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The live music scene in Stoke Newington is vibrant, if a touch
predictable. The main theme is jazz, with the acclaimed nightly performances at the Vortex
and the regular sessions at the Jazz Cafe leading the way, and the Barracuda Restaurant
weekend gigs beginning to acquire a strong following. Blazing its own successful musical
trail is the Bar Lorca, with a mixture of World, salsa and Latin rhythms.
Equally individually, the Weavers, just off Newington Green, is one of North London's
leading showcases for country rock, zydeco and blues. Several of the pubs in the area,
including the Tup, Ryan's and Steptoes, also book occasional singers and/or duos and, of
course, the annual Festival Sunday parades acts of all musical abilities and persuasions
from traditional Turkish to rousing rockabilly.
Welcome as all this is, however, since the demise of the Samuel Beckett there has been no
regular venue for the most popular music of them all contemporary rock and pop. Although
this can probably be explained to some degree by planning and licensing restrictions, lack
of suitable space, and the absence of a tube station, it is strange that the gap has not
been filled. So does Stokey need a live rock outlet? What do the local musicians think?
What is the contemporary music scene in Stokey, anyway?
We had a word with Matthew Priest, Church Street resident, drummer and vocalist with
top-selling band Dodgy, and presenter of his own Saturday morning GLR music show, to find
out what's going on in the area. He has lived here since 1991, enjoys the area and has no
intention of leaving.
He tells us that there are a variety of well-known and talented musicians living in the
area, citing members of bands such as Octopus, Heavy Stereo, Ash, Warm Jets, Elastica and
Moses (who have a strong local following and seem destined for greater things). Many
musicians are attracted by Stokey's accessibility and relatively cheap rents, and the
bohemian atmosphere and dissident tradition play a part in the decision to move here.
Also in the area are the famous Wessex Studios in Highbury New Park, where Queen recorded
'We Will Rock You' and where, among others, The Clash's 'Sandinista' and Dodgy's own 'Free
Peace Sweet' albums were produced, a studio under the Vortex and a new state-of-the-art
studio complex Zen Arcade - in Leswin Road, which is concentrating on local talent and
rapidly becoming a focus for local musos (see below).
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Dodgy in 2000
playing The Assembly Rooms
before their Glastonbury appearance |
Matthew agreed that Stokey would benefit from a live stage, or even a
local club where musicians could meet, but said that local music fans are not too
deprived, as they are close to many other venues, in particular Highbury Corner which has
the Hen and Chickens, Garage and Ponana all within 100 yards of each other. There are also
the clubs of Camden Town, West End, only half an hour away by bus, and the up and-coming
Shoreditch / Hoxton area.
Totem Records on Church Street is a convenient spot for musicians to meet and find out,
via the notice board, what's going on locally, which bands are auditioning and what
instruments are for sale. Drinking and gossip take place in the Coach and Horses, the Tup,
the Jolly Butcher and, most popular of all, Effes in the High Street, where talk of
guitars, mixing desks and gigs is accompanied by games of pool.
So the musical scene in Stoke Newington seems in a healthy state, with more and more bands
arriving here and an increasing number of studios opening. It can only be a matter of time
before an entrepreneur recognises this and creates a local outlet for all this energy.
And what of Dodgy? They have just finished auditioning, and plan a short tour which will
culminate in the new, more soulful, five-piece playing the second stage at this year's
Glastonbury. We wish them well.
When, in 1996, Andrew Bantock and Matthew Smith began the conversion of a warehouse in
Leswin Road into a recording studio, they couldn't have realised the artistic potential
they were to uncover. Zen Arcade is now the focal point for many local bands, and the
studio attracts artists from all over London.
Zen and the Art of Recording
Zen offers a MIDI suite for pre- and post-production, two spacious
rehearsal rooms and a comfortable private recording studio. They also run City and Guilds
courses in Sound Engineering, in association with Westminster University, and the course
covers all aspects of recording, mixing and engineering, based in a 16-track
analogue/digital studio. Their next move is to expand into broadcasting, with a Zen
Community Radio project on its way. As well as all this, they will shortly be opening a
licensed private members club in the complex, where musicians can access the internet and
generally unwind.
Andrew and Matthew also manage three local bands Largeman, Ventolyn and Haiku - the last
two having played at a recent Lorca gig, which Andrew hopes will spark the re-emergence of
Stokey as a musical venue. The bands record at Zen Arcade and release their material on
Zen's label, Neptune.
There is a lot of competition in Hackney, which has around 1,800 home recording studios
capable of producing professional results. However, with its seemingly successful blend of
business flair and musical integrity, Zen Arcade seems set to thrive. Its existence is
certainly good news for local musicians.
Zen Arcade, 49 Leswin Road, N16. Tel: 020 7923 9533
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