Music venues in east London

The one for... hipsters hanging with the hotly-tipped.

Since its launch in May this basement den has established itself as the first port for those who are big on the blogs. Booking uber-cool electronicists, scuzzy lo-fi bands and bedroom producers finally finding their way out the house, Birthdays swerve is defiantly left-of-centre and an excellent addition to the Dalston strip.

The one for… beats and bleeps.

This smart little venue, underneath the pleasant Three Crowns pub, used to be known as The Drop. It was relaunched by the team behind the Lock Tavern and The Shacklewell Arms in March 2012 as a forward-thinking electronic music venue with a mix of club nights and live shows from innovators including Daniel Avery, Four Tet and NZCA/Lines. And - bonus - it's not a shithole. Gigs are cheap, or sometimes free.

The one for... casual coolness.

While Birthdays is shiny and new, the Shacklewell is a gloriously scruffy alternative. It may lack Dyson Airblades in the loo, but this boozer-cum-venue has a relaxed vibe with a booking policy to die for. Everyone from The Horrors to Skrillex has played there, and the annual Nail The Cross two-dayer is a cauldron for acts on the grow.

The one for... getting freaky, dude.

You’ll see a fair few beards and top-knots at Power Lunches, but if you can’t do the Hackney wildman look fear not: this black-and-white bar/cafe offers a warm welcome, a bite to eat and a packed gig calendar to anyone with a penchant for the heavy and psychedelic.

The one for... artists and aging locals alike.

There are two popular East End Victorias, so make sure you stumble into the Dalston one (as opposed to Mile End). At this one you can sidle up for pool alongside old men tucking into a fish and Jollof rice supper, then, through the door at the back, catch trendy punk and indie acts.

The one for... decadence – and dinner.

Alias, 'Hipsteria’, but don’t let that put you off. This venue, formerly The Junction Room, reopened in January as a comfy-but-elegant live music bar. Most customers descend to the recently opened ‘dungeon’ for appealingly sleazy club nights, but stick around upstairs for cutting-edge bands and tasty pizza.