Dingwalls

Dingwalls is a live music and comedy venue adjacent to Camden Lock, Camden, London, England. The 500-capacity venue hosts gigs and a weekly Comedy Loft comedy club. The building itself is one of many industrial Victorian buildings that were put to new use in the 20th century. The original owner of the building, T.E. Dingwall, had his name painted on to the outside wall of the building, which was a common practice by businesses in Camden Town during the late Victorian era. The paint is still visible to this day, hence the venue's name.

Lock 17, a bar connected to Dingwalls[1]

History
Killerhertz performing at Dingwalls in 1981

First launched as the newly developed Camden Lock's flagship venue in the summer of 1973. The Natural Acoustic Band performed five times between July and November 1973 Dingwalls Dancehall was open to all - "reasonably priced at half a bar for entry", providing the longest bar in London (at the time), near-pub price drinks and New York-style burgers and chickpeas. It wasn't a club, yet stayed open till 2 am, hosting acts such as funk band Gonzalez, and pub rockers Kilburn and the High Roads. Reviewed in one music paper the first summer, it was immediately recognised as plugging the "vast gap in the social and financial standings of various venues", where you can "eat, drink, boogie and listen to a live set during an evening which lasts till two"... "late enough for most people" (those were the days!) - and "excellent bands are to be found there".

Music was first managed by former Hendrix road manager Howard 'H' Parker.[2] Following Parker's death, Dave 'The Boss' Goodman, who also doubled as chef and DJ, took over from the mid 1970s to mid 1980s.[3]

At some point in the 1980s, it ceased to present live shows - the premises taken over by the Lock market.

By the early 1990s the original Dingwalls had been converted into a venue for the jazz dance club 'Talkin Loud and Saying Something', run by Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge.

Notable performances

Dingwalls became a prominent and popular London live music venue in the pub rock and Punk rock era of the mid to late 1970s. Nevertheless, the booking policy was eclectic, finding time for visiting US acts such as Etta James in 1978 and The Drifters and R.E.M. in 1983.

In the 21st century artists performing at Dingwalls have included: James Bay, You Me At Six, Modestep, Noel Gallagher, Imagine Dragons, Red Hot Chili Peppers[4], Sigma, Stereophonics, George Ezra, Ellie Goulding, The Darkness, Gallows, Foo Fighters, American Blues singer Beth Hart and, in 2011, 'Venison' (a pseudonym of The Strokes, for the purposes of a 'secret' comeback show).[5]

On 6 December 2011, Coldplay played the venue as part of BBC Radio 2's 'Live in Concert' series.[6]

Recordings

References
  1. https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/mar/10/the-gig-venue-guide-dingwalls-london
  2. Haslam, Dave (13 August 2015). Life After Dark: A History of British Nightclubs & Music Venues. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780857207005. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  3. 'Give the Anarchist a Cigarette' by Mick Farren p.358
  4. Witter, Simon (6 August 2014). "Red Hot Chili Peppers: 'We eat raw cactuses!' – a classic interview". The Guardian.
  5. "The Strokes kill off 'Venison' after secret London show". NME. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  6. Slender Fungus. "Coldplay: News - London Dingwalls show for BBC Radio 2 announced". coldplay.com. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  7. Greasy Truckers

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