Koko (music venue) facts for kids
Exterior pictured in 2016
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| Former names |
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| Location | Camden Town London, NW1 England |
| Coordinates | 51°32′05″N 0°08′18″W / 51.534722°N 0.138333°W |
| Public transit |  Mornington Crescent |
| Owner | The Mint Group |
| Type | Music venue |
| Capacity | 1,500 |
| Current use | Music venue |
| Construction | |
| Renovated | 2004 |
| Architect | W. G. R. Sprague |
| Website | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Camden Palace Theatre | |
| Designated: | 28 June 1972 |
| Reference #: | 1272425 |
Koko (also written as KOKO) is a famous concert venue and former theatre in Camden Town, London. It was once known as The Music Machine and Camden Palace.
The building was called Camden Palace from 1982 until 2004. Then, Oliver Bengough and Mint Entertainment bought it. They did a lot of work to fix it up. After this big renovation, the venue was renamed Koko. It is now one of London's top places for live music.
On January 6, 2020, a large fire broke out in the building. Luckily, it was fixed and reopened.
Contents
Koko's History
Early Years: Theatre and Cinema (1900–1945)
The Camden Theatre first opened on Boxing Day in 1900. It was a very large theatre for London, outside of the main West End area. It could hold 2,434 people. The theatre was designed by a famous architect named W. G. R. Sprague. A well-known actress, Ellen Terry, helped open the theatre. She had lived nearby when she was a child.
A local newspaper, the St Pancras Gazette, wrote about the theatre in 1901. They said the theatre showed plays and operas with great quality. They felt it was as good as any theatre in the West End. The theatre aimed to show only the best works that critics and the public loved.
On December 6, 1909, the theatre reopened as a variety theatre. It was then called the Camden Hippodrome Theatre. A variety theatre showed many different acts, like music, comedy, and dance. By 1911, films were also shown as part of the shows. In January 1913, it became a full-time cinema. It was known as the Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre. In 1928, a big cinema company called Gaumont British bought the theatre.
BBC Studio Days (1945–1972)
The building was closed during World War II. It survived because the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) took it over in 1945. They used it as a radio and recording studio. The BBC continued to use the old theatre until the early 1970s.
One of the first weekly shows broadcast live from here was The Richard Tauber Programme. This show ran from 1945 to 1947. Later, famous shows like The Goon Show were recorded there. The first album for Monty Python's Flying Circus was also recorded here in 1970.
After the BBC left in 1972, the building was empty for a few years. There were even plans to tear it down. But in late 1972, it was given a special protection status. This meant it was a Grade II listed building because of its important architecture.
The Music Machine Era (1977–1982)
In 1977, the building reopened as a live music venue. It was named The Music Machine. This venue was the main setting for a 1979 disco dance film also called The Music Machine.
The venue was very popular with new wave and punk bands. Many famous groups played concerts there. These included The Boomtown Rats, The Clash, and The Jam.
Camden Palace Years (1982–2004)
In 1982, the venue was renamed Camden Palace. During this time, it hosted a weekly rock night called "Feet First." This was where Madonna had her very first performance in the UK.
After the early 1980s, the Camden Palace became famous for different types of dance music. It played early 1980s dance and new wave club music from New York City. It also had a pioneering early house music night called "Delerium." This night started in 1987.
Prince performed at the Camden Palace in 1988 during his Lovesexy Tour. Ronnie Wood from The Rolling Stones joined him as a guest guitarist. Prince later held an after-party there and played more songs. He even performed full concerts at the club in later years. The band Hüsker Dü played their first show outside the US here in 1985.
In the early 1990s, the Camden Palace became a key place for the growing rave music scene. This was from 1989 to 1992. DJs like John Saunderson and Chris Paul played there. Early live performances included The Prodigy and N-Joi. Live bands continued to play, such as Blur and Cardiacs.
Later in the 1990s, the venue was known for weekly rave events. It had UV lights, a great sound system, and rave decorations. During this time, a famous weekly house/acid house event called "Clockwork Orange" was held on Saturdays. Another popular event was "Peach," which played house and trance music. These events ran until the Camden Palace closed in 2004.
Modern Koko: Restoration and Relaunch (2004–2020)
By 2004, the Camden Palace was old and not being used much. That year, Oliver Bengough and his company Mint Entertainment bought it. Bengough saw how special the theatre was. He started a multi-million-pound project to fix it up. This restoration took more than six months.
The work included adding all new sound and lighting equipment. This allowed the venue to host many different events. These included live concerts, club nights, company events, and even TV shows. The Daily Telegraph newspaper said the new inside of the building and its historic outside made any concert feel grand.
