Electric Ballroom Concert Venue

The Electric Ballroom, one of London’s most revered rock music venues, opened in the 1930s when owner Bill Fuller bought it and opened it as The Buffalo Club. In 1941, the club and the surrounding area were destroyed in the WWII bombings. This served to be a blessing in disguise for the venue because Fuller was able to purchase more space and rebuild The Buffalo Club. The new venue featured a ballroom that provided room for up to 2,000 people.

In the 1960s, Fuller expanded his ballroom franchise and opened a chain of venues around the world. He renamed most of them, including the Buffalo Room, which he then called the Carousel.

As the 1970s approached, musicians got wind of the club’s wide-open space and began using it as a rehearsal area. Some of these bands include Paul McCartney’s Wings and Led Zepplin.

In 1978 the venue took on its current form as a premier rock venue and was renamed the Electric Ballroom. It was shut down for a brief period of nine months as a result of noise complaints but opened again in 1979. Since then, it has been a challenge to stay open due to the London Transportation Department’s attempt to demolish the property in order to redevelop the Camden Tube Station. Musicians were able to help keep the Electric Ballroom safe but it’s not clear what the future has in store for the venue, as legislation continues to be drafted to advance transportation development plans.

The Electric Ballroom is two stories tall, and accommodates two dance floors and four bars. The stage is located on the ground floor. Performances at the Electric Ballroom include a long list of A-list rockers such as The Clash, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blur and The Smiths.