XOYO Art Gallery / Bar / Live Music Venue

Shoreditch / Brick Lane, London –

Decked out with an exhibit space, bar, and graffiti-covered smoking balcony encircling the main performance hall, XOYO is a one-stop shop for concert junkies looking for a cultural fix.

The die-hard fans lining up every night don’t seem to notice the cold as they wait for the doors to open, distracted by the outgoing camaraderie of the other music lovers gearing up for the mad rush to the standing room spots in front of the elevated stage.

This den of rock attracts a diverse clientele, from excitable mosh-pitters to hypnotized body swayers flocking in to witness both live acts and high-energy DJ sets.

Once squeezed inside the intimate concert hall, the passionate crowd of grungy long-hairs and indie scenesters stares wide-eyed as their heroic band of choice performs, the sounds of unabashed sing-alongs rising above the head-bopping musos.

Those who need a break from the sweaty throws of musical elation can step out from the pandemonium and head upstairs to the low-key bar to down a few cheap beers and check out the action from the balcony.

Featuring everyone from international headliners to unearthed local discoveries, XOYO taps into the pulsating vein of the London live scene, making it a regular haunt for those who live and breathe music.