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p20
 When you consider the amount of musicians per
square yard in Stoke Newington, it's hard to believe that there is only one purpose-built
music venue in the area the wonderful Vortex. But despite its hardiness and brilliant
vibe, it only really caters for jazz and acoustic acts below a certain decibel level. All
the other venues that do their damnedest to put on music, and bless 'em for it, always
have age-old problems with space, noise levels, hiring PAs and ridiculous licensing laws,
especially if they try to put on anything more than a duo.
Well, I am very happy to bring you the good news that work has already started on a
bar/music venue that aims to fill that aching gap in the market, and provide this area
with its very own, bona fide, decent music venue; so I went and spoke to the lovely fella
who's behind the idea.
Donagh Wyley came to Stokey two and a half years ago to take over what is now known as
Ryan's N16. At the time it was an ailing bar that never seemed to do that well, despite
successive mangers and its prime location, 'It just took a lot of hard work and trying to
understand what the punters wanted', said Donagh. Of course, a lovely yellow makeover and
being bloody friendly helps as well.
 I asked what made him think of the idea in the first place. 'Well
every second person you meet here is a musician or involved in music in some way, whether
they're a DJ or an engineer or whatever, and I thought that this area is crying out for a
decent purpose-built venue that could draw from local talent'. So he started looking
around and found the perfect spot in a place where there used to be a club, but has lain
dormant for years. 'We were looking at The Point on the High Street and thought that it
had some potential. But then we saw that it was connected to Sarah's Bar next door'. And,
as luck would have it, Sarah wanted to sell.
The place is going to be primarily a bar and it will have four zones. Where Sarah's Bar is
now will still be a bar with tables and what not, serving good food (main course, £7)
until closing time. As you move through, the second area will be a little more upbeat,
which will lead you through to the venue where The Point is now. And there will be a
function room upstairs for private parties. And, as we have established before in this
column, Stokey likes a party. 'We do a lot of acoustic nights here at Ryan's, and we want
the next place to be a step up and for both bars to feed off each other. We want to bring
another, much needed element to Stoke Newington'.
Now, I don't want you to get the wrong idea here. This isn't going to be a big, loud venue
that will try to compete with the Marquee in Islington or Ocean in Hackney. Instead, it
will be a good, smallish venue with a top quality PA and monitors, good lights and, wait
for it, air conditioning. How nice is that? It aims to open towards the end of this year.
The name of the bar is a secret, by the way, so watch this space.
GIGS OF THE MONTH
competition
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We have three copies of Deirdre Cartwright's CD 'Precious Things' to
give away. To win one, answer the following questions dredged from the distant past.
1) Which dead rock star's hat recently graced Stoke Newington Library?
2) Which famous Stamford Hill-born 1960s female singer began her career in one of the
above-mentioned rock star's early bands?
3) Which international rock impressario was born in Carysfort Road in 1946?
4) In the late 1970s which Stoke Newington venue hosted Ian Dury, Squeeze, Wayne County
and The Jam (not at the same time, obviously)?
5) Whatever happened to rock 'n roll? (This question is optional.)
Answers to info@n16mag.com or
N16, 26 Shacklewell Lane, London E8 2EZ. |
N16 recommends the following gigs in October. The full
listing is on page 27.
Deirdre Cartwright Group, The Vortex, 17 October. Deirdre
is a locally-based jazz guitarist with an international reputation. Her CD 'Precious
Things' was released three months ago and is storming up the jazz charts. The album
contains a track 'N16' which she says 'may be named after your fantastic magazine'.
Flattery, Deirdre, will get you everywhere (see competition below).
Sam Brown, Minx Club, 30 October now on 27 November.
Performing in Stoke Newington for the first time since her storming Fringe gig in June,
the incomparable Sam Brown plays the Minx.
Larry Love Showband (Alabama Three). 31 October, Auld Shillelagh. Famed
Brixton-based band responsible, among other things, for the theme tune to The Sopranos.
Therefore unmissable. They'll be playing on the Sons of Lee Marvin night at the Shillelagh
Coal Porters, Ryan's, 1 November (not October but close enough). Fronted
by Sid Griffin, this band's mixture of bluegrass, country and folk has been highly
acclaimed and their latest album 'Chris Hillman Tribute Concerts' has been
successful and widely reviewed, eg 'rolls along rather splendidly', Q Magazine.
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