london gigs venue directory
alexandra palace - gig on the hill
opened in 1873 & set amongst 196 acres of parkland in north london, the palace is not the easiest of venues to get to if you live south, east or west - but has proven popular artists including the streers, franz ferdinand & paul weller. additional facilities include an ice rink, pub, boating lake, children's playground, animal enclosure and conservation area if the gig doesn't come up to scratch - alexandra palace way n22 7ay @ wood green - 020 8365 2121
astoria - metal & rocker paradise
the astoria is a bit of a rock & roll dinosaur - and possibly all the better for it. don't expect brass, spit & polish - forget the paper over the cracks & experience metal bands, heavy rockers & the likes of oasis & robbie williams reliving intimate days - the astoria, charing cross road wc2h 0en @ tottenham court road - 020 8963 0940
the barbican - arts & repetory showcases -
it may come as a surprise that the barbican opened in 1982 what with it's very 1950's post war concrete architecture and maze like approach (follow the yellow paint line). however, as a venue it promotes a fantastic range of styles from pop to jazz to opera, and hosts a large library of cd recordings as well as offering piano practice facilities (with headphones) - the barbican, silk st ec2y 8ds @ barbican - 020 7638 8891
bar academy - 16 parkfield street n1 0ps @ angel - 020 7288 4400
barden's boudoir - 36-44 stoke newington road n16 7jx @ dalston kingsland
the barfly - indie & guitar band central
a launchpad for tomorrow's up and coming indie bands, the likes of franz ferdinand, kaiser chiefs and the darkness made early appearances here on their way up. the place to catch tomorrow's hits early(ish) - the barfly, 49 chalk farm rd nw1 8an @ chalk farm - 020 7691 4244
the bedford - south london music & dance
south london is not as well catered for in terms of live music than to the north and east, but the bedford works wonders in terms of it's almost nightly showcasing of music, from guitar bands on stage to solo singers with piano playing accomplices while champions league football flickers silently on the screens above. plus look out for the dance classes from pole to salsa to argentinian tango - the bedford, 77 bedford hill sw12 9hd @ balham - 020 8682 8940
the betsey trotwood - 56 farringdon road ec1r 3bl - 020 7336 7326
the borderline -the world of americana
starts here at the borderline, with promoter barry evans passion for alternative country making the borderline the entry point for americana artists entering the live scene in britain - the borderline, orange yard manette street w1d 4jb @ leicester square - 020 7734 5547
brixton academy - nme venue of the year for years & years
a bit of a hit & miss venue perhaps due to it's size & sloping floor and resultant effects on the accoustics, the brixton academy has held legendery gigs including the final ever smiths gig back in '86. the place for indie bands on top - brixton academy, 11 stockwell road sw9 9sl @ brixton - 020 7771 3000
brixton windmill - seed of the indie tree
the windmill is set amongst social housing up brixton hill with a real rough & ready feel where the music is king. one of the cheapest places to catch up & coming guitar bands in london - the windmill, 22 blenheim gardens sw2 5bz @ brixton - 020 8671 0700
buffalo bar - for the afro-cuban lounge
a small little basement bar up angel way that's home to the latin vibes of the afro cuban lounge on mondays and the indie leanings of the artrocker club nights on tuesdays - buffalo bar, 259 upper street n1 1ru @ highbury and islington - 020 7359 6191
bull & gate - save the bull & gate!
