On a bitterly cold evening last week, my London Shoes returned once again to a venue that I had visited only a few weeks back – ‘The Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ in the N4 district of North London.
To briefly recap on my previous blog article last month, about this venue – the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ is a new style cinema set-up that opened in 2021.
The venue is fitted with 7 cinema screens, all with a state-of-the-art sound system and comfy reclining seats with plenty of leg room – and the venue also has its own bar and kitchen.
The Finsbury Park Picturehouse presents itself a bit differently to other run-of-the-mill cinemas showing a broad range of films suitable for all ages and different backgrounds and different walks of life – and is designed to make cinema going easier for those that may have physical disabilities and mobility issues. It also caters for those that may have conditions like autism, or dementia.
The ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ also has its “Club Room” a room within the venue that is set out with cabaret style seating and tables, where you can watch ‘live’ performances of Jazz / Comedy / Cabaret and stuff like that.
The Club Room has only been open since October 2025, and one of its first bookings was the “Chris Ingham Trio” performing their popular “The Jazz of Dudley Moore” set – an event that my London Shoes was fortunate to attend and capture via a Shoes’ blog.
So, with the Finsbury Park Picturehouse meeting the London Shoes criteria of being a lesser known London landmark – the reason for my return to the ‘Club Room’ last week was for the specific purpose of seeing the “Derek Nash Organ Trio” – and what a great event it was too.
The name “Derek Nash” may not be immediately familiar with the general public – but I would hazard a guess that the majority of folk, especially music fans such as myself, would have ‘seen’ Derek Nash at some stage on tv – as, for almost 20 years Derek has been an integral member of the “Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra” – touring and appearing many times on the popular ‘Later – With Jools Holland’ and ‘Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny’ tv programmes.
Derek Nash is a multi-talented jazz saxophonist / band leader / musical arranger / recording engineer & of course, recording artist. He has headed his own award-winning band ‘Sax Appeal’ for over 40yrs now – he also leads the Derek Nash Acoustic Quartet and the punk/fusion band Picante.
As a musical arranger, he has arranged big-band accompaniment for mega star artists such as Nile Rogers / Jamie Cullum / Van Morrison / Lulu / Gregory Porter / Chaka Kahn – and arranged 6 tracks on Rod Stewart-Jools Holland 2024 released No1 album “Swing Fever” – 2 of the tracks being the radio favourites “Pennies from Heaven” and “Almost like Being in Love”. Derek Nash is a valued member of the ‘Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion’ band – and has played regularly at the legendary Ronnie Scott’s Club venue, for over 20yrs now.
He has played with and toured with many of the rock/pop/jazz greats – a few examples being:- Sir Paul McCartney / Sir Rod Stewart / Eric Clapton / Alison Moyet / Roger Daltry / Tom jones / the late Amy Winehouse / Shirley Bassey / Shakatak / Jamie Cullum / the late George Melley / Annie Lennox / Solomon Burke / Georgie Fame / Eddie Floyd – plus many many more.
When not working with or supporting other artists, in the recording studio or on-the-road, Derek Nash often tours his own ‘The Wonder of Stevie Show’ – showcasing the work of Stevie Wonder – and in 2021 released his very own album ‘Some Kinda Wonderful-The Music of Stevie Wonder’.
So – last week, I returned a 2nd time to the ‘Club Room’ of the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ as I was fortunate to get tickets to see the ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ perform there,and what a great night of music it was too.
Backed by Pete Whittaker on organ – plus my good friend George Double (my former drum tutor from my 1990’s Hackney days), on drums – Derek / George / Pete – 3 extremely talented musicians – performed almost 2hrs of excellent and entertaining ‘live’ jazz / blues / funk / latin styles of music – all of which perfectly suited the ambiance and vibe of the newly opened ‘Club Room’ venue – and the performance was thoroughly enjoyed by all the audience.
A really good ‘music’ night out….proper quality – and I’m looking forward to catching Derek Nash performing ‘live’ again somewhere, and soon.
