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10 Key Camden Live Music Venues
The 3rd Camden feature focuses on its extraordinary Live Music scene which has the highest concentration of world-class Live Music Venues of any area in London. Camden famously used to have the sprawling multi-venue Camden Crawl festival (sometimes derogatorily referred to as the ’Camden Queue’) - which lasted from 1995 to 2014 - the ultimate multi-venue festival - which for sure inspired Iceland’s similar Airwaves festival - which is still going strong (November 3-5th this year).
Another major multi-venue festival used to be Camden Rocks (since 2009) - but that’s not happened since pre-pandemic 2019 - albeit Camden Rocks are putting on individual events these days - but no sniff of the next festival yet. In fact only current festival of note is Roundhouse’s Rising Festival - focusing on up-and-coming bands.
So this article happened the reverse to the Camden Market Shops - in that I intended to cover 11 venues here - but ended up with 10. The jury’s still out for the recently revamped Monarchy Pub - which is more of a sportsbar now - but has promised to resume live gigs soon enough - so we’ll see what happens there - still giving them the benefit of the doubt. While I’m not entirely sure what is happening with Alex Proud’s former eponymous and celebrated Camden venue - which now houses ’Fest’ and ’Gabeto’ which seem to be more conventional food and drink destination - no proper website for those venues yet either.
Several of these venues had ’teething’ troubles in the last few years. KOKO suffered a fire, the Monarch Pub changed to the Monarchy Sports Bar, and The Black Heart almost went under. Also Dingwalls flipped over to PowerHaus! All those seem to be doing well now - as mentioned - jury is still out on the Monarchy - but it has potential.
For the most part though the key venues are in pretty rude health at the moment. We just need to wait for the restoration of the Multi-Venue Festivals!
So a lot has happened in Camden over the last few years - which somewhat threatened Camden’s massive music legacy - while I feel that with things re-aligned now - there are still plenty of glory days ahead. You still have a lovely sprawl from Mornington Crescent to Chalk Farm Tube - and there are many more live music pubs and bars that I did not mention here - a great place for a night out - very much more local and genial feeling than the West End. Don’t go out in bling though as some of the back streets and side-streets can still be dangerous for those behaving too ’ostentatiously’ - definitely leave your luxury watch at home!
This was the trickiest exercise to far as so much of the information online is woefully out of date and just poorly referenced. Camden Council’s site is horribly out of date! So this exercise should serve many!
Map - Click to Enlarge!
The Black Heart
WHAT? - Concert Space with an Eclectic Beer Selection - formerly the Camden Tup - changed to The Black Heart in 2009 - elegant but fairly minimalist décor. Needed to fund-raise in 2021 to stave off spiralling Covid debt - target set at £100,000, fund as of today has raised £158,758 - Gigs have been taking place fairly consistently now on an almost daily basis.
GENRES? - Eclectic, typically : Punk, Hardcore, Doom, Black Metal, Thrash, Weird Experimental Stuff, Noise Artists. New Bands in particular
WHO? - Stage has been graced by : Avalanche Party, Bad Actress, Black Moth, Bong, Bullet for My Valentine, Cannabis Corpse, Diesel King, Dorja, Elder, King Goat, Jawbone, Mastiff, Monolord, Scarlet Rebels, Slabdragger, Spirit World, Tacoma Narrow Bridge Disaster etc.
WHERE? - 2-3 Greenland Place, Camden, NW1 0AP [Camden Town Tube]
CAPACITY? - 170
HOW MUCH? - Tickets typically <£10, £8 or so
The Blues Kitchen
WHAT? - BBQ & Soul Food Restaurant specialising in rare and vintage Bourbon - with mostly Rhythm and Blues Live Music - on main Camden High Street Strip. Founded in 2009
GENRES? - Mostly Blues, Rock & Roll, Soul, Funk and Americana.
WHO? - Stage has been graced by : Andrew Weatherall, The Dirty Pretty Things, Gary Clark Jr, Huey Morgan, The Libertines, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Mystery Jets, Pete Doherty, and Seasick Steve etc.
