Find out about the latest gigs, club nights and goings on at Village Underground and get involved in all the action.
In a nutshell…
It’s one of the coolest venues in east London – even if it isn’t technically underground.
Where is it?
On Holywell Lane in the middle of Shoreditch. Catch a glimpse of the rooftop studios, made of old tube carriages, as you pull into Shoreditch Overground station.
What’s the vibe?
When it opened in 2007, this converted Victorian warehouse was basically the most Shoreditch thing that had ever happened. The owners commissioned graffiti murals, put those tube carriages on the roof and stripped the interior back to its bare bones. Exposed-brick enthusiasts, feast your eyes.
© Chiara Melchior
What makes it a great venue?
It’s the venue of choice for cutting-edge electronica, hip hop, indie and dance. Established acts come here to let loose (Alicia Keys played a surprise gig last week) and test the waters (James Blake debuted material from his new album here), while rookies take that crucial step up from the bar circuit.
What’s the booze situation?
There’s a bar stocked with the usual wine, spirits, craft beer and soft drinks.
Finally: what’s the most unexpected thing ever to happen on a night there?
Electro artist Dan Deacon once made all 700 punters form a ‘human tunnel’ around the entire site. It began inside, spilled out on to Holywell Lane and turned the corner on to Great Eastern Street – with Deacon playing all the while.
Previously: So you’ve never been to… Union Chapel?