The Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London

Wikipedia

The Roundhouse is a performing arts and concert venue situated at the Grade II* listed former railway engine shed in Chalk Farm, London, England. The building was erected in 1846-1847 by the London & North Western Railway as a roundhouse, a circular building containing a railway turntable, but was used for that purpose for only about a decade. After being used as a warehouse for a number of years, the building fell into disuse just before World War II. It was first made a listed building in 1954.[1]

It reopened after 25 years, in 1964, as a performing arts venue, when the playwright Arnold Wesker established the Centre 42 Theatre Company and adapted the building as a theatre.[2] The large circular structure has hosted various promotions, such as the launch of the underground paper International Times in 1966,[3] one of only two UK appearances by The Doors with Jim Morrison in 1968,[4] and the Greasy Truckers Party in 1972.[5]

The Greater London Council ceded control of the building to Camden Council in 1983. By that time, Centre 42 had run out of funds and the building remained unused until a local businessman purchased the building in 1996 and performing arts shows returned. It was closed again in 2004 for a multi-million pound redevelopment. On 1 June 2006, the Argentine show Fuerzabruta opened at the new Roundhouse.[2]

Since 2006, the Roundhouse has hosted the BBC Electric Proms[6] and numerous iTunes Festivals,[7] as well as award ceremonies such as the BT Digital Music Awards[8] and the Vodafone Live Music Awards.[9] In 2009, Bob Dylan performed a concert, and iTunes promoted a music iTunes Festival, at the venue. In line with the continuing legacy of avant-garde productions, NoFit State Circus performed the show Tab˙ during which the audience were encouraged to move around the performance space.[10]

Extensive archive of articles, magazines and other from the Roxy gig and the pre-White Riot period

Archive - Topper joins - Snippets - UK articles / magazines - Fanzines - Audio / Video - 1977 General