Tooting's getting a new music venue thanks to a £12k crowdfunding campaign

There's good news for London's live music scene to kick off 2017. A crowdfunding campaign to raise money for a new, independent music venue in Tooting raised over £12,000 in just over a month.

From Friday January 27, The Sound Lounge in Upper Tooting Road will be open seven days a week as a music venue, arts centre and vegetarian café.

Husband and wife co-founders Keiron Marshall and Hannah White took on the project in June 2016, with the aim of providing a bigger space for their regular music sessions promoting unsigned artists and emerging bands, which they previously held in a tiny venue in Colliers Wood. 

'I think what we can bring to Tooting is not only a really high quality arts and music venue, but also a space for the community,' said Keiron. He added: 'It’s not just for the hipsters or the young people – it’s for all ages, including children and young families.'

South-west Londoners rallied to support The Sound Lounge, including Tooting MP Dr Rosena Allin-Kahn.

Not only that, Night Czar Amy Lamé showed her appreciation of the fundraising success.

Co-founder Hannah said they were still 'quite shocked' at the response to the campaign. She said: 'It wasn’t just the money either – we were contacted by a PR consultant, a brand management company, a signwriter, and so many more people who just wanted to get involved and offer something to help make it all come together.'

After a series of painful venue closures in 2016, this new opening offers hope for London's live music fans going into 2017.

Photo: The Sound Lounge/twitter

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