WHERE? - 111-113, Camden High Street, NW1 7JN [Mornington Crescent Tube]
CAPACITY? - 300
HOW MUCH? - Typically Free Entry with Food - and before 21:00 hrs, thereafter £7 / £8 on Fridays & Saturdays
The Camden Assembly
WHAT? - Previously the Barfly and Monarch Pub (no not that one!) - but since 2016 renamed the Camden Assembly - this is a lively Pub, Music Venue and Nightclub - earlier incarnation (Barfly) famously featured in an episode of Spaced (Gone)! Various live events during week - Saturdays are currently 'Project Saturdays' 'Disco' i.e Disco, R&B, Commercial and Chart music.
GENRES? - Eclectic, Mostly Indie Live, More Commercial for 'club' type nights
WHO? - Stage has been graced by : Alessia Cara, Billy Bragg, Cage The Elephant, Dark Stares, Diesel King, Enter Shikari, Fightstar, Idles, Kasabian, The Killers, Frank Turner, Max Raptor, Muse, Nina Nesbitt, The Rifles, Royal Blood, Scissor Sisters, Skindred, Sleater-Kinney, Toska, We Are Scientists etc.
WHERE? - 49 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AN [Chalk Farm Tube]
CAPACITY? - 200
HOW MUCH? - Circa £6 for ticketed events - in advance
Electric Ballroom
WHAT? - Two-storey Building with 4 Bars - Live Venue and Occasional Indoor Market Hall - started as an Irish Ballroom in the 1930's and renamed the Electric Ballroom in 1978. 'Stand Up Central' was recorded here 2015-2018, and MTV Brand New was recorded her from 2011-2018. It was a Roller Disco from late 70's through early 80's. Used to house a Weekend Market from 90's through to 2015. Also the home of various club nights - Sin City (Rock & Alternative), Full Tilt (Goth), and Shake (Pop / Dance / R&B). Current residents are Pop Juice on Saturdays, UK Deathfest, Ultimate Power (Rock!), the occasional Progress Wrestling. Also plenty of Live Gigs - Deerhoof for instance on August 31st.
GENRES? - Eclectic - Rock, Alternative, Goth, and various Pop-Dance - different nights of the week
WHO? - Stage has been graced by : Ocean Colour Scene, Cage the Elephant, The Strypes, Baroness, Of Monsters and Men, Foals, The Vaccines, Snow Patrol, The Killers, Stereophonics, Sir Paul McCartney, Alt-J, Megadeth, Kaiser Chiefs, Nero, Richard Ashcroft, Miles Kane, U2, Prince, The Clash etc.
WHERE? - 184 Camden High Street, NW1 8QP [Camden Town Tube]
CAPACITY? - 1,500
HOW MUCH? - Tickets range from £6 to £51 for day pass at UK Deathfest, Live Gigs typically around £20 or just under to around £30
Jazz Cafe
WHAT? - A former Barclays Bank branch converted into a Music Venue and Restaurant back in 1990 - has seen massive talent from the Jazz, Blues and Soul World - and World Music in particular - and this was supposedly Amy Winehouse's favourite venue. Lots of different live acts most nights - most regular current events is Saturday's SoulCity club night - feasting Disco, House & Soul!
