Live music in Camden

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Time Out's guide to the hottest live music venues in Camden

Camden has more than its fair share of iconic music venues. Roundhouse hosted Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix, and Koko (formerly Camden Palace) was the home of Britpop. But the best gigs in Camden are the up-and-coming bands on the small pub stages at places like Barfly. The live music scene is thriving here, and we'll show you the best places to catch gigs in Camden.

Roundhouse
Chalk Farm Rd, London, NW1 8EH (0844 482 8008/ www.roundhouse.org).
A one-time railway turntable shed, the Roundhouse was used for experimental theatre and hippie happenings in the 1960s before becoming a rock venue in the '70s.
See Roundhouse venue details
The Underworld
174 Camden High St, NW1 0NE (7482 1932/ www.theunderworldcamden.co.uk).
A dingy maze of pillars and bars below Camden, this subterranean oddity is an essential for metal and hardcore fans.
See The Underworld venue details
Koko
1a Camden High St, London, NW1 7JE
It's come a long way and survived numerous name changes since it first opened its doors on Boxing Day 1890, but this ornate, Grade II-listed venue relaunched in the late ’80s and has never looked back, despite closing its doors for major refurbishment in 2004.
See Koko venue details
Jazz Café
5-7 Parkway, London, NW1 7PG
A recent spruce up (new seat covers, lick of paint) has given this venue, formerly a Barclays Bank, a fresh face without changing its layout, or informal atmosphere.
See Jazz Café venue details
Electric Ballroom
184 Camden High St, London, NW1 8QP
Still shamelessly dining out on its place in Camden's music history, Electric Ballroom likes nothing better than to revel in the roll-call of rockers that have graced the venue: Sid Vicious, U2, The Clash, Red Hot Chili Peppers… the list is indeed impressive.
See Electric Ballroom venue details
Barfly
49 Chalk Farm Rd, London, NW1 8AN
It's no exaggeration to describe this corner venue as an institution, since it's welcomed across the threshold of its rather shabby upstairs room early London appearances by Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Futureheads and The Vines, among countless others.
See Barfly venue details
The Enterprise
2 Haverstock Hill, London, NW3 2BL
Describing itself as 'the one and only true pub left in Camden', this warm (there's a fire in winter), dark wood-dominated, shabbily chic venue is frequently packed.
See The Enterprise venue details
Dingwalls (Lock 17)
Middle Yard, Camden Lock, NW1 8AB (7428 0010/ www.dingwalls.com).
Bringing Camden the delights of guitar music since 1973, this venue in Camden Lock might largely put on bands that tend towards the lesser known, but they still manage to pull off the odd coup.
See Dingwalls (Lock 17) venue details