Monday to
Saturday
8AM – 8PM
Sunday
9AM – 7PM
The Sidings,
Waterloo Station,
London SE1 7BH
Has Glastonbury got you in the mood for live music? Not managed to get your hands on any festival tickets? Feeling like the summer is going to be a musical void of nothingness?
Don’t worry there’s still plenty of ways to get a little bit of music back into your life and the South Bank has some of the best places in the city, not that we’re biased or anything…
Let’s start with one of the coolest and most relaxed nights near Waterloo – the Hidden Jazz Club in The Vaults. It’s a weekend based venue, so check before you head there, but go on a Friday after work and you’ll be set for great music, surrounded by a chilled out crowd.
The nights are organised by the artists, so you’ll get an authentic feel – prepare for a more organic and relaxed approach. It’s accessible for novices as well as the jazz nerd, so don’t be afraid to take a step inside!
The artists will range from established jazz veterans through to local artists but they all play fresh and differing styles of jazz, so you can expect a fun night regardless of who is on. There is plenty of room whilst it still feels like an intimate gig around a friend’s house.
Grab a drink and let the relaxed vibes transport you after a busy working week.
The South Bank Centre is the place for arts and culture around Waterloo and music is no different.
On any given night you might find some new artists that will be on radio once within a year through to legends like Grace Jones or Skunk Anansie, with everything in between.
The venue hosts nightclubs, traditional gigs and experimental music from around the world – I would challenge you to look at their gig list and not find something to your taste. If you prefer a more classical element to your music, not a problem. Reggae? Covered. Motown? Of course. R&B? Naturally.
With great places to eat, a good selection of bars and then heading to listen to the music, there is so much to love about popping down to the South Bank for a night out.
Fancy listening to some music whilst eating amazing Latin food? Of course you do, who wouldn’t? Sit down, dig into tapas, Barbacoa and Cuban street food whilst sipping on a Mojito or a cold beer.
They play host to a mixture of live bands and DJs, playing Cuban salsa and Latin tunes. Sit back and relax, the music is pitched just at the right level to enhance your evening. If you are looking for a meal with friends where music can make it different, this is a perfect option for you.
Equally, don’t be afraid to get up and dance, it’s highly recommended!
Ok, it’s another jazz place but it just happens to be one of the coolest pubs in Waterloo, around since 1979 and built into the railway arches.
Unlike the hidden jazz club, it’s not an intense affair, the jazz is very much the background music to a nice night out with friends whilst enjoying a strong steak menu and a long list of cocktails.
There is music every night, so unlike many of the venues on this list, you can just rock up and be guaranteed some tunes to chill out to.
I know what you are thinking, these are two venues and they don’t appear to be linked in any way. Correct, but…
We wanted to offer up a couple of unusual venues that are not exclusively for music but occasionally will have bands or music evenings and give you a totally different experience, which is where these two collide.
For both, you’ll need to be subscribed to see the updates or check in regularly but it’s worth it, just look at the backlog of gigs that have been on at House of Vans in the past as evidence.
Aures is an events space, located just a few minutes away from Waterloo. It describes itself as a blank canvas, which ‘connects and inspires people to achieve wellbeing through art, technology and immersive experiences.’ Live music events staged here will bring the latest technology for a full immersive experience – definitely not your average gig!
The Sidings is soon to be part of the lively South Bank scene, follow us on social media for updates.
