London venues
London's small music venues are world-renowned, and whatever your musical background or aspiration, there will be somewhere for you to perform here.
From Soho to Camden, there is hardly an area that has not helped launch a musical career.
The 100 Club on Oxford Street has hosted live music since 1942, with visiting performers including Art Pepper, Benny Goodman, The Sex Pistols and The Clash.
The Half Moon in Putney is where a whole host of stars such as Kate Bush and U2 played when they were starting out.
The Dublin Castle also stands out as a venue that helped start the careers of Madness, Supergrass, Blur, Muse and The Killers.
These venues are still very much alive and kicking, and the role they play (and have played) in shaping music will hopefully see them continue to thrive for many years to come.
Discover London's small music venues for yourself by visiting our interactive map above.
Did you know that...
The Dublin Castle was originally occupied by Irish navvies who were working on the railroads and canals at the time, with the nearby Edinboro Castle, Windsor Castle and Pembroke Castle frequented by their respective nationalities.
As well as being one of the most popular drinking establishments during the Britpop years, Suggs (Madness) and Amy Winehouse were also frequent patrons who sometimes even helped behind the bar.
Since the early '60s, The Half Moon has been regarded as one of London's most respected live music venues, hosting incredible acts every night of the week.
We were the venue for U2's first sell-out UK show, K.D. Lang's first UK appearance and Kate Bush's first public show.
Through the years, The Rolling Stones, The Who and Van Morrison have played at The Half Moon, and more recently we have hosted artists such as London Grammar, Nick Cave, Kasabian and Ed Sheeran.
We continue to host concerts or comedy every night, plus matinees at the weekends, and have held 20,000 shows since 1963!
Nina Jackson, Venue Manager at The Half Moon in Putney
What Music Festivals Are Hosted In London?
As you can imagine, it's quite difficult to narrow down all of the live events taking place in London throughout the year. However, All Points East is one of the capital's most popular festivals for uncovering the best in new music.
There are many, many other music events on in the capital throughout the year, from electronica to jazz festivals.
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