As regular readers will know, music is my big passion in life. I am not really a fan of mega gigs, big festivals and massive events. My sort of music is grassroots, small venues. I've always preferred shows where you can see the band, rather than where you see them on a massive screen and they are a dot a mile away on a stage. I don't know how many gigs I've seen in my life. If it's one a week for 45 years, then it's well over 2,000. London's Grassroots venues are going through a difficult time at the moment. Despite the fact that it is by far the best way to see music, and that all of the worlds best artists have started in such venues, they simply don't get the love they deserve.
I put up a post on Twitter to try and ascertain which grassroots venues are best loved. Following a retweet by BBC Radio London DJ Gary Crowley, it got over 7,500 views.
What do you think is London's best grassroots music venue? I think it has to be The @DublinCastle in Parkway, #CamdenTown - my band even wrote a song about how much we love it!https://t.co/DvTnLFHZix
— Roger Tichborne/Rog T (@Barneteye) July 12, 2024
We also got some great responses. So here is what we got and my thoughts on the venue, with some details if you are inspired to get out and see some music. I think everyone should, at least once a year, visit a venue they've not been to before and see an artist they've never seen before. Take a chance. Check their listings.
1. The Dublin Castle - This is my favourite small venue in London. Where Madness and Amy Winehouse made their name, featured in the recent Disney Channel documentary. It is worth a visit, just to have a pint and to soak up the atmosphere. There is some great memorabilia, that you'd pay to see in some museums. It is unique! My band recorded a song and made a video celebrating the venue, which gives a little flavour of what you are missing if you've not visited. Check forthcoming gigs here -thedublincastle.com - I'd recommend Toots and The Skamen tonight, if you love a bit of Ska! Also Palm Plive of the Slits next Sunday in conversation looks amazing
2. The Water Rats. Where the Pogues played their first gig in 1984 (when it was still the Pindar of Wakefied) and Bob Dyla made his UK debut in the 1960's . A wonderful venue. I've played there twice over the years. Once in the early 1980's when it was the Pindar of Wakefield (Pulp were also on the bill, long before Jarvis and the boys were famous) and again in 2010 when Connie Abbe was in the band. In August they are hosting a some tasty looking Camden Comedy fringe gigs
3. The Slaughtered Lamb. A tiny venue in Farringdon, in the basement of a rather decent pub. I've seen a few great gigs here recently. Tends to specialise in solo acts, duo's etc. A very nice place to spend an evening. The food in the pub is good if you want to eat first.
4. The George in E1. Great little venue in the East End. Was under threat. The Save London Music Campaign made a video there to explain why we need it. Well worth checking out
Well those were my suggestions. Here are yours.
5. The Lexington. Another great Camden venue. Had a quick check of the listings and pleased to see that Aussie Songstress Fanny Lumsden who rehearses at the studios is appearing. She's pretty damn good.
6. The Moth Club. Great little venue in Hackney, not had the pleasure of going there, but deffo on the list. I tend not to get over to East London for gigs much, which is a shame as there are some great music pubs in the area. As most of the up and coming bands I see are North London based and use Mill Hill Music Complex, it is a bit off my personal radar, but the bands who have played there are big fans
7. The Half Moon, Putney. One of London's proper suburban pub rock boozers. Live music every night. Tends to be new bands during the week and tribute bands at the weekend. Back in the 70's and 80's, this was a staple of the pub rock circuit. Worth a trip down.
8. The Shacklewell Arms Another great music pub in Hackney. It celebrates 20 years this year, there is a pretty decent show to celebrate in September with Don Letts and Rhoda Dakar.
9. The Victoria, Dalston. I'd not heard of this Dalston venue before the comment was left. I checked the listings and this gig absolutely fascinated me. I may well make the trip!
10. The Sebright Arms - Yet another Hackney music pub. Got to be honest, looked through the listings and didn't recognise anything up and coming, which is exactly as it should be, as it means they are putting up and coming bands on.
11. The Social - And finally, Gary Crowley's suggestion. I've been here a few times and it is great, most recently to see Wine Mom, who supported The False Dots at The Dublin Castle. Well worth a visit.
A couple of people suggested closed venues, including the Moonlight Club and the Sausage Club in West Hampstead. Both great clubs and much missed.
I'll end with a little plug for the next False Dots gig in the diary. Our album launch at The Dublin Castle on the 17th November. It's a way off, but why not book a ticket and put it in the diary/ This is what the Dublin Castle say about the gig in the blurb!
Falsedots– Dublin Castle stalwarts, and then some, play their matinee malarkey album launch party for you today, that album being there saucily titled ‘A Finger In The Sun’. They go back to the Seventies but they have a youthful spirit for sure. Expect that new album to be a party platter reflecting their lovely live joie de vivre, encompassing the emanations of louche, loquacious and lascivious (la di da) Londoners like Ian Dury, Madness and Mark ‘Alternative TV’ Perry, with a healthy loft punk pop element and a devil may care spirit much to be admired, sure to be a beezer afternoon.
The Nice Men– post punk shoulda bins with a fine balance of artsy angst and pithy pop in their musical armoury. It may no longer be 1979 but these reformed roustabouts will put that first forkful of Pot Noodle whilst hearing The Teardrop Explodes for the first time ever back in your mind. I think Pot Noodles came out in 1979…Julian Cope certainly did. I mean …you know what I mean.
Whelligan– bit of a Copey influence here to perchance. From Merseyside via the Holloway Road and a fistful of acid pop pearls.
BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!
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