dating back to the 17th century, and now a grade 2 listed building, the bull & gate has been the first rung on the ladder for bands including manic street preachers, pj harvey, suede, ash and more recently the likes of coldplay, keane, & muse. enthusiastic promoters who listen to every demo sent in, the b&g is currently fighting off plans to sell off the venue from the live gig scene- bull and gate, 389 kentish town road nw5 2tj @ kentish town - 020 7093 4820
bush hall - intimate/grand art deco opulence
west london's little gem, the intimate bush hall with it's opulent interior of bygone days has hosts a variety of leftfield & experimental bands as well as proving a popular venue for groups including cat power, nick cave & rem
bush hall, 310 uxbridge rd w12 7lj @ shepherd's bush - 020 8222 6955
cargo - club/gig/dance/indie crossover
former warehouse under derelict railway arches out east, cargo celebrated it's 4th birthday in 2005 having frequentlyy mixing live music acts with dj sessions from the likes of radio one's giles peterson (world music sessions) & one extra's bobby friction (spinning the decks on asian underground) - cargo, 83 rivington st ec2a 3ay @ old street - 020 7749 7844
clapham grand - historic old picture house turned live venue
a victorian theatre built in 1900. this listed building has been a music hall, cinema, bingo hall and now a nightclub and live music venue. recently renovated & one of the intimate venues oasis played in around london to launch don't believe the truth, the grand has recently launched clubnights wildlife on fridays & salacious on saturdays - the grand, 21-25 st john's hill sw11 1tt @ clapham junction railway - 020 7223 6523
coronet - magical mystery tour venue
"where the hell is it?" is a summary of how noel gallagher put it when oasis decided to play a number of smaller intimate venues around london in the spring. former music hall & host to charlie chaplin in music hall days, but reported to have patchy accoustics and not a regular venue on the gig circuit - the coronet, 26-28 new kent rd se1 6tj @ elephant & castle - 020 7701 1500
crown tavern - 43 clerkenwell green ec1r 0eg @ farringdon - 020 7250 0757 - piano & songstress for company
dover st restaurant & bar - mayfair cocktail scene - hemingway would drink here.
dover street restaurant & bar, 10 dover st w1s 4lq @ green park - 020 7629 9813
dublin castle - camden live music 7 days a week
the next oasis will play here, if only because of the numbers of guitar bands thar play almost 365 days a year. plus there's still the chance of spotting the class of 95 that made it the place to be at the height of britpop - dublin castle, 94 parkway nw1 7an @ camden town - 020 8806 2668
earls court exhibition centre - aircraft hanger in the heart of earls court
you wouldn't come here for the intimacy or sound - but because it's the kind of place that coldplay, travis, u2 etc can be seen by the masses (well 20000). maybe you should get to know the people at the astoria instead - earls court, warwick rd sw5 9ta @ earls court - 0870 903 9033
electrowerkz - torrens st ec1v 1nq @ angel - 020 7837 6419
failfield halls - croydon park lane, croydon @ east croydon railway - 020 8688 9291
the forum - understated & celebrated
the forum is a popular venue on account of it's size, location and accoustics, it tends to play host to more obscure bands with cult followings. worth a visit - the forum, 9-17 highgate rd nw5 1jy @ kentish town - 0870 534 4444
the garage - highbury's indie venue
formerly the town & country club, the garage up in highbury & islington is a compact venue that hosts uo & coming or down & out indie bands. upstairs at the garage is the little version ast the same location. worth a visit - the garage, 20-22 highbury corner n5 1rd @ highbury & islington - 020 7607 1818
ginglik - shepherd's bush's basement venue
a cantonese martial arts term meaning explosive power, ginglik is a former public convenience transformed into a bunker bar venue that offers an eclectic programme of events covering everything from comedy nights, underground electronic music, kung-fu classes and film - ginglik, 1 shepherd's bush green W12 8ph @ shepherd's bush - 020 8749 2310
goldsmiths college union - se14 6nw @ new cross - 020 7919 7171
grey horse kingston - 46 richmond rd (020 85414328) @ kingston railway
guanabara - london's brazillian bar & live club venue
guanabara is the tupi-guarani name for the famous bay in rio de janeiro, the gateway to brazil and a home of blazing extremes. samba, bossa, fiesta - this is the place to tap into brazillian style & flavas, the london gateway to new sounds and artists with some classical brazillian performers for good measure - guanabara, parker st @ drury lane wc2b 5pw (020 7242 8600) @ covent garden
half moon putney - historic rock 'n' roll venue
the rolling stones, the who and elvis costello are some of the artists that have taken the halfmoon stage,
with u2 having played their first ever uk gigs at the venue.