Anyway – having now attended 2 of its initial ‘live’ music events, (in my opinion) I envisage a good future for the Finsbury Park Picturehouse ‘Club Room’ venue. With the venue having only opened in mid Oct this year (2025), I fully appreciate that it’s still very early days to assess how successful the ‘Club Room’ will be – but with the right levels of promotion to the right audiences, and with artists of the calibre of Derek Nash performing there – the future of the Finsbury Park Picturehouse ‘Club Room’ looks promising.
Hope you enjoyed this London Shoes piece and its accompanying pics.
******************************************
See below the entire gallery of photos and images selected to accompany this London Shoes blog
The ‘Elm Tree of Life’ mosaic, a community art project -close to one of the Finsbury Park station entrances – and right next to the Finsbury Park Picturehouse.
The 2021 opened ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – a new style cinema set-up that opened that’s located in City North Place-Finsbury Park-London N4 – just down the road from the busy Finsbury Park station.
Me (& my London Shoes) – outside the entrance to the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – on a bitterly cold evening last week
Inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Promo’s on display for forthcoming ‘Club House’ events – inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Info about the interesting ‘Dale Lewis’ mural on display – inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
The ‘Dale Lewis’ mural on display inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
Inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
The ‘Club Room’ venue – inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
The promo for the ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ event – at the ‘Club Room’ inside the ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ – London N4
The name “Derek Nash” might not be immediately familiar with the great British public – but the majority of folk music fans such would have ‘seen’ Derek Nash at some stage on tv – as, for almost 20 years Derek has been an integral member of the “Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Orchestra” – touring and appearing many times on the popular tv progs ‘Later – With Jools Holland’ and ‘Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny’.
It was only as far back as the end of Oct 25 that my London Shoes saw Derek Nash ‘live’ when I went to see ‘Jools Holland’s & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra’ knock out a fantastic show at The Cliff’s Pavilion Southend-on-Sea Essex
The ‘Finsbury Park Picturehouse’ has its own “Club Room” a room within the venue that is set out with cabaret style seating and tables, where you can watch ‘live’ performances of Jazz / Comedy / Cabaret and stuff like that. The Club Room has only been open since October 2025
The bar of the ‘Club Room’ – inside the Finsbury Park Picturehouse
The stage of the ‘Club Room’ – prepared and waiting for the the ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ event
The amazing ‘Derek Nash’ performing with the Derek Nash Organ Trio on the ‘Club Room’ stage of the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – London N4
The ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ performing on the ‘Club Room’ stage of the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – London N4
The ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ performing on the ‘Club Room’ stage of the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – London N4
My good friend ‘George Double’ (my drum tutor from way back in the 1990’s) – on stage with the ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ – at the Finsbury Park ‘Club Room’ venue (Nov 2025)
‘Pete Whittaker’ on the ‘Club Room’ stage with the ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ – at the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – London N4
The amazingly talented ‘Derek Nash’ & ‘Pete Whittaker’ performing with the Derek Nash Organ Trio on the ‘Club Room’ stage of the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – London N4
My good friend ‘George Double’ on stage with the ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ – at the Finsbury Park ‘Club Room’ venue (Nov 2025
The ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ performing on the ‘Club Room’ stage of the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – London N4
My good friend ‘George Double’ on stage with the ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ – at the Finsbury Park ‘Club Room’ venue (Nov 2025
The ‘Derek Nash Organ Trio’ performing on the ‘Club Room’ stage of the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – London N4
Me+my good friend ‘George Double’ -‘post’ Derek Nash Organ Trio’ performance – on the ‘Club Room’ stage at the Finsbury Park Picturehouse
Me (& my London Shoes) enjoying a cheeky ‘gold watch’ or two at the ‘Club Room’ bar – of the Finsbury Park Picturehouse – having enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining evening of musical entertainment performed by the “Derek Nash Organ Trio”
You really have such a knowledge of all things music, you should write a book.
Nice blog Mr.Shoes👍
Yes, I’ve seen him a couple of times live with Jools Holland. A big part of the band, along with the much lamented Gilson Lavis who sadly died earlier this month. 🎶