Marc Bolan was from here, as was Slash from Guns 'n' Roses (sorry, that was just Stoke). Not only was it an epicentre of punk activity in the 1970s (Bar Lorca, known then as The Samuel Beckett was a punk haven) but also Malcolm McLaren devised the Sex Pistols in Church Street Library. The Jam, Ian Dury, Squeeze, XTC, The Police, The Only Ones and Adam and The Ants all trod the beer-soaked stage of The Rochester Castle.

When I came here around ten years ago, I knew I'd struck sort of social/entertainment gold. You had The Coach and Horses with its massive horseshoe bar, suits, punks, rockers and the best juke box I'd ever came across. On Thursday nights at Bar Lorca everybody seemed to know everybody. You could walk into The Rochester during the day and see bands having a few cheap pints before rehearsals (then see the same faces after in Efes). There was the Vortex putting on the best in contemporary jazz, and the legendary Sunday Joints, which spawned a few debuts, as well as the pure madness of Sonny Mann's Karaoke. What really sticks in my mind and makes me smile is that everybody was so up for it. The feeling of being part of twenty or thirty people going from one pub where a mate's band was playing to the next gig then staggering to a house party was, well, staggering.

'Yeah, that was ten years ago/people get older/things change', you say? Bollocks! The age of people going out has always ranged greatly, and anyway round here age doesn't seem to matter when it comes to music. I'm ten years older and, yes, I may not be able to handle the three-dayers anymore but I still go to more gigs than I did then. And herein lays the crux. Nothing has changed. Stoke Newington may have lost a few venues, said goodbye to a few characters and mourned the loss of some great bands, but what this place has to offer hasn't changed - it has accepted, adapted and evolved. There is something new and fresh happening in this area every single day. The main difference between now and then was that places were full every time. You had to get there early, even queue and, for the love of God, sometimes get turned away! You would get drunk early and sneak a half bottle in because you knew you would not be able to get to the bar.

Now, this is not some sort of nostalgia trip and I am not trying to tell you what to do.
However, for those who do like being told what to do:

• Pick up flyers. Look at them. Read posters. Some are even works of art.
  

• Click www.n16mag.com: it's all there. 
  

• Most things are free or ridiculously cheap.
  

• It's much, much easier to pull.
  

• Just get a babysitter.
  

• Talent is guaranteed.

Also remember to support the major free events like the Stoke Newington Festival and the N16 Fringe Festival, as so many put in so much effort. Remember, we lost the Street Festival and don't want anything like that to happen again.

Downstairs at Ryans

A fine example of a cracking local line-up was downstairs at Ryans Bar on Saturday 19 November. The place was, as usual, buzzing, and punters were standing on stools and straining their necks from the start to see Dan Chester play his first solo acoustic gig. This baptism of fire probably freaked Dan out a little but he soon settled, especially when Joe joined him on lead to make The Dirty Jugglers.

Another full debut tonight was from Thundercrack, seeming very comfortable considering they have only been together a few months. They were loud and quite impressive, sounding a bit like Kings of Leon meets Sabbath. Grant on drums, finally getting to play outside the studio, was stand-out and, as some of the songs were a little long, kept them interesting and firing, resisting fill after fill. 

Next up was Plakka who have settled upon a line-up after all these years, which enables their songs to come across as structured and considered rather than shambolic improvisation. I think that must have been part of the 'long-term plan'. Adding Kerry on trumpet was a masterstroke, giving a beautiful dynamic and warm focus to their fast developing sound. And Alan's vocal stint was edgy and direct, much more productive than the days of sitting behind a desk with a Theremin (however funny that was to watch).

Another band who seems to have found their direction is Turncoats. Even tonight, with one member down, they sounded bright and enthusiastic, with Huw belting out each number and giving the impression that the band are actually enjoying being there. The whole band are getting involved with vocal duties and when the drummer, Dom, sings on a Ronnie Lane cover you feel like it must have felt thirty or forty years ago when bands were bluesy, ballsy and entertaining. Last, but by no means least, was Kiosk who, after a line-up change, are looking and sounding pretty slick. Fronted by Krissie, she exudes authority and total confidence within her domain (and let's face it, she's seriously good looking!). Their garage sound is infectious and in your face, slightly angular with some great time changes and as a whole very good to watch.

No word of a lie: 'all these bands are destined for greater things' was the last thing I overheard as I made my way outside.

Ryan's Bar, 181 Church Street (020 7275 7807) puts on regular storming gigs.
Phone for details or visit the Music pages of www.n16mag.com.

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