GENRES? - Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Fusion, World, Soul, Funk, Electronic
WHO? - The stage has been graced by : D’Angelo, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Roy Ayers, Bobby Womack, The RAH Band, Soul II Soul, Jamiroquai, Sun Ra Arkestra, Pharoah Sanders, Don Cherry, Jimmy Smith, Abbey Lincoln, Ahmad Jamal, Archie Shepp, Eddie Harris, Cassandra Wilson, Mulatu Astatke, Ben E King, Leroy Burgess, Evelyn "Champagne" King, The Blackbyrds, Jocelyn Brown, Jean Carne, The Fatback Band, Lee Scratch Perry, Yellowman, The Skatalites, Max Romeo, Luciano, Horace Andy, Johnny Osbourne and Marcia Griffiths, Omar, Roy Ayers, Jungle Brothers, Juan Atkins, Underground Sound of Lisbon : Branko etc,
WHERE? - 5 Parkway, NW1 7PG [Camden Town Tube]
CAPACITY? - 450
HOW MUCH? - Different for Standing attendance vs Seated / In Restaurant - ranges typically from £5 to around £40
KOKO
WHAT? - Formerly called The Music Machine, and Camden Palace from 1982 to 2004 - when renamed KOKO. Started off in 1900 as the Camden Theatre - which then had a capacity of 2.434 and was one of the largest theatres in London outside the West End. From 1945-1972 it operated as a BBC Studio, and from 1977 to 1982 it was The Music Machine. A large fire engulfed the building during renovation in 2020 and following a further refurbishment was reopened again in April of this year 2022. The place has seen a number of major artist over the years including many of the biggest performers on the global stage. There's the occasional club night on Saturday nights - while it's mostly a Live Music Venue these days with different artists throughout the week - but nor necessarily every day taken!
GENRES? - Pretty much Everything over the years - Rock, Pop, Hip Hop, Electronic etc. usually more mainstream though
WHO? - the stage has been graced by : The Faces, The Rolling Stones, The Goon Show, The Jam, Iron Maiden, You You You, Coldplay, Madonna, Elton John, My Chemical Romance, Hanna Montana, Siouxsie Sioux, N.E.R.D., James Blunt, Calvin Harris, Dizzee Rascal, Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, The Damned, Terrorvision, Al Murray, Irfan Latif, Don Broco, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Christina Aguilera, Tori Kelly, Katy B, Emma Marrone, Oasis, Bruno Mars, Thom Yorke, Amy Winehouse, La Roux, Skrillex, Lady Gaga, The Killers, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Tokio Hotel, Lily Allen, Demi Lovato, Usher, Noel Gallagher, Swedish House Mafia, JoJo, Azealia Banks etc.
WHERE? - 1A Camden High St, NW1 7JE [Mornington Crescent Tube]
CAPACITY? - 1,410
HOW MUCH? - Typically £20 - £40 - cheaper in advance and if you arrive before 11!
Monarchy
WHAT? - Re-opened former 'The Monarch'[Man in the Moon](closed in 2020) not to be confused with former name of the Barfly / Camden Assembly. Emphasis has shifted slightly towards becoming more of a Sports Pub - while there will still be Live Music Nights and DJs - mostly in downstairs 'The Vault' - but likely more of a secondary thing now with the new direction.
GENRES? - Eclectic - all types - know for up-and-coming bands - but most types of band have graced this venue at one time or another!
WHO? - the stage has been graced by : At The Drive-In, Avril Lavigne, Catatonia, Cohered and Cambria, Coldplay, The Darkness, Elbow, Franz Ferdinand, Keane, Kent, Kitchens of Distinction, Kula Shaker, Interpol, The Libertines, Low, Mogwai, Muse, My Life Story, Reuben, The Strokes, Thirty Seconds to Mars, The Vines, Yeah Yeah Yeahs etc.
WHERE? - 40-42 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8BG [Chalk Farm Tube]
CAPACITY? - 220
HOW MUCH? - Currently mostly free (just prompted to book a table!) - yet to see much in the way of Live Gigs and events - but place has only just relatively recently re-opened!
PowerHaus Camden
WHAT? - Formerly known as Dingwalls - the venue originally opened in 1973 as a dancehall and has had a range of different musical functions throughout its 35 year stretch under the original name. The venue has been a Jazz Bar owned by legendary DJ Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge, before moving back to its roots of being a permanent part of the Camden gigging scene. Holding host to iconic shows such as Blondie's debut, Coldplay, Etta James, intimate Foo Fighters performances, R.E.M and George Ezra. Alongside this it was a large part of Camden’s punk boom with The Clash, Sex Pistols and The Ramones regularly appearing.
PowerHaus is promoter Vince Power's moniker - which he first used for the original Islington venue of the same name - that first opened in 1989 as a new venue owned by the Mean Fiddler. Throughout the 6 years of delivering the best acts to music fans - PowerHaus hosted many iconic artists including Radiohead, Suede, Henry Rollins, Dinosaur Jr, Blur, Pulp, Primal Scream, Stone Roses and PJ Harvey, the list really does go on. This venue was one that helped shape the landscape of London’s music scene at the time. And the intention now is to combine the legacies of those two former venues into this new venture.
