Venue spotlight: 289
In this newly formed world where more clubs are closing than opening and clubbers might have to be double jabbed just to gain entry to them, we all need a bit of good news. Enter, 289.
As if east London couldn’t get any cooler. 289 is a 2400 square foot, 220-capacity venue, nestled into a Victorian railway arch, like all the best clubs invariably are. From the outside you’d be forgiven for not giving it a second glance – but that is merely a rouse. Inside, it’s pretty much the best spot in London for new, upcoming live music.
A stones’ throw from Victoria Park on one side and Hackney City Farm Yard on the other (this info isn’t really relevant – I just love a city farm), Space 289 has a premium location in the heart of London’s coolest borough, Hackney.
Having opened for business only this week, 289 has already welcomed the likes of James, ShyGirl, Bendik Giske, Ling Hussle, Dur Dur Band, Jessy Lanza & Ariwo through the door. It doesn’t stop there either, as 289 has managed to secure a pretty damn good line up for the last week of July. They’ll be live shows from Qendresa, Maxwell Sterling and RADA, as well as DJ sets from OK Williams and Silvia Kastel.
289 have taken to their website to explain their manifesto (something all the best clubs have): "Our aim is to reflect the true diversity of the UK’s music scene by creating an environment where established promoters take musical risks and new promotors have a space to cultivate ideas and grow."
"We are also in the process of setting up a community programme which will help young creatives from marginalised backgrounds to develop multidisciplinary art projects to help launch their careers."
Sounds pretty amazing to us. With the pandemic and all the seemingly endless lockdowns we’ve had to endure, it has become apparent that a club is more than just a place to drink, dance, and get off with each other; it’s also a place of community, a place of no judgment, where anyone can feel like they belong.
The venue itself boasts one room with an additional mezzanine for split level performance (so you have more of a chance of actually *seeing* whoever is performing), and an extensively soundproofed event space to deliver high impact operating levels.
289 have worked with some of the best promoters out there, including: Parallel Lines, Parasang, Threads Radio, Bodyhammer, Sisu, BabaYagasHut, Bird On The Wire, Sonar Sounds, Upset The Rhythm, ThirtyThreeThirtyThree and Serious Music. Space 289 also offer a range of live streaming and video production services through T.E.N. Studios, having worked with artists such as Funkineven, Skepta and Gaika.
For more info, check out 289 here.
(Credit: @SPACE289)
Words by Rebecca Clayton