Music heritage walk
Camden is the undisputed rock and roll capital of the UK and possibly the world.
Nearly every world famous musician has played at a venue in
the Borough during their career from the Doors, Pink Floyd,
Madness to Madonna. There are a number of live music
venues in the area catering for every type of music imaginable.
you will be guaranteed to see some of the brightest musical
talent as well as supporting local businesses that keep
Camden’s global reputation alive. I hope this map helps you to
appreciate Camden’s music heritage.
This map highlights just some
of the wonderful venues in
Camden. I would encourage
you to go and visit them and
Councillor Jonathan Simpson
Mayor of Camden 2010-2011
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead
Hampstead
Heath
Gospel
Oak
Tufnell Park
Finchley Road
& Frognal
camden town
CLOSE UP
page 2
Belsize
Park
Kentish Town
West
West Hampstead
Kentish
Town
Chalk
Farm
Kilburn
South
Hampstead
Chalk
Farm
Camden
Town
Chalk
Farm
Ro
ad
Camden
Road
Parrk
kw
ay
Brondesbury
Swiss
Cottage
Camden
Town
Ca
m
de
nH
ig
hS
t
ton
Morning
Crescent
ur
lb
Ki
n
gh
Hi
t
e
re
St
King’s
Cross
Maida Vale
Mornington
Cresent
Regent’s Park
King’s Cross
Tham
Thameslink
St.
Pancras
Euston
The
Scala
Conway
Hall
Euston
Square
Kentish Town Forum
Van Morrison was the last artist to
perform here when it was the Town and
Country Club, and the first to perform
when it became The Forum
Kenwood
House
Kilburn High Road
The National - First known as the Kilburn
National Ballroom, then Kilburn National
Club, and later The National, it has hosted
literally hundred of artists including
Nirvana. The Smiths also recorded their live
album Rank at the National in 1986
Conway Hall
is home to the world’s longest
running continuous series of chamber
music. Concerts are held most Sundays
at 18.30h from October to April.
Cecil
Sharp
House
The Moto
Water
Rats
Kenwood House
Hampstead Lane, London NW3 7JR a historical 18th Century home that hosts
summer picnic concerts in the park with
an exciting list of artists each year.
Cecil Sharp House
ge
od
Go reet
St
Kilburn
High
Road
hosts regular weekend club nights
but is also a very popular venue for
live music on week nights.
n
rre
Wa reet
St
Kentish
Town
Forum The Scala Kings Cross
Holborn
n
arde
nt G
Cove
Denmark Street
Denmark
The English Folk Dance and Song
has a long musical history and is known as `Tin
Street
Society (EFDSS) is one of the leading
Pan Alley’. Home also to the Tin Pan Alley Studios
folk development organisations in the
which has been in existence since the 1950s and
UK with a history dating back to 1898.
host to many famous bands and solo artists.
The Moto Water Rats
a live music venue on Grays Inn
Road that is famous for local acts as
well as international artists.
Decca
Studios
Decca Studios
in Broadhurst Gardens, NW6, `The Decca audition’ is
the name given to the now-famous Beatles audition for
Decca Records at these studios before they became
famous. Decca’s decision to reject the group is
considered one of the biggest mistakes in music history.
Music heritage walk
camden town close up
Cottons
Dingwalls
Hawley
Arms
MTV
Studios
Electric
Ballroom
Koko
Dingwalls, Middle Yard, NW1 8AB - is a venue
adjacent to Camden Lock It houses bars, cafes, clubs
(including the Jongleurs comedy club and the Lock
17 bar/restaurant). Dingwall’s was also the venue
for the famous jazz dance club ‘Talkin Loud and
Saying Something’ with Gilles Peterson and
Patrick Forge.
MTV Studios, Hawley Crescent, NW1 – is home
to MTV base for many years and have played host
to a huge array of British, American and world music
artists including Michael Jackson and Madonna.
Jazz Café, 5 Parkway, NW1 7PG – Anyone
who’s anyone in the Jazz, R&B worlds and conscious Hip Hop scene have performed here. Neo-soul
acts like Erykah Badu, Maxwell D’Angelo, Jill Scott
and Angie Stone see it as their London home, whilst
wordsmiths like Ty, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli always
stop off here.
Soul II Soul used to have two shops on the corner of
Camden High Street, because they were into retail and
making clothes that went hand in hand with music.
As they became more successful Jazzie B traded the
store for a recording studio in Rochester Place and
worked from there for fifteen years. .
Koko, 1a Camden High Street, NW1 7JE –
formerly known as Camden Palace, where the Clash
performed and before that it was the Music Machine.
Madonna’s first UK performance was at Koko.
The venue holds regular weekly club nights
and is regularly used for filming.
• C amden To
wn wa
of Britpop, B s the birthplace
lur, Pulp and
Oasis
all have root
s in Camden
• Prince own
ed a boutiqu
e in
Camden Tow
n in 1990s
•M
adness, Blo
ndie, Amy
Winehouse,
Elvis Costell
o,
Van Morriso
n & The Ra
mones
all have Cam
den roots
Hawley Arms, 2 Castlehaven
Road, NW1 8QU - a popular
celebrity haunt, Amy Winehouse
regularly attends and performs in this
venue, which is now known as the
indie/grunge pub for music talent.
Electric Ballroom, 184 Camden
High Street, NW1 8QP - has been
in operation for over seventy years,
during which time it has been used
in many different ways. The two
storey building has two dance floors
and four bars. The ground floor has a
stage and full concert facilities
Dublin Castle, 94 Parkway, NW1 7AN –
is one of London’s most famous pubs and venue.
Any aspiring band should, or has passed through
the doors into the back room to play. The likes of
Madness, Travis, Blur, Graham Coxon and the Artic
Monkeys have all graced the stage.
Chalk
Farm
Ch
alk
Far
m
Camden
Town
SStt
gghh
Hii
nn H
dee
md
m
CCaa
Soul II
Soul
Cottons Restaurant and Rumshack, 55 Chalk
Farm Road, NW1 8AN – many an MTV interview has
been filmed here when MTV studios were booked up
and a nearby location was required.
Dublin
Castle
ad
Ro
Jazz
Café
Roundhouse,
Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH –
formerly a steam-engine repair shed and now it is
home to a bold and exciting programme of live music,
theatre, dance, circus installations and new media.
Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and The Doors were some of
the first bands to play at the Roundhouse.
Pa
rk w
ay
Roundhouse
Mornington
Crescent