http://www.kensingtonandchelseatoday.co.uk/young-chelsea/out-and-about/pwyt8jwwq9.html
Gabriel Samuels
There’s nothing quite like seeing live music here in London. The atmosphere, the intensity and the variety of music on offer combine to make this one of the best cities on the planet to go gigging.
As much as I have a soft spot for big stadium concerts – you can’t beat the noise of tens of thousands of people bawling along to your favourite songs – some of the best performances I’ve been to have involved just a couple of hundred people, a little room and an artist who gets to see all the whites of their adoring fans’ eyes.
When people think of hip small gigs in the capital, places like Camden, Hackney and Crouch End immediately spring to mind.
Yet here in Kensington and Chelsea, a handful of venues continue to show that West London has a lot to offer when it comes to music on an intimate scale.
For starters Under the Bridge, a state-of-the-art club found next to Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge ground, demonstrates perfectly why there’s no need to travel to Wembley Stadium or Brixton Academy when you can see world-class acts right on your doorstep.
Opened in March 2011 with a launch gig from pop-starlet Ellie Goulding, this stylish venue conjures up an awesome atmosphere on big nights when it’s at full capacity.
In the past six months alone, Under the Bridge has played host to a catalogue of recognisable faces – Example, Gary Barlow and The Fall to name but a few – and has brought in crowds for special performances by stars including Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and Robbie Williams in the past.
The venue has even snuck onto TV on occasion, with the capital’s London Live channel broadcasting gigs and E4’s Made in Chelsea filming segments there.
What’s more, tickets and drinks for even the biggest artists are kept down to a reasonable price – making this the only place to see your favourite musicians do their thing.
At peak volume this venue has been known to pack in up to 600 punters, which occasionally makes it feel a bit stuffy and claustrophobic, particularly on sweaty summer nights.
But with such an eclectic mix of artists on stage and boasting an unrivalled sound system, Under the Bridge is a fine example of what South West London’s music scene can offer, and provides great value for a night on the town.
Just down the street, nestled on the corner of Old Brompton Road, rests the illustrious Troubadour Club. As you enter, don’t be fooled by the poky rustic interior and gourmet food menu – by night, this little café transforms into one of the most electrifying small gig venues the capital has to offer.
Relaxed and intimate, this infinitely charming club boasts an enviable position on the pantheon of London’s live music scene.
The Troubadour was a favoured haunt of Dylan, Hendrix and Joni Mitchell back in the ‘60s when it was an notorious hub of counter-culture creativity, and has more recently seen the likes of Adele and Ronnie Wood grace its tiny stage.
The Troubadour has changed a lot over the years, evolving unrecognisably from its gritty hippy beginnings, but has somehow managed to maintain the inimitable bohemian feel it always had.
This pop and folk-culture relic celebrates its 60th birthday in style this year with an extensive summer programme planned. The selection of drinks on offer is impressive and the owners always ready to welcome eager newcomers.
So settle back with a bottle of the finest and a slice of their amazing banoffee pie, and listen to some sensational emerging acoustic talent in the comfy environs of this famous old coffee house.
If jazz and blues are more your scene you might head over to The 606 Club on Lots Road, the discreet little den Jamie Cullum once branded “London’s best music venue, bar none.”
Opened in 1976 in a tiny, cosy basement on the King’s Road, the 606 grew to be known as the jazz music hang-out of choice in the capital and moved over to its current site in the late ‘80s, where it has thrived ever since.
Club owner Steve Rubie has talked in the past of having “met and worked with some of the finest jazz musicians in the world” during his time at The 606, and the high standards of talent have never dropped since.
The club’s chilled and classy vibe is complemented the first-rate food whipped up by its attached restaurant (at surprisingly reasonable prices too), and the veteran in-house band will keep you entertained all night long.
A final gig spot that is well-worth checking out is the newly renovated AAA under The Archangel bar on Kensington High Street.
With exotic interiors and cheap drinks, the Archangel upstairs is the perfect place to grab a few beers and cocktails before heading down to the basement to hear some of the hottest young acts on the London scene thrash it out.
Of all the venues mentioned here, the AAA arguably puts on the widest range of musical genres – from indie artists to salsa nights, and from jazz through to alt-pop and urban – so whatever your taste, there’s probably a night for you.
There’s even a regular karaoke evening thrown in, if you’d rather be performing yourself rather than watching someone else.
So next time a small gig takes your fancy of a weekend, don’t forget that the Royal Borough undeniably boasts some of the best up-and-coming venues anywhere in the city – just make sure it stays a secret…
Gabriel Samuels 
Thanks for sharing London clubs!
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