noted as a blues and folk venue, the halfmoon continues to host live music 7 days a week, whether it be the return of the halfmoon's original folk acts or tomorrow's next big hopefuls - halfmoon putney, 93 lower richmond rd sw15 1eu (020 8780 9383) @ putney bridge/putney railway
hammersmith apollo - hip hop landmark
refered to as the hammersmith odeon (it's former name) the apollo makes it onto one of the most influential hip hop albums of all time as dave pearce bigs up the arrival of public enemy on the intro to it takes a nation of millions to hold us back. an intimate venue to see the likes of rem, foo fighters & paul weller - hammersmith apollo, queen caroline st w6 9qh @ hammersmith - 020 8748 8660
hammersmith & fulham irish centre - the centre for irish arts
celebrating it's 10th anniversary in 2005, the irish centre offers a wide-ranging programme of free and affordable community
activities, alongside an innovative programme of events whether it's irish music, literature, theatre, dance or storytelling. the weekends host regular live music nights including ceilidhs & irish folk bands - hammersith and fulham irish centre, 5 blacks rd w6 9dt @ hammersmith - 020 8563 8232
hammersmith palais - saturday night school disco
originally christened the palais de danse on it's launch in 1919 as a jazz venue, the palais has swung with the times, with swing and be-bop taking over in the 40's and 50's and punk rock, ska & reggae in the 70's, with the clash naming one of their most famous songs after the venue: (white man) in the hammersmith palais. still a venue for live bands in thwe 00's, the palais is now most noted for it's infamous school disco nights on saturdays - hammersmith palais, 242 shepherd's bush rd w6 7nl @ hammersmith - 0870 1544040
hmv - meet the bands
diagonally opposite borders on oxford street, this hmv is a frequent host to artists launching their new albums. expect queues to form a couple of hours before the event for free short sets & record signing sessions - hmv, 150 oxford street w1d 1dj @ oxford circus - 020 7631 3423
ica - mixing sound & vision
- as an arts venue for performance, music & cinema, the ica is the place to see the experimental, the avante garde & new forms of music as well as underground club nights you're not likely to find reels on in the press - ica, the mall sw1y 5ah @ piccadilly circus - 020 7930 3647
infinity club - 10 old burlington st w1s 3ag @ green park/oxford circus - 020 7287 5255
islington academy - shopping mall venue
the academy's claim to fame this year was as the launch venue for rufus wainwright's want two album. caught a little in the middle between the smaller venues (barfly, bush hall etc) and the premier league of the empire & brixton academy - islington academy, n1 centre, 16 parkfield st n1 0ps @ angel - 020 7288 4400
jazz cafe - r'n'b hip hop & sometimes jazz
jazz cafe, 5 parkway nw1 7pg @ camden town - 020 7916 6060
the key - laser rd, kings cross goods yard n1 9aa (020 78371027) @ kings cross
kings college students union - macadam building, surrey st wc2r 2ns @ temple - 020 7836 7132
koko - nme hangout in indie central
another indie rock hangout in camden, the former camden palace is now known as koko and as well as hosting live bands throughout the week, friday night sees the nme djs play the koko disco featuring indie records and live bands - koko, 1a camden high st nw1 7je @ camden town - 020 7485 9006
le quecumbar - 142-44 battersea high st sw11 3hx @ clapham junction - 020 7787 2227
lock 17 - formerly known as dinwalls
lock 17 is at the top of camden high street en route to the barfly. a mix of comedy night with occasional live music - lock 17, camden lock, top of camden high st nw1 8ab @ camden town - 020 7267 1577
london palladium - 8 argyll st w1v 1ad @ oxford circus - 020 7494 5038
the luminaire - new kid on the block
with the demise of the national, kilburn has been a bit of a desert in terms of live music. no longer! the luminaire, a 250 capacity music room (and the best small venue in london they'll have us know) aims to put together whatever's needed to get some of the best upcoming bands onstage every tuesday, wednesday & thursday - and make sure that everyone has a great time from the opening chords to the evenings encore. if you're looking for something new & a great evening all round you've got to check out the luminaire, 311 kilburn high rd nw6 7jr @ kilburn/kilburn park - 020 7372 8668
madame jo jo's - style & sleaze meet the heart of soho
with crimson velvet banquette seating and gilded art-deco balustrades, madame jo jo’s
exudes an air of 1920's moulin rouge, an edge that encourages madame jjs to host electronica, hip hop, rock, disco and funk, along with sensational burlesque performances, top comedy nights and one-off artist showcases—recent acts to play the venue include scissor sisters, ed harcourt, bloc-party and the kings of leon - madame jo jo's, 8-10 brewer st w1f 0se @ piccadilly circus - 020 7734 2473
marquee club
