Late Night Live
| CARGO 83 Rivington Street, EC2 (020 7749 7844) Mon-Thur 6pm-1am, Fri noon-3am, Sat 6pm-3am, Sun noon-midnight. With a comfy cushioned lounge, a tapas restaurant and booming sound system, Cargo shows why it’s the live venue of choice for many Shoreditch music lovers. This is a class venue with a wonderfully programmed DJ and band selection. |
THE SPITZ 109 Commercial Street, E1 (020-7392 9032). Mon-Sat 7pm1am, Sun 5pm-10.30pm. Described as ‘the perfect setting for creative music’ and located in old Spitalfields Market, the Spitz has an intimate atmosphere which complements the often experimental sounds of the artists who play here. Gig-goers can make a night of its by sampling the Mediterranean and Asian-influenced cuisine in its bistro. |
| MOTHER BAR 333 Old Street, EC1 (020-7739 5949) Mon-Wed 8am-3am, Thur-Sun 8pm-1am Situated on the first floor of the 333 club, Mother provides an upbeat hit of Shoreditch cool. It’s busy and there’s not many places to sit, but at the weekend, when the DJs and bands have got the place rocking, finding a perch should be the last thing on your mind. |
THE DUBLIN CASTLE 94 Parkway, NW1 (020-7485 1773). Mon-Sat noon-1am, Sun noon-midnight After running the gauntlet of God squads and weed salesmen at Camden Tube, the tatty charm of this influential music venue will set you up nicely for an evening’s moshing.The Britpop explosion sowed its seeds here and you can still sometimes see the odd Japanese tourist sitting in a corner waiting for Damon and Justine to wander in. |
| BARFLY 49 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 (020-7691 4244) Mon-Thur 7pm-1am, Fri & Sat 7pm-3am, Sun 7pm-10.30pm Barfly is recognised as one of the finest new music venues in the capital, having staged acts such as The Darkness, Franz Ferdinand and Coldplay before they hit the big time. Aesthetically unremarkable, this pub is all about the music and it’s testament to the vision of the management that so many big names have graced its stage. |
BOOGALOO 312 Archway Road, N6 (020-8340 2929) Mon-Fri 5pm-11pm, Sat & Sun noon-midnight Shane McGowan’s favourite boozer (although we suspect plenty of landlords could make that claim) is best known for music and film pub quizzes. The regular live music slots, however, are also worth a look, with celebs dropping in to check out up-and-comers. |
| THE SIR RICHARD STEEL 97 Haverstock Hill, NW3 (020-7483 1261) Mon-Thur 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-12am, Sun 12pm-11pm Old fellas supping pints sit next to North London celebs in this evocative Victorian watering hole. Dark corners and odd artefacts add to the appeal and it’s clear why bands are keen to play in such an atmospheric place. There’s a rock band on Sunday afternoons, Irish music the same evening and Jazz on a Monday. |
THE BULL AND GATE 389 Kentish Town Road, NW5 (020-7093 4820) Mon-Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 11am-10.30pm Every night is music night at The Bull and Gate with live bands playing seven nights a week and punters getting to see up to four bands a night.House rules insist that the bands bring their own following, so in any one night there can be a fascinatingly diverse mix of punters. |
| BRIXTONIAN HAVANA CLUB 11 Beehive Place, SW9 (020-7924 9262) Mon-Wed noon-1am, Thur-Sat noon-2am, Sun noon-midnight In a side street off Brixton Road sits this bar whose regulars know they’re onto something special. The atmosphere is welcoming, with high ceilings, weathered walls and hot colours providing a splash of Latin-Caribbean flavour. Further flavour comes from the cocktails with more than 200 varieties of rum forming a solid base for the bartender’s alchemy. Live music and DJs add the extra spice. |
BUG BAR The Crypt, St Matthew’s Church, SW9 (020-7738 3366) Wed & Thur 8pm-2am, Fri 8pm-3am, Sat 8pm-4am, Sun 7pm-2am Hip-hop heads should make tracks for the Bug Bar every Thursday when local talent and special guests will be dropping the lyrical bombs in front of a lively crowd. |
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