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gigs : features
Alternative music venues
CENTRAL
There are plenty of live music venues in Soho, second
only to Camden for the number and quality of music hot spots. The company
Mean Fiddler has a stranglehold on Soho with the live music triumvirate
of Astoria, Borderline and Mean Fiddler, but their line up is usually
pretty good and prices not too extortionate, with tickets around about
the £15 mark.
Astoria / 157 Charing Cross Road, WC2
Mean Fiddler / 165 Charing Cross Road, WC2
Borderline / Orange Yard, 16 Manette Street, W1
All three venues are 5 minutes walk from Tottenham Court Road tube. Visit
www.meanfiddler.com
and you can find gig listings and book tickets for all three venues.
However, if you are looking for beats off the beaten track,
here are out top 5 tunes in town:
12 Bar Club / Denmark Street, WC2 / Tottenham
Court Road tube / www.12barclub.com
It's small and it's sweaty, but if you are looking for that cosy underground
crush then the 12 Bar Club will deliver. The music policy includes punk,
blues and acoustic.
ICA / The Mall, SW1 / Piccadilly Circus
tube / www.ica.org.uk
Although the ICA only has a couple of music events every month, they are
streets ahead in terms of innovation. If you are searching for never-seen-before
instruments and obscure German bands, this venue is for you.
Ronnie Scotts / 47 Frith Street, W1 /
Tottenham Court Road tube / www.ronniescotts.co.uk
Often cited as the best jazz venue in London, Ronnie Scotts is
definitely the oldest, and it still manages to attract fine acts from
around the world, even 45 years since it started.
100 Club / 100 Oxford Street, W1 / Tottenham
Court Road tube / www.the100club.co.uk
It's a little bit cheesy, but you have to expect that on Oxford
Street, and the venue makes up for it with a lively music policy featuring
the likes of The Clash, Squarepusher and The White Stripes. And in it's
favour we can also say that it's one of very few venues open on a Sunday
night, and tickets are usually a tenner or less.
The Betsey
Trotwood
56 Farringdon Road, EC1 / Farringdon tube / www.plumpromotions.co.uk
According to all their sources, the Betsey Trotwood is the smallest music
venue in London. There is loads on and it's really cheap (all tickets
a fiver).
EAST
The Standard Music Venue
1 Blackhorse Lane, E17 / Blackhorse Road
tube / www.standardmusicvenue.co.uk
Music on most nights, with a few cheesy cover bands and some up and coming
talent. Average ticket prices of £6.
NORTH
Barfly
49 Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1/ Chalk Farm tube / www.barflyclub.com/london
I've been to some truly great nights here, and things always hot up on
Fridays, with a bonus double bill followed by DJs. Watch out for the infamous
Queens of Noize for a dance to remember. Dirty Camden at its best.
The Dublin Castle
94 Parkway, Camden, NW1 / Camden
tube
Probably London's best predictor of
future music superstars. This is where it all begins for many successful
bands, and where it ends for those that weren't meant to be. I've seem
some fabulous bands (and some truly terrible one) at this unique venue,
and never paid more than three or four pounds for the pleasure.
The Dirty Water Club
Harpers Bar at The Boston, 178 Junction Road, London, N19 / Tufnell
Park tube / www.dirtywaterclub.co.uk
Most Fridays present an eclectic mix of bands and DJs at The Dirty Water
Club. Bands on stage from 9.30 till midnight, then the Dirty Water Club's
regular and guest DJs play beat, garage, psych, r&b and punk for your
dancing pleasure. Tickets cost £6.
Underworld
174 Camden High Street, Camden, NW1 / Camden tube / www.theunderworldcamden.co.uk
This club / gig venue has bags of personality and music for all tastes.
The Water Rats
328 Grays Inn Road, WC1 / Kings Cross tube / www.plumpromotions.co.uk/
With bands playing most nights, and all tickets a fiver, it's worth a
try!
SOUTH
The Bedford
77 Bedford Hill, Balham, SW12 / Balham tube / www.thebedford.co.uk/
Is it a bar, is it a theatre, or is it club? Decide for yourself by going
to one of their fab free music nights. Acoustic sets on Wednesdays and
Thursdays from 9pm.
The Effra
Kellett Road, SW2 / Brixton tube
The best jazz night in London. Sunday nights are a real treat, but don't
tell any-one else as it's always full to the gunnels and I want to get
a seat next time.
The Windmill
Blenheim Gardens, Brixton Hill, SW2 / Brixton tube / www.windmillbrixton.co.uk/main.php
There is music on most nights in this intimate little venue in Brixton's
back streets. Tickets are usually cheap, and the beer is cheaper. You
can also get in free if you have dinner in the grungy, and rather fantastic
Alchemist restaurant next door.
WEST
Jazz at The
Bull's Head
373 Lonsdale
Road, Barnes, SW13 / Barnes train station
/ http://www.thebullshead.com/the_bulls_head_jazz_blues_concert.htm
Hear some fine jazz musicians from around the world at this groovy
West London venue.
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