Sweaty Ceilings, the new book campaigning to save London’s independent music venues.
Sweaty Ceilings is a celebration of London’s grassroots music venues featuring The Windmill, 100 Club, Roundhouse, Moth Club, Koko, New River Studios, Cafe Oto and many more. These are places that have not only created an environment for young musicians to cut their teeth, but have also formed communities, shaped genres and created a significant cultural impact.
The book will feature 30 venues, and each chapter will be penned by a different music journalist, including John Doran (The Quietus), Will Richards (Rolling Stone), Kate Solomon, Jen Long and many more. The book will also include interviews with bookers, artists and other key figures in the music industry, which will sit alongside archive photography, original illustrations and posters. The purpose of the book is to celebrate these vital spaces, and raise awareness of why grassroots venues are so crucial to the career of musicians, and to the culture of London as a whole.
Starting its series in London, the book will go behind-the-scenes of 30 landmark venues, showcasing interviews and stories from writers, musicians and cultural figureheads, all of whom shed light on the venues’ history and cultural importance. It will also include an additional spotlight feature on venues that have closed down.
Sweaty Ceilings is spearheaded by Sophie Mo, a multidisciplinary artist and designer (Abrams, Laurence King Publishing, Little White Lies) and Tash Cutts, an Independent Music Manager working with Squid, Mandy, Indiana, Jerkcurb and more. The book will be published by David Dunn of D&B Books, and edited by Anna Conrad.
Starting its series in London, the book will go behind-the-scenes of 30 landmark venues, showcasing interviews and stories from writers, musicians and cultural figureheads, all of whom shed light on the venues’ history and cultural importance. It will also include an additional spotlight feature on venues that have closed down.
Sweaty Ceilings is spearheaded by Sophie Mo, a multidisciplinary artist and designer (Abrams, Laurence King Publishing, Little White Lies) and Tash Cutts, an Independent Music Manager working with Squid, Mandy, Indiana, Jerkcurb and more. The book will be published by David Dunn of D&B Books, and edited by Anna Conrad.
Importantly, we are working on this in conjunction with the Music Venue Trust - a UK charity that protects, secures and improves grassroots music venues - and £5 from the sale of each book will go directly
to them.
Sweaty Ceilings will feature exclusive interviews with musicians, bookers, photographers and many more. Additionally there will be a dedicated foreward written by The Libertines’ Carl Barât.
Felix White, of the Maccabees and 86TVs, said, “There will never be a better or more important time to document and celebrate independent venues across London. Even reading the list of the featured venues for Sweaty Ceilings is like a flashback of meeting lifelong friends, or seeing all kinds of special bands for the first time. I’m sure every music fan will feel the same.”
to them.
Sweaty Ceilings will feature exclusive interviews with musicians, bookers, photographers and many more. Additionally there will be a dedicated foreward written by The Libertines’ Carl Barât.
Felix White, of the Maccabees and 86TVs, said, “There will never be a better or more important time to document and celebrate independent venues across London. Even reading the list of the featured venues for Sweaty Ceilings is like a flashback of meeting lifelong friends, or seeing all kinds of special bands for the first time. I’m sure every music fan will feel the same.”
Music fans are encouraged to send their favourite venue stories, and photos of any gig memorabilia to archives@sweatyceilings.live which will be collated for the book.
Sweaty Ceilings will be available to pre-order via Indiegogo here.
Funds will go towards the creation and printing of the book, and also to the Music Venue Trust charity.