The Most Vital Venues In London Right Now
When it seems like more clubs are closing with every passing month, where is left to dance in the capital?
If 2015 headlines are anything to go by, London’s music venues are falling like dominoes. Just this week, the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, which represents venues in the UK, reported that the number of clubs in the country has halved in the last decade. This year in the capital, superclub Fabric was threatened with closure after a series of drug-related deaths at the venue (it hasn’t closed, but stricter security measures have been introduced). Meanwhile, cabaret club Madame Jojo’s had its license revoked, ostensibly for a violent incident involving bouncers; 24-hour Caribbean social club Peoples Club was closed by the council, apparently because of noise complaints from residents; and Whitechapel’s Rhythm Factory and Shoreditch’s Plastic People have both made the decision to permanently shut their doors.
While the reasons for the closure of these clubs differ, gentrification is a recurring theme: Rhythm Factory blamed pressure from local authorities, who had granted permission for apartments to be built around the club. Mark Harris, who once co-ran the club night White Heat at Madame Jojo’s, told the Guardian that he believes the council "clearly don’t want a late night drinking presence anywhere in Soho anymore. They want to make Soho about families." There’s also the matter of existing venues that are battling to stay open: east London pub and gig venue The George Tavern has for several years now lived under the threat of luxury property developers.
But among the detritus, there's life still. After all, people need somewhere to dance. To find out where the party's moving to, The FADER spoke to 10 artists, DJs and promoters to find out their most vital venues in the city.
Canavan's, Peckham
Chosen by Bradley Zero
DJ, Promoter [Rhythm Section]
BRADLEY ZERO: "The thing is, there’s nothing very typical about this venue. It is very much a functioning pool hall, which over the last few years has grown to accommodate a few hundred dancers on the weekend. I started doing the first regular party there (Rhythm Section) almost four years ago, and have been doing it twice a month since. We’ve gone from using my dad’s old soundsystem and bringing decks and lighting in every time to having a multi-channel custom Funktion-One system permanently installed in the venue. The decks are now in-house, but still proudly rest upon a functioning pool table.
"Canavan’s is accidentally brilliant: the size, the layout, the acoustics and the pool hall itself all work together to create what I find the most comfortable, unusual and dynamic dance hall in the capital. It’s a nighttime space that’s shifted organically to accommodate a new demographic, without affecting the old one. Come to Canavan’s on an afternoon and you’ll still see county pool tournaments, youth workshops and wedding receptions. Because there’s no curatorial policy or overarching aesthetic, every night is different—from old-time locals coming to do karaoke on a Sunday to late-night techno experiments on a Saturday. Everything goes, with a serene lack of pretentiousness."
Tate Modern, Southbank / Tate Britain, Millbank
Chosen by Throwing Shade
Artist, DJ
THROWING SHADE: "The Tate got in touch with me for the first time last year, and said they wanted to commission me to compose a piece of music for one of the Turner Prize nominees. They then invited me to do a live performance at the Tate Britain; recently they contacted me again to invite me to perform live in the Turbine Hall at the Tate Modern. The Tate puts a lot of effort into its live music events, and they always try to cater to what the artist wants their performance to look and feel like in terms of sound, stage setting, projections etc. It's such an honor to be invited to perform in two of the most important cultural institutions in this country, and even more so because of the freedom that the Tate gives you to do your own thing.
"The musical events curated and hosted by the Tate are vital for London's music scene. The Tate is cultivating, showcasing and supporting new music being created by young Londoners. Other galleries and museums ought to follow suit and open up their doors to the spectrum of new music that's bubbling away in our city by offering artists the opportunity to redefine these spaces through live performances."
Corsica Studios, Elephant and Castle
Chosen by Russell Smith
Promoter [Oscillate Wildly, Eternal]
RUSSELL SMITH: "Corsica has a great atmosphere and vibe: no matter the night, often it feels more like a house party more than a club. People feel safe and actually dance and I’ve rarely seen or heard of unsavory behavior. The sound and music is great too—slight bias here of course, but the programming of the in-house nights and the promoters they work with is top notch. There aren't enough venues in London full stop. The number of mid-sized venues with a good system and two rooms is even rarer, and when you add in the fact it's in Zone 1 (just), Corsica is pretty unique. When you look at the development and regeneration of the surrounding area you have to fear for its long term future, which is a shame as it's pretty vital to music and culture in London."
XOYO, Shoreditch
Chosen by Siobhan Bell
DJ, Promoter [Work It Girls]
SIOBHAN BELL: "Usually at XOYO, I'd start upstairs at the bar before going into the 500 capacity room downstairs, where there will be heavy, floor-shaking music with amazing lighting and production. I usually go to a night called Deviation by Benji B where they always have a massive line-up and random special guests. The sound system there is brilliant and really caters to the DJs. It’s also a great venue for live music."