not the marquee club that hosted the likes of the rolling stones in the 1960's, but a reincarnation and relocation of the world famous name, the marquee has hosted the likes of ash, the magic numbers, tom vek and occasional club nights - the marquee club, 1 leicester square wc2h 7na @ leicester square - 020 7734 8690
mean fiddler - the astoria's little sister
little version of the neighbouring astoria, with much of the same (metal/heavy rock/guitars) with bands you've probably never heard of. the frog @ mean fiddler is a popular saturday night club for the indie rock crowd - mean fiddler, 165 charing cross rd wc2 0en @ tottenham court road - 020 7434 9592
metro club - underground bunker style oxford street venue
with a rock grunge feel and the kind of place you're gonna see some band from the states before they turn absolutely massive. they hold club nights too & music into the small hours - metro, 19-23 oxford st w1a 7zx @ tottenham court road - 020 7437 0964
93 feet east - former brewery showcasing the latest independents
93 feet east is an independent venue hosting art house films, weekend club nights and new live music, with an emphasis on bands yet untouched by media and promotion. Split into three main sections, the main bar has an open, airy feel to it, with high celings, stone floors and leather sofas. Next door, the seperate music room is quite an intimate space, with a capacity of just 250. keeping the atmosphere tight. The third space, the gallery bar plays host to 93's weekend club nights. - 93 feet east, 150 brick lane london e1 6ru - 020 7247 3293
notting hill arts club - eclectic mix of latin, hip hop, world & beats
a fantastic source for the new, the experimental and the independent. with gigs throughout the week and experimenting in all kinds of styles of live music & club nights from around the world. chance of meeting hugh grant here - not a chance! - notting hill arts club, 21 notting hill gate w11 3jq @ notting hill gate - 020 7460 4459
100 club - swinging sixties landmark
along with the mini, mini skirts & carnaby street, hosting the likes of glen miller & the beatles. chances of seeing prog rock are quite favourable here - 100 club, 100 oxford street w1d 1ll @ tottenham court road - 020 7636 0933
pizza express jazz club - jazz with pizzaz
it might look like any other pizza express from the outside, but this branch of the pizza chain hosts contemporary and mainstream jazz, with entry around the £15-£20 mark - pizza express jazz club, 10 dean st w1v 5rl @ tottenham court road - 020 7439 8722
pleasure unit - bethnal green's live music venue
a live music venue with the occasional weekend club night thrown in, the pleasue unit .comes complete with ripped sofas & a slightly slanting dance floor playing anything anything from motown to disco to the latest promos from london's hottest new djs and up & coming indie rock bands - if you have a demo, send it in to - promotions@pleasureunitbar.com - the pleasure unit, 359 bethnal green rd e2 6lg @ bethnal green - 020 7729 0167
purcell room - south bank se1 8xx - 020 7921 0682
purple turtle - 61-65 crowndale rd nw1 1nw @ mornington crescent - 020 7383 4976
queen elizabeth hall - south bank se1 8xx @ waterloo - 08703 800 400 - seated, accoustic on the south bank
ray's jazz at foyles bookshop 1st floor, 113-119 charing cross rd wc2h 0eb @ tottenham court rd/leicester sq - 020 7440 3205
rhythm factory - guitar bands & up front weekend clubbing
another venue out east that's pushing at the edges for anything new & inspiring. chances are you'll see some showcasing of new indie bands through nights like bring your own poison & bored youths on prozac, as well as mad for it weekend club nights without pretension - rhythm factory, 16-18 whitechapel rd e1 1ew @ aldgate east - 020 7375 3774
rocket - 166-220 holloway rd n7 8db @ holloway rd - 020 7753 3200
ronnie scott's - the major venue for london jazz
ronnie scotts died back in 1996 but his name lives on in the form of this jazz venue he ran for over 40 years, playing host to all kinds of jazz luminaries. this is still the place to check out in london to hear & see live jazz - ronnie scott's, 47 frith st w1v 6ht @ leicester square - 020 7439 0747
royal albert hall - - the beatles 'can't buy me love' moment
the 6000 capacity rotunda and memorial tp prince albert complete with royal box was also the venue that hosted john lennons famous rattle your jewellery quip in mop top era beatles. it is still a frequent host on the live music calendar - royal albert hall, kensington gore sw7 2ap @ south kensington - 020 7589 8212
royal festival hall
part of the south bank complex, the royal festival hall is currently going through a modernisation project, with live music, everything from accoustic to world to dance & poetry taking place at the adjacent quenn elizabeth hall and her little sister, the purcell room - royal festival hall, south bank se1 8xx @ embankment/waterloo - 08703 800 400
the scala - catch them here just before they turn into stars
