Music

*London’s “Lost Music Venues”-Part 5-the Vortex & the Roxy ‘Punk’ Clubs of Soho
This week’s London Shoes blog was undertaken the day before the 2nd Covid19 lockdown restrictions were implemented – so following this publication, there will be a brief lull in weekly blog publications for a few weeks whilst ‘Shoes’ observe the Governments non-essential travel advice – but hopefully I shall be able to knock a few ...Read more...

* The iconic ‘BBC – Broadcasting House’ – Portland Place-London W1
Under a rare beautifully sunny London sky for this time of year, last week, London Shoes ventured out to the far west of the west-end district – for the specific purpose of viewing a magnificent building, which in my opinion – is one of London’s most unappreciated and undervalued architectural masterpieces:- “Broadcasting House” – in ...Read more...

*London’s “Lost Music Venues”-Part 4-the “Ruskin Arms”-East Ham and its Mod & Metal connections
This week ‘London Shoes’ didn’t have to travel too far to reach its subject matter location – just a short 15mins train journey from my home base to East Ham–London E12. The topic in question represents Part 4 of the London Shoes series entitled “London’s-Lost Music Venues” and takes a look at a place that ...Read more...

*Dame Vera Lynn – a tribute to one of East London’s finest
As a tribute to one of east-London’s very finest, the wonderful ‘Dame Vera Lynn’, who sadly passed away on the 18th June last week, at the grand old age of 103 – ‘London Shoes’ ventured onto public transport for the first time in 3 months throughout the current Covid19 pandemic lockdown, and took a short ...Read more...

*London’s “Lost Music Venues” – Part 3-the Chalk Farm Roundhouse & the Dagenham Roundhouse
Because of the Covid19 pandemic travel restrictions, London Shoes has had to vary its approach to publishing regular articles on its website-facebook-twitter portals. Its done this by either utilising photos extracted from previous blogs, to create new topics – or alternatively, venturing out ‘locally’ to cover-off topics of historic interest within its London Bor. of ...Read more...

*London’s “Lost Music Venues” – Part 2
During these strange lockdown, stay at home, social distancing times, London Shoes is still able to continue publishing its popular weekly blogs – by simple recourse to unpublished material held in its vaults, stored there specifically for rainy-day situations. So-this week’s blog represents Part 2 on the topic of “London’s – Lost Music Venues”. First ...Read more...

*London’s “Lost Music Venues” – Part 1
In these unprecedented times and because of social distancing and the understandable travel restrictions, London Shoes has obviously had to considerably re-invent itself and its activities. No longer can I just trot off into the ‘Smoke’ and do what I’ve been doing for the past 3 years. However, all is not lost in terms of ...Read more...

*The birth of Glam?-“HOLY HOLY” at the 50th Anniversary of David Bowie playing the legendary “Roundhouse” venue-Chalk Farm-London-NW3
On the evening of Weds 11th March 2020, London Shoes ventured off to what was once one of London’s most iconic music & art venues, particularly throughout the 1960’s and into the 70’s – the legendary ‘Roundhouse’ at Chalk Farm–London NW3. The Roundhouse building wasn’t always a music venue – when it was first opened ...Read more...

*The “Crazy Coqs”club-Piccadilly & “The Jazz of Judy Garland” with Sara Dowling & the Chris Ingham Trio
This week’s London Shoes trek out focussed on one of its favourite blog topics – ‘live’ music. As with a number of my previously published music related blogs, this week’s subject matter originates from my association with ‘Gentleman’ George Double, my old drum tutor from my days when I was working at Barclays in Mare ...Read more...

* “The Music of Gil Evans” – Jazz at St.John’s-Smith Square-Westminster
With old ‘London Shoes’ having visited the world famous “Ronnie Scott’s” Jazz Club, Sunday week ago – last Sunday I got the opportunity to attend another ‘live’ London music event. The same band, but with a few personnel changes – and a completely different ‘set’. The venue this time was the prestigious and totally unique ...Read more...