BC I remember coincided with the (very) brief jazz resurgence of the mid-to-late 80s, but I think it might have become more dance-orientated as the area trendified around it. It became the Blue Note in 1993, where, I must admit, I have never been.
The George Robey RIIP
Finsbury Park in North London was once quite a musical place, what with the Rainbow and the George Robey. I once saw this described as a 'dog on a string' type of pub, which isn't completely fair, although it has to be said that it wasn't the most salubrious of venues. Extended to include a music venue and club, and painted a startling shade of blue on the outside, the Robey was opposite the Rainbow, and in the mid 80s played host to numerous bands, as well as club nights, noteably the legendary Club Dog. In 1996 it briefly became Powerhaus, part of the Mean Fiddler operation, but is now empty.
What were your favourite places to see bands?
Where did you like to get on down of a night? Leave us a message about your old stomping grounds.
We want to hear what you've got to say..
Leave a message for us here.Messages
| Message: | 4/4 |
| Date and time: | 08/09/2007 at 23:16:13 |
| Sender: | brianrault@hotmail.com |
| FANTASTIC JOINT MISS THE DOG NITES PUNK ALLDAYERS ALL THE BEST GIGS WENT ON IN THERE GREAT PLACE JERSEY PUNX | |
| Message: | 3/4 |
| Date and time: | 31/07/2007 at 17:14:53 |
| Sender: | Big Mark |
| I managed the Bass Clef for the owner Peter Ind around 1989. It was a fabulous place with fabulous atmosphere. I miss the club and have many fond memories of this time. | |
| Message: | 2/4 |
| Date and time: | 25/03/2007 at 13:30:29 |
| Sender: | 3corners |
| 3 recent corners all gone: Station Rd wood green venue (previously scout hall?) where club dog was before the George Robey. Cavours hardware shop, bottom of Highgate west hill. 44 years in action squeezed out by toff landlord doubling rent. Lawrence Corner R.I.P. | |
| Message: | 1/4 |
| Date and time: | 17/12/2006 at 00:20:41 |
| Sender: | GARYSIXX |
| Who remembers going to the old Marquee in Wardour street?,surely one of the best venues in the capital in its day where you could see the whites of the performers eyes.A great night out!.Also the Venue down by Victoria Station which is now own by some restuarant chain,such a shame. | |