the scala is a popular venue on account of it's good value ticket prices and knack of signing up the kind of artists who by the time the gig comes round have often become quite popular - just like john legend in january this year - the scala, 275-277 pentonville rd n1 9nl @ king's cross - 020 7833 2022
shepherd's bush empire - the queen of pop venues
built in 1903 the empire sits along a string of theatres on the west side of the green. a bbc venue that hosted classic tv shows including carckerjack, the old grey whistle test and emm... the generation game, the empire retains an intimate sound that makes it a great place to see more mainstream artists. recommended - shepherd's bush green w12 8tt @ shepherd's bush/goldhawk road - 0870 7712000
the shunt vaults - london bridge se1 9bg @ london bridge - 0207 2232223
somerset house - ice rink & live music
built on the site of a former tudor palace in 1775, somerset house hosts exhibitions, talks, cinema and live performances, and was the venue for lauryn hill's only uk live concert this year, as well as hosting summer sets by the prodigy, athlete, starsailor, the tears & supergrass - somerset house, the strand, wc2r 1la @ temple - 020 7845 4600
spice of life - soho open mic & jazz venue
having hosted bob dylan, paul simon & cat stevens in the 60's & 70's as the the scots hoose, the spice of life as it's known as now is still a popular venue for up & coming indie & folk, live demos and hosting old veterans. the late 90’s has seen the spice of live showcase live jazz with performeances from jamie cullum, soweto kinch and jim mullen mongst others - spice of life, 6 moor st w1d 5na @ tottenham court road - 020 7437 7013
spitz - folk, roots & worldwide landmark
the spitz is a great place to check out a diverse range of musicians, festivals, spoken word & old fashioned indie rock. there's usually a free live night on mondays & an interesting selection of beers on tap too - the spitz, old spitalfields market, 109 commercial st e1 6bg @ aldgate east/liverpool st - 020 7392 9032
st boniface social club - 185 mitcham rd sw17 @ tooting broadway - 020 8677 9989
st giles church - 81 camberwell church st se5 @ denmark hill railway - 020 7701 1016
the troubadour club - coffee bar revolution
set up as part of the 1950's cafe revolution, the troubadour displays its musical credentials on it's chest, with
paul simon, charlie watts, sammy davis jnr, jimi hendriand led zeppelin all having played here. the troubadour went through a bit of an expansion at the turn of the millenium and is now comprised of a cafe, deli & live venue that hosts poetry, cabaret, and blues, country and rock/pop - the troubadour club, 263-267 old brompton road sw5 9ja @ west brompton - 020 7370 1434
12 bar club - roots venue supreme
the 12 bar club is located in a building built in 1635 as stables, then later converted to a forge for the st. giles area up until World War one. small but intimate the club showcases around four acts a night, seven nights a week, from solo performers through to full bands, with the emphases placed on songwriting, folk & roots. 12 bar feature artists from all over the world - 12 bar club, 22-23 denmark place wc2h 8nl @ tottenham court road - 020 7916 6989
university of london union - manning hall, malet st wc1e 7hy @ goodge st - 020 7344 4444
in the old days (1980's) the university union was a well established part of the touring circuit for all indie hopefuls, and the ulu aims to maintain the tradition having recently had a refit and put on bands including a recent 2 night stay from the audio bullys - ulu, manning hall, malet st wc1e 7hy @ goodge st - 020 7344 4444
underworld - for camden goths & rockers
hosting rock, metal & goth bands opposite the back entrance to camden town tube, the underworld is a popular venue to meet up with mates before checking out a gig in one of camdens many live music venues - underworld, 174 camden high st nw1 0ne @ camden town - 020 7482 1932
union chapel - intimate north london venue & ex-chapel
this old church complete with wooden pews is a favourite amongst thos who've been lucky enough to attend a gig here - it's currently going through a refit but amongst the legendery shows here has been a certain musical genius by the name of rufus wainwright - union chapel, compton avenue n1 2xd @ highbury & islington - 020 7226 1686
virgin magastore - basement 14-16 oxford street w1d 1af @ tottenham court road - 020 7580 5822
water rats - dylan's uk live debut
the water rats claim to fame is that bob dylan played his first ever uk gig here back in the 60's, but these days the water rats usually hosts up and coming indie rock & metal bands who are looking for a break into fame and glory - water rats, 328 grays inn road wc1x 8bz @ kings cross - 0207 336 7326
ha9 0dw @ wembley park - 020 7437 4370 - chez rod stewart, coldplay, travis et al
west one four - 3 north end crescent w14 8tg @ west kensington - 0207 603 7006 - chez girl next door
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