In the 2010s, some of the old events from the Camden Palace returned. This included reunion nights for "Peach" and "Clockwork Orange."
Fire and Reopening (2020–Present)
A large fire broke out at the building on January 6, 2020. This happened while renovation work was being done. About 60 firefighters and eight fire engines came to put out the blaze. The fire was under control by early morning. The cause of the fire was not known. The damage seemed to be mostly to the roof of the building.
After another multi-million-pound renovation, Koko reopened in April 2022. The first concert featured the band Arcade Fire. They played to celebrate the release of their new album, We.
Koko's Green Efforts
Since the 2004 restoration, Koko has worked hard to be environmentally friendly. They won an award for Environmental Excellence in Camden. This was for their great work in managing waste and recycling. The venue has been praised for its staff's efforts to recycle 95% of their waste. This is a big achievement for an events and entertainment venue. They also use recycled materials inside the building.
Here are some key ways Koko helps the environment:
- They recycle paper and cardboard, including flyers.
- They recycle about 30,960 glass bottles, 20,088 aluminum cans, and 77,166 plastic cups every month.
- They replaced 982 light bulbs with energy-saving ones.
- They are working with 'The Carbon Trust' to reduce their carbon emissions. By using a green energy supplier, Koko aims to stop 520 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) from going into the air each year.
- Koko produces about 310.809 tonnes of CO2 each year. To help with this, they work with Solar Aid. This group provides solar lanterns to developing countries. This helps to balance out Koko's carbon footprint.
Famous Events and Performers
Many famous artists have performed at Koko throughout its history.
On March 19, 1964, The Rolling Stones performed at the venue. On March 10, 1970, The Faces played there. On April 30, 1972, the theatre hosted the reunion episode of The Goon Show, called The Last Goon Show of All. Several members of the British royal family attended this special episode, which was filmed and recorded.
On March 2, 1978, The Jam performed. This concert was recorded and later released as part of a box set.
From July 24-26, 1978, The Clash performed. These concerts were recorded for the 1978 movie Rude Boy (film).
On September 10, 1979, the heavy metal band Iron Maiden played a gig at The Music Machine.
On November 14, 1980, The Music Machine hosted a memorable gig by the band the Chords. After this show, the band's lead singer, Billy Hassett, left the group.
In 1985, Steve Marriott performed with his band Packet Of Three.
The electronic band You You You played their first concert at the Camden Palace on January 13, 1987. They called their first shows 'Stage 1' of their 'World Domination Tour'. Their show at the Camden Palace attracted over 1,000 people. This was on what was likely England's coldest night of the 20th Century.
In 2005, a year after its restoration, Coldplay chose Koko to launch their album X&Y. Later that year, Madonna also launched her album Confessions on a Dance Floor at Koko.
In 2006, Elton John hosted a benefit party at Koko for his AIDS Charity. Famous people like Natalie Imbruglia, Elle Macpherson, Jade Jagger, and Kevin Spacey attended.
Prince performed a secret show at Koko in 2007. This was his first UK show in over 10 years. The American band My Chemical Romance also played a private show at Koko in 2007. This was hosted by BBC Radio 1. Later in 2007, The Disney Channel used Koko to host Hannah Montana: Live in London. This was a special event broadcast globally for her fans.
In 2008, Siouxsie Sioux recorded a live DVD at Koko. It was called Finale: The Last Mantaray & More Show.
In 2009, Koko hosted the iTunes festival. This festival lasted over 30 nights. It featured guests like N.E.R.D, Paul Weller, James Blunt, Calvin Harris, and Dizzee Rascal. Over 45,000 people attended.
In 2010, Koko also hosted a fundraiser for the Institute of Contemporary Arts. It featured performances by Lily Allen and Bryan Ferry. Famous artists and designers like Vivienne Westwood, Damien Hirst, and Tracey Emin attended.
Since its restoration, Koko has attracted many well-known musicians and DJs. These include: The Damned, Terrorvision, Al Murray, Don Broco, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Christina Aguilera, Tori Kelly, Katy B, Emma Marrone, Oasis, Bruno Mars, Thom Yorke, Amy Winehouse, La Roux, James Marriott, Skrillex, Lady Gaga, The Killers, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Tokio Hotel, Poppy, Demi Lovato, Usher, Noel Gallagher, Wargasm, Swedish House Mafia, JoJo, Azealia Banks, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, and many others.
In 2017, Ed Sheeran performed a private concert. This was to promote his album ÷. It was in partnership with UK radio station Capital FM. Ariana Grande also performed in September 2018 to promote her album, Sweetener.
