London: Top 5 Venues for Indie Music
Enjoy a night out with good music
· 32 min read
London has long been known as a hub for live music, with a diverse range of venues catering to every musical taste. For music lovers who are seeking a taste of London’s indie music scene, there are plenty of options to choose from for a night out to discover some new music.
The 100 Club
The 100 Club is a legendary venue on Oxford Street, and is one of the oldest independent music venues worldwide. The venue started off as a jazz club in the 1940s, and subsequently played an important role in the punk music scene in the 1970s. It started to grow in popularity as a venue for Indie music sometime in the 1990s. Over the years, it has played host to some of the biggest names in music, such as Oasis, Travis, and Baby Bird. Today, the venue still has many nights dedicated to particular kinds of music, so there is something for everyone.
The venue is rather small with a capacity of just 350, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere.
🗺️ Address: Century House, 100 Oxford St, London W1D 1LL, United Kingdom
🔗 Event calendar and ticketing: https://www.the100club.co.uk/events-calendar/
Windmill Brixton
Not to be confused with The Windmill nightclub at Soho, the Windmill located in an assuming corner of Brixton is a classic venue for the indie music fan. The Windmill Brixton hosts a diverse variety of music genres, and is known for the quality music while at a cheap price. It has also hosted up-and-coming acts, with the likes of Bloc Party and The Vaccines performing here in their early days.
With a capacity of just 150 people, you might want to get your tickets way ahead to secure a spot.
🗺️ Address: 22 Blenheim Gardens, Brixton Hill, London SW2 5BZ, United Kingdom
🔗 Event calendar and ticketing: https://www.windmillbrixton.co.uk/
The Lexington
Located in the heart of Islington, The Lexington is a popular haunt for indie music fans and a staple for the indie band circuit in London. You can expect to see up-and-coming buzz bands at The Lexington, as well as the occasional bigger names such as Wild Billy Childish & CTMF and Noah & The Whale.
The venue has a cosy bar downstairs, and a live music venue with one of the best sound systems in London upstairs. Apart from hosting live music, The Lexington also has regular events and club nights for those who want to dance into night.
🗺️ Address: 96-98 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9JB, United Kingdom
🔗 Event calendar and ticketing: https://www.thelexington.co.uk/events.php
The Dublin Castle
The Dublin Castle in Camden is a venue that is synonymous with the indie and alternative rock music scene, and is a must-visit for fans of indie rock music. Founded in 1978, it has seen some of the biggest names like Blur, The Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay all take the stage over the years. The Dublin Castle has been committed to supporting emerging talent, giving them the opportunity to showcase their music to a wider audience. If you are looking to discover new music, The Dublin Castle is the perfect place to do so.
The Dublin Castle in Camden features 4 live bands every night, and have late-night DJs lined up after the bands on Fridays to Sundays.
🗺️ Address: 94 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7AN, United Kingdom
🔗 Follow their social media accounts for more information about upcoming gigs: https://www.facebook.com/thedublincastle
Blues Kitchen
Blues Kitchen has become a well-known institution in the London music scene, offering top-notch live blues, soul, and rock & roll performances, as well as a delicious selection of Southern American cuisine. Blues Kitchen has three different venues, each with their own style — Camden is more rock, Shoreditch being more New Orleans soul, and Brixton leaning towards classic soul.
🗺️ Address:
Camden: 111-113 Camden High St, London NW1 7JN, United Kingdom
Shoreditch: 134-146 Curtain Rd, London EC2A 3AR, United Kingdom
Brixton: 40 Acre Ln, London SW2 5SP, United Kingdom
🔗 Event calendar and ticketing: