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Music in Camden pubs & bars
Nick Malkoutzis casts an eye - and ear - over pubs and bars in Camden where you can hear live music.
Thought heavy metal had fallen through the floor, classical music had died a death and indie music was confined to I Love 1990 TV shows? Think again. They are all alive and well and living in Camden.
With an eardrum-shattering variety of live music venues within a 10 of minute walk of Camden tube station, the choice can be daunting so here is our guide to what you can hear and where.
Barfly @ The Monarch
The Bull and Gate
Café Bartok
The Devonshire Arms
The Dublin Castle
The Fusilier and Firkin
The Good Mixer
World's End Barfly @ The Monarch
49 Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town NW1 tel: 020 7791 4246
For a place that looks like nothing spectacular from the outside, this venue is a rarity as it provides a platform for recently signed bands, as well as more established acts.
The Strokes played there recently but you are more likely to see more underground bands performing. Barfly is probably the most popular attraction in the area for relatively new bands, be they of the rock, pop or indie persuasion.
That is the strength of the place really because the sweatbox surroundings are only likely to appeal to a minority. A trendy bar downstairs does offer some kind of refuge if your nostrils or eardrums can't take any more punishment.
back to list The Bull and Gate
389 Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town, NW5 Tel: 020 7485 5358
The Bull and Gate, where Nirvana once played and Cooper Temple Clause played fairly recently, is now purely a new bands venue. In fact, they put three or four bands on per night on the basis that if they all bring a crowd then they'll all play to a lot more people.
There is no messing, bands who abuse this golden rule and make no attempt to bring people to their gig are not be given a second chance.
New and untried talent usually dominate at the beginning of the week. More established acts tend to make up the rest of the slots from Wednesday onwards. Label nights, signed bands and concept nights will usually appear midweek to weekends.
For a venue of its size, The Bull and Gate has an impressive sound system with a reasonably sized stage, making it one of London's best known showcase venues where pop, rock, ska, punk and indie are always on the menu.
back to list Café Bartok
78-79 Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, NW1 tel: 020 7916 0595
As its name, which is taken from the Hungarian composer, might suggest, Café Bartok is a venue that focuses on classical music, albeit of the contemporary variety.
Wednesday seems to be the most popular night when live and recorded classical music, with a peppering of world, jazz and crossover languidly spreads over the relaxed surroundings.
With sofas, easy chairs and even a soothing velvet curtain surrounding you, if you still don't feel relaxed then make the most of the selection of coffees, beers and lagers on offer.
Classical music is an unlikely crowd puller but the emphasis here is to make the music appealing to as many people as possible. If you still can't appreciate it then at least the relative hush will allow you to have a good chat with any of the varied crowd that gather there.
back to list The Devonshire Arms
33 Kentish Town Road, Camden Town, NW1 tel: 020 7284 0562
If gothic is more than just a font on Windows for you then head to this venue. There are DJs every night and Friday is most popular when people meet there before going to the Electric Ballroom.
All variations of Goth music dominate but you may also hear some Punk, 80s and Industrial for good measure. Hardened goths may accuse it of selling out but it is not as if this busy venue needs to attract more customers.
back to list The Dublin Castle
94 Parkway, Camden Town, NW1 tel: 020 7485 1773
Apart from being a stop off for rock celebrities and Madness fans keen to see where they played their first gigs, the Dublin Castle still offers the opportunity to see some interesting live punk, metal or rock acts.
The sticky-floored venue recently won permission to stay open until 1.00 am every night except Sunday when it closes at midnight. The capacity of the venue also increased to 250 meaning that even more fans get the chance to see the Blur, Travis and Ash of tomorrow.
However, with a small stage and limited space, the venue can be considered cosy or stifling depending on your outlook and the popularity of the band.
back to list The Fusilier and Firkin
7 Chalk Farm Road, Camden Town, NW1 tel: 020 7284 0219
Opposite the entrance to the indoor market, this pleasant venue has been putting on a whole range of live bands five nights a week and weekend afternoons for over 3 years. Weekends usually feature cover bands but their styles can range from ska to rock'n'roll.
Tuesdays and Wednesdays appeal to a more contemplative and relaxed crowd as singer-songwriters showcase their talents in acoustic sessions. Thursdays and Fridays sees the volume being turned up a notch as the emphasis turns to punk.
back to list The Good Mixer
30 Inverness Street, off Camden High Street, NW1 tel: 0207 916 7929 This used to be an old man's pub until the Britpop explosion of the mid 90s when the fact that it had been frequented by the likes of Blur, Oasis, and Elastica virtually turned it into a tourist attraction.
A tag like that is difficult to get rid of and the effects can still be felt today as a mixture of hip Camdenites, students, wannabe musicians and slackers congregate there.
The place is famous for its jukebox, which is now stocked with mostly contemporary music rather than the Country and Western, Soul and Easy Listening classics that used to boom out from it.
back to list World's End
174 Camden High St, Camden, NW1 tel: 020 7482 1932
This popular meeting spot plays rock and indie tunes but live music can be heard at the Underworld club which is situated underneath which also hosts club nights.
While club nights consist of 80s, Funk or Indie music, live gigs are more rock-orientated. The Cranberries, James, Radiohead, Sheryl Crow, Smashing Pumpkins and Suede have all played there at some point.
Mostly lesser-known bands now play at this busy but relatively spacious venue.
back to list
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