Expert: Graham Thomas - 11/25/2007

Question
Hello Graham,
My wife-to-be and I will be visiting London in the beginning of the coming year, January 1st through the 7th. We are big on rock shows, we like indie rock; bands like Feist, the Kooks, Band of Horses, etc. We want to check out some live music when we are there and we also like checking out places that are off the beaten path. We are adventurous, but not kinky or not the mountain climbing types. We'd like to find some cool little bars or somewhere to checkout local artists or musicians. Could you please direct me to some venues or websites that may accommodate our likings? Thanks.  

Answer
Hi there

good time of the year to come - Xmas and new year all over so everything is open and back to normal...

Best place to check for listings in the Time Out magazine - if you pick that up at the airport as you arrive it lists all kinds of music in both large and small venues and has a lot of alternative stuff too

they also have a website - Timeout.co.uk - I think - if you sign up there they send out weekly emails with details of upcoming stuff so you could see what going to be on when you get here.

Good venues for the kinds of bands you mention are the Shepherds Bush Empire and the Academy in Brixton - they are smaller and more intimate so it might be worth checking online to see what they have on at that time too. There is also the Roundhouse in Camden.

Have fun!

Graham