Love Seeing Original Live Music? Check Out These Islington Venues..

The Garage

This live-gig venue brings us underground artists before they really hit the big time, showcasing the best unsigned talent in London. This place is actually the sister-venue to Borderline and is completely different to any live gig venue north of the river. The Garage closed its doors for three years and in 2009, re-opened as stylish and quirky as ever. With nice, new toilets (unheard of at a gig) and décor, the place is more inviting than most indie spots across London and holds 600 revellers in the main room.  If you’re well into your live music, then check out what the resurrected Garage has to offer.

20-22 Highbury Crescent, London N5 1RD
www.mamacolive.com/thegarage

The Lexington

For a more chilled out music venue, The Lexington brings the finest Rock ‘n’ Roll sounds upstairs, while the lounge bar on the bottom floor gives you and your friends a chance to relax. The burlesque elegance of the downstairs area is a complete contrast to the Rock ‘n’ Roll raucous happening above your head. The venue has everything you’d want from a Saturday night, a place to dance and let your hair down, mixed with a chill out lounge where you can grab a traditional bourbon relaxing on a Chesterfield. We’d recommend the 1792 Ridgemont Reserve; it’s definitely something quite special to round off a great night.

96-98 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JB

www.thelexington.co.uk

Union Chapel

This venue combines the beautiful Victorian gothic architecture with the modern sweet sound of live music. Still a working church and a help centre for London’s homeless, this place is definitely something special and gives a unique edge to the bands that get the chance to perform here. With different events happening all the time, there’s always something that will tickle your fancy. It’s not directed to just one genre of music, so allows artists with a soul, jazz, rock and acoustic sounds a platform for their talent in a truly breath taking arena.

Compton Terrace, London N1 2UN
www.unionchapel.org.uk

The Queens Head

When a venue continually brings back the locals and attracts people from all over the country, then it’s guaranteed to be a worthy visit. This is definitely the case with The Queens Head, a lively venue filled with music lovers and local singers, songwriters and musicians keen to get a big break. If you’re venturing there for a gig, it’s well worth arriving a bit early and grabbing some of their famous sliders. The food will stand you in good stead for a night of dancing.

44 Essex Road, London N1 8LN
www.theoldqueenshead.com