A Guide to Hackney's Music Scene and Nightlife

Hackney is definitely the place to go if you are after alternative music and a good night out. From live music venues to pubs and clubs, the area has something for everyone. Here are some recommendations

Hackney's legendary MOTH Club

• Colour Factory, situated in Hackney Wick, is a nightclub and live music venue, and a self proclaimed culturally diverse and inclusive venue in which everybody is welcome. Expect a variety of music and events here. This popular nightlife venue can hold up to 1200 people, hosting live music and club night events. It might be surprising to know that just five years ago this site was a storehouse owned by CRATE Brewery, and five years before that was just a garage. The site has been championing black voices in the nightlife economy as one of, if not the, largest black-owned venues in London. They have been advocating for more representation from Caribbean and other diasporic communities through the events they host, like working with Jumbi Peckham with a Creative Legacy Grant 2024, offering support, mentorship, and  £1,000 in funding to two creatives to curate an event with the teams.

  
  

• The Shacklewell Arms, situated in Shacklewell Lane is a small pub and music venue which hosts small artists (although occasionally has hosted gigs by artists like Solange and Daft Punk!). The pub is perfect for those that want to listen to post-punk and alternative music as well as those who want a club night with Disco Music Tunes, 80s New Wave hits and danceable post punk, electro, synthpop and counter-cultural dancefloor sounds.

  
  

• MOTH Club is another great venue to go to small gigs and great Club nights with post-punk, disco, and alternative music. Situated in Hackney Central, the venue also occasionally hosts Comedy nights and has a fascinating history behind the venue reflecting the rich cultural and migratory history of the area. You’ll see from the sign on the front that it was formerly the General Browning Club for The Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTH), which was established in South Africa in 1927 as a members’ club for military veterans, and it wasn’t until 1972 that the Hackney headquarters opened.

  
  

• Urchin Studio: Although not a music venue, Urchin Studio is a recording studio for anyone in the area that wants to record music, regardless of background. Established in 2007, the team first ventured into Limehouse, but moved to the Laundry Building in Hackney in 2012 for a more elevated space. They had to relocate once again in 2020, when planning permissions were granted to tear down the Laundry Building to build luxury flats instead evidencing the consequences of gentrification. The studio has worked with big names including Flume, Bon Iver, Maisie Peters, and FKA Twigs, as well as with labels like UMG, Warner Music, Sony music, and the BBC.