London can boast a thriving live music scene, with hundreds of fantastic venues scattered around the capital. It does not matter whether you are looking to catch the next big thing or see an established act, there are plenty of great places to catch a gig in the capital. If you are visiting the UK capital any time soon, you might want to pop your head into one of these fine establishments.
The Half Moon, Putney
Few small venues can boast a history as rich as the Half Moon in Putney, which was amongst other things the site of many of the Rolling Stones early live outings. They still put on live music every night, and although they tend to cater for an older crowd these days, they still have a few up and coming acts playing every so often. Great equipment, a fine beer garden, and one of Londons best jukeboxes all continue to make the Half Moon the best venue in South West London.
The Monarch, Camden
This former Wetherspoons pub has been overhauled by new ownership, combining traditional Camden grunge with some classy fixtures such as leather seats and chandeliers. Come here on a weekday and you can expect to see some great live acts for a surprisingly low price.
The Old Blue Last, Shoreditch
The NME calls it the coolest pub in the world, and it is easy to see why. Its owners, Vice magazine, are able to exert considerable pulling power over top international bands and DJs. As well as hosting lots of hot new acts, it sees a fair amount of big names on its little stage, despite the lack of a dressing room.
The Windmill, Brixton
If bohemian charm and affordable drinks are more important to you than leather sofas and expensive hand dryers, then the Windmill in Brixton could be the venue for you. They have barbeques at their all day gigs during the summer, which makes for an excellent day out for indie fans.
The Shacklewell Arms, Dalston
Up until relatively recently, this characterful local pub had a slightly sketchy reputation, but this has all changed with new owners and a dramatic shift in music policy. Thankfully, much of the delightful interior décor has been left intact, as has the secret beer garden which is a great place to enjoy an al fresco drink on a warm night. The back room is a great small venue that has played host to a number of surprise gigs by big acts, such as local lads The Horrors.
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