Live music and comedy in Clapham
A trade union pub with a stage, a vinyl bar with a band most nights, a Victorian music hall and free stand-up on a Wednesday. Where to hear and laugh in Clapham.
By Clapham London Editorial
For live music in Clapham, go to the Bread & Roses on Clapham Manor Street for new bands, Venn Street Records for a band with your cocktails, and the Grand on St John's Hill for the big touring names. For comedy, the free Wednesday and Thursday shows at The Railway on the High Street are the best-value laugh in SW4. Here is the full line-up, venue by venue.
Live music
The Bread & Roses, 68 Clapham Manor Street
The Bread & Roses is the grassroots heart of the scene. It is a free house owned by the Battersea and Wandsworth Trade Union Council and run by the Workers Beer Company, and since opening in 1996 it has given a stage to emerging artists, touring musicians and theatre-makers. The name comes from the song of the 1912 strike by women textile workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The calendar mixes live music, theatre, comedy and sport, from hip hop and women-led band nights to live band karaoke, where the band knows hundreds of songs and you take the mic.
It opens from 3pm Monday to Thursday, 4pm on Friday and noon at weekends. Check the what's on page, as many gigs start at 7.30pm.
Venn Street Records, 78 Venn Street
Venn Street Records is a two-floor, vinyl-themed bar with a stage. Live sets and DJs run most nights, from soul and acoustic duos to indie DJ parties, usually starting around 9pm or 10pm. It is open until 2am Thursday to Saturday. Book a table at weekends.
Northcote Records, 8-10 Northcote Road
Over in SW11, Northcote Records is the sister bar, with live music six nights a week according to DesignMyNight, plus a garden and pizzas. It is open until 1am on Fridays and 2am on Saturdays.
The Clapham Grand, 21-25 St John's Hill
The Grand is the big room. Built as a variety theatre in 1900 and a live music venue since the early 1990s, it has hosted The Kinks, Chuck Berry, Oasis and Muse. Today it books touring artists, tribute nights and club nights alongside comedy and cabaret. Tickets go through the Grand's site, and the box office is on 020 7223 6523.
The bandstand on the Common
In summer, the Victorian bandstand on Clapham Common hosts a music programme organised by CCMAC, according to Lambeth Council. Bring a blanket, find a spot on the grass and check the programme before you go.
Comedy
Comedy Bandits at The Railway, 18 Clapham High Street
The Railway hosts Comedy Bandits on Wednesday and Thursday nights, and those shows are free to watch, though it is best to reserve a seat in advance. On the last Friday of the month there is the bigger Most Wanted show: doors at 7.30pm, show at 8pm, tickets from £13.20. All shows are 18 and over.
Comedy at the Bread & Roses
The Bread & Roses has a comedy strand in its calendar and a theatre space, which has hosted the Clapham Comedy Club, including work-in-progress shows from well-known names. Filter the pub's what's on page by comedy to see what is coming up.
Comedy at the Grand
The Grand puts on stand-up, cabaret and drag shows through the year, from big names to themed nights. These sell out, so book as soon as you see a name you like.
Theatre with a laugh
Omnibus Theatre at 1 Clapham Common Northside programmes new plays, Shakespeare remixed and comedians trying out new material, with evening shows usually at 7.30pm. Its cafe and bar opens daily from 9am. Over on Lavender Hill, Battersea Arts Centre mixes theatre, circus, magic and family shows, and its box office is on 020 7223 2223.
Choosing your night
Want to discover a new band before everyone else? The Bread & Roses. Want a band in the corner while you talk over cocktails? Venn Street Records or Northcote Records. Want to sing along with a room full of strangers? The Grand. And if you want to laugh without spending a penny on the ticket, it is The Railway midweek.
A week of nights out
- Monday: 2-for-1 cocktails from 5pm at Venn Street Records.
- Wednesday: free comedy at The Railway.
- Thursday: a band at the Bread & Roses.
- Friday: a gig or club night at the Grand.
- Saturday: live sets at Venn Street Records until 2am.
- Summer Sunday: music at the bandstand on the Common.
Good to know
Most comedy is 18 and over, so bring ID. Free shows still fill up, so reserve where you can. Grassroots venues like the Bread & Roses live on ticket sales and the bar, so buy a drink and tell your friends. And check times on the day: line-ups change, and the best nights in Clapham are often the ones announced last.
