Around the UK in 80 Venues: The Luminaire

Posted on Sep 26th 2009 8:06AM by Stephen Dowling
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Location: 311 Kilburn High Road, Kilburn, London NW6 7JR

Website: http://www.theluminaire.co.uk/

Capacity: 300.

Come to see: Up-and-coming bands, Americana and country legends, bands from as far away as Australia and New Zealand playing their first gigs in Old London Towne.

The atmosphere: All about the music. If you can't quite see the stage there are video screens to help you from toppling over or cricking your neck. The bar staff are adept at keeping the noise down while serving drinks during acoustic sets, while there are notices urging you, the punter, not to talk loudly during gigs. The Luminaire also happens to have possibly the friendliest doorman in London.

You saw them here first: Some of the bands who've played the Luminaire include Andrew Bird, Hot Chip, the Enemy, Scritti Politti and Young Knives. Last year, former international bright young things Jesus Jones played a one-off show ahead of dates with the Wonder Stuff.

Claim to fame: The venue only opened in early 2005, but it didn't take long for the Luminaire''s self-proclaimed ethos -- treat the bands well, provide a welcoming place to see bands -- to attract musicians and gig-goers.

"We never understood why things had to be confrontational, why sound engineers snapped at bands who requested basic things, why people who were supposed to love music were disrespectful to those who made it and those who came to listen. We still don't understand it, so you won't find any of that behaviour around here," the venue's website says. Quite.

The Luminaire won London listing magazine Time Out's Live Venue of the Year, while a year later it took Music Week's UK Venue of the Year.

You should also know: Underneath the Luminaire there's a pub called the King's Head (Elvis, rather than some dusty old former Regent, by the way), the scene of one of the hardest music quizzes in London. Spinner will see you down there.

Booking now: Howe Gelb, The High Llamas, Cranes, The Clientele, Ian McNabb.