Madness at the Electric Ballroom

BOMBS falling at the height of the Blitz did not stop the music on stage at Camden Town’s famous Electric Ballroom. And now the venue – which opened in 1938 – is readying itself to get crowds back in and safeguard the future of the iconic stage in Camden High Street.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, it had missed only one Saturday night in its proud 82-year history – the night of the “Camden Fire” in 2008 – but Covid forced it to close its doors and now it faces a number of challenges.

Owner Kate Fuller, whose father Bill founded the venue as an Irish dancehall, said a major issue in recent years has been soaring business rates, which have increased by 50 per cent over the past decade.

“Because of the rates, many places were already struggling before last year. It has become an astronomical amount for us to pay out,” she said.

The Electric Ballroom has staged gigs from some of music history’s biggest names including Sir Paul McCartney, Prince, U2 and, of course, Madness. But she said the past year had illustrated how precarious the entertainment and hospitality sectors can be.

Ms Fuller said: “This is an iconic music venue, and one of the last of its type left in London. They are closing all the time and we are lucky to still be here. We need these landmarks – or you’ll be left with chain shops and chain pubs and nothing in between.”

Ms Fuller told the New Journal of the relationship between her venue and other businesses.

She said: “It is all interconnected. It is clear when bands are playing here, everyone around – the pubs, restaurants, shops – benefit. So being able to hear live music has an effect on everyone. Koko is closed at the moment, and Proud, which was also a big venue, has gone. They were places people would come to Camden for.”

Harry Styles meets owner Kate Fuller after a gig in Camden Town

With no income to pay ongoing costs and meet commitments, the Ballroom received a grant from the Arts Council of around £200,000.

Ms Fuller said: “We did get help, but it went straight out on bills. “The venue was closed but we still had commitments to meet.” The first lockdown last year coincided with what is normally a packed schedule. She said: “Summer is not always the best time because people are away at festivals – but when lockdown hit in March, we were really busy. We had done Christmas, then after February it really becomes our busiest time.” The Ballroom launched a summer series called the Back Yard Ballroom, which saw DJs play to groups who were socially distanced. But while it was nice to be open, and welcome staff back, the events were run to just cover costs, she added.

Ms Fuller said: “We had 200 people inside a 1,500-capacity venue. Do the maths.”

The Ballroom will re-open later this month for socially distanced shows inside. And Ms Fuller believes that the use of Covid tests could help venues like hers.

She said: “We would be interested if there was a way someone who buys a ticket has to present proof of a negative test for the 24 hours before they come, so we can run at capacity again. I just want to get live music back up and running, and see people return.”

The Music Venue Trust became the focus for venues and councils to collaborate, and lobbied central government to stop a wave of permanent closures.

The charity’s chief executive, Mark Davyd, believes the importance of the sector has been recognised over the past 12 months. He said: “While this is good news, there is a lot of work to be done. Venues will need continued support with such areas as health protocols. We need to look at what damage has been done and how to tackle it.”

This venue means so much to London

By SUGGS, guest editor

THE Ballroom is a cornerstone of Camden, a landmark in London. We played there a lot. I remember a gig once with Echo and the Bunnymen – it was a massive clash of haircuts. There was a booker called John Kird who ran a firm called Straight Music.

He took a shine to us, gave us a few breaks. That was a big gig for us. We had been playing pubs until then.

It has served for 82 years, is something that should be acknowledged and protected.

The role live music can play in getting the borough back on its feet, the city up and running again, should not be underestimated – and the Ballroom is one of the places this happens.