GENRES? - One of the homes of Punk, the venue has also hosted Jazz / Jazz Funk / Blues and various shades of Rock.
WHO? - the stage has been graced by : The Clash, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, James Bay, You Me At Six, Modestep, Mike Skinner, Noel Gallagher, Imagine Dragons, Planningtorock, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sea Power, Sigma, Stereophonics, Strokes, George Ezra, Ellie Goulding, The Darkness, Gallows, Foo Fighters, Beth Hart, Coldplay etc.
WHERE? - Middle Yard, Camden Lock, NW1 8AB [Camden Town Tube]
CAPACITY? - 500
HOW MUCH? - circa £12 to £30 for tickets
Roundhouse
WHAT? - A Grade II 1846 built listed former railway engine shed 'Roundhouse' railway turntable used for turning old-fashioned uni-directional locomotives around. Prime role only lasted 10 years before it evolved into a warehouse, and then taken over as a Performing Arts Venue in 1964 and originally run by the Centre 42 Theatre Company. Then fell under Camden Council's control until a local businessman acquired the building in 1996 where it was well on its way to current format - especially following major redevelopment in 2004. The largest venue now in Camden by capacity - and where the premises are still being developed - with new Creative Centre due to go live later this year. Hosts all manner of Live Performance Arts and displayed Arts - shows / theatre / comedy / exhibitions / workshops - and of course gigs. Has hosted BBC Electric Proms, iTunes Festivals, BTDigital Music Awards and of course the Roundhouse Rising Festival.
GENRES? - Total multi-use venue with a very broad base - pretty much anything goes!
WHO? - stage has been graced by : The Gass, The Rolling Stones, Jeff Beck, The Yardbirds, Zoot Money's Dantalian's Chariot, David Bowie, The Sinceros, Graham Bond, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Incredible String Band, Fleetwood Mac, Third World War, The Doors with Jefferson Airplane, Ramones, The Clash with The Jam, Elvis Costello, Elkie Brooks, Otis Redding, Motörhead, Stereophonics, Manic Street Preachers, Lostprophets, Bob Dylan etc.
WHERE? - Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH [Chalk Farm Tube]
CAPACITY? - 1,700 seated, 3,300 standing
HOW MUCH? - Circa £10 to £120 - depending on nature and type of event
Underworld
WHAT? - The legendary basement of the World's End Pub - whose current core building dates back to 1875 - but where there has been some sort of tavern since 1690 even - variously known as Mother Red Cap or Mother Damnable's for most of its early life!. It has been the heart of the alternative music scene in the UK for many a years now. Developer Andrew Marler had a big hand in its success having gotten involved in the property in the early to mid 80's and then in '88 settings out to create the biggest pub in UK at the time - with the World's End's capacity going up to 1.000, and the basement being refitted into the 500 capacity Underworld live music venue!
GENRES? - Alternative, Indie and Rock mostly - but bits of everything really - more underground than mainstream
WHO? - stage has been graced by : Anthrax, At the Drive-In, Avenged Sevenfold, Bad Religion, Biffy Clyro, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bring Me The Horizon, Carpenter Brut, The Cranberries, Devin Townsend, Enter Shikari, Fall Out Boy, Foo Fighters, Frank Black, J Mascis, Jag Panzer, KT Tunstall, Kyle Gass Band, The Offspring, Placebo, Queens of the Stone Age, Radiohead, Reef, Sepultura, Sheryl Crow, Shonen Knife, Silverchair, Skindred, Slash's Snakepit, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, Suede, Sum 41, The Darkness, The Datsuns, The Offspring, twenty one pilots, You Me At Six etc.
WHERE? - 174 Camden High Street, NW1 0NE [Camden Town Tube]
CAPACITY? - 500
HOW MUCH? - circa £6 to £51 (all day festival) plus £1 or £2 booking fees
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