The Buffalo Bar
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Coord|51.546074|-0.103393|display=title}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = The Buffalo Bar
| image = Buffalo Bar exterior.jpg
| location = 259 Upper Street,
Islington
London, {{postcode|N|1}}
United Kingdom
| opened = April 2000
| closed = December 2014
| capacity = 300
}}
The Buffalo Bar was a music and arts venue located at 259 Upper Street, Highbury Corner, Islington, from 2000 until 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/news-buffalo-bar-to-close-its-doors/|title=NEWS: Buffalo Bar to Close its Doors|website=Faroutmagazine.co.uk|date=13 November 2014}}
History
The venue was situated beneath The Famous Cock Tavern, adjacent to Highbury & Islington station. The basement at 259 Upper Street had previously been a branch of Po Na Na nightclub,{{cite web|url=http://www.uklodging.com/clubs.php|title=UK Lodging – Clubs – Accommodation and Hostels in London|website=Uklodging.com}} and before that, Club Down Under.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allinlondon.co.uk/clubs_bars/venue-1691.php|title=The Famous Cock Tavern, 259 Upper Street, Islington, London, N1 1RU - London Public Houses & Inns - All in London|website=AllinLondon.co.uk|access-date=23 February 2020}} The Buffalo Bar opened in 2000 and hosted performances by a large number of notable alternative and indie rock artists. Image:Bis Buffalo Bar.jpg performing at the Buffalo Bar in 2012.]]
As well as live concerts the venue hosted a number of club nights, including The Cave Club,{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/the-cave-club-13|title=The Cave Club|work=Time Out|access-date=18 February 2017}} Great Big Kiss,{{Cite web|url=https://www.soul-source.co.uk/soulforum/calendar/event/37102-great-big-kiss-in-london/|title=Great Big Kiss in London|website=Soul-source.co.uk}} Afro Cuban Lounge,{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/afro-cuban-lounge-4|title=Afro-Cuban Lounge at Buffalo Bar – Freestyle and global beats|work=Time Out|access-date=18 February 2017}} How Does It Feel to Be Loved?,{{cite web|url=http://www.howdoesitfeel.co.uk/hdifatbuffalobar.html|title=HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE LOVED? returns to the Buffalo Bar|publisher=How Does It Feel To be Loved|access-date=18 February 2017}} Twee As Fuck,{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/live/twee-as-fck-finale|title=Twee As F*ck Finale|website=Clash Magazine|date=24 November 2009 |access-date=23 February 2020}} Artrocker,{{cite web|url=http://artrockermagazine.com/a-short-history-of-artrocker-live/|title=A short history of Artrocker LIVE… |website=Artrockermagazine.com|access-date=23 February 2020}} Guided Missile{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/guided-missile|title=Guided Missile at Buffalo Bar – House, electro and techno|website=Timeout.com|access-date=23 February 2020}} and Indieoke.{{cite web|url=https://www.allinlondon.co.uk/whats-on.php?event=49502|title=indieoke at Buffalo Bars, Buffalo Bars – Club & Bar Night|website=Allinlondon.co.uk|access-date=23 February 2020}}
Image:The_Maccabees_at_Buffalo_Bar_-_January,_2006.jpg at Artrocker Festival, Buffalo Bar, 2006]]
Notable artists that played the Buffalo bar include: The Libertines, Keane, Hot Chip, Bloc Party, The Kooks, Art Brut, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Friendly Fires, Two Door Cinema Club, Martha Wainwright, Stereolab, Futureheads, Bombay Bicycle Club, the Long Blondes, the Magic Numbers, Ed Harcourt, the Zutons, Oneida, Part Chimp, Electrelane, and the Joy Formidable,{{cite web|url=http://www.islingtontribune.com/news/2014/nov/5000-sign-petition-save-highbury-corner-music-bar-hosted-libertines-and-subways|title=5,000 sign petition to save Highbury Corner music bar that hosted The Libertines and Subways|work=Islington Tribune|first=Andrew|last=Johnson|date=22 November 2014|access-date=18 February 2017}} as well as others including the Horrors, Foals, Fiery Furnaces, Maxïmo Park, the Brian Jonestown Massacre, the Duke Spirit, We Are The Physics, Hope of the States, Animal Collective, Emmy the Great, Bis, the Maccabees, Jack Rose, Josh T. Pearson, Larrikin Love, Desperate Journalist, High Llamas, the Organ, Sleaford Mods, Thee Faction, Male Bonding, Colour Me Wednesday, Chris T-T, T.V. Smith, Spearmint, the Popguns, Shrag, Savages, the Tuts, Factory Floor, Fat White Family, These New Puritans, the Nightingales, the Wolfhounds, the Cravats, the Homosexuals, KaitO, Victorian English Gentlemens Club, Zombina and the Skeletones, Pink Grease, Tiny Masters of Today, Blood Arm, Frank Turner, Scout Niblett, Jon Langford, the Featherz, Poppy and the Jezebels, Yummy Fur, Country Teasers, the Lovely Eggs, Future of the Left, Blood Red Shoes, Joanne Joanne, the Art Goblins and Keith Top of the Pops & His Minor UK Indie Celebrity All-Star Backing Band.{{cite web|url=http://www.songkick.com/venues/17747-buffalo-bar/gigography|title=Buffalo Bar London Gigography, Concert History, Past Events|publisher=Songkick|access-date=18 February 2017}} Promotional videos were also filmed at the venue including for Electric Eel Shock, Comet Gain and the Ethical Debating Society.
Closure
In November 2014, the Buffalo Bar announced that its lease had been terminated and the club would therefore be forced to close at New Year. A petition to save the venue garnered over 5500 signatures,{{cite web|url=http://stjohnstreet.co.uk/end-of-an-era-buffalo-bar-staff-touched-by-support/|title=End of an era? Buffalo Bar staff touched by support|publisher=St John Street News|date=6 December 2014|access-date=18 February 2017}} the support of bands such as The National,{{cite web|url=http://thequietus.com/articles/16947-buffalo-bar-closing-down-interview|title=Buffalo Bar: A Farewell To Highbury Venue|publisher=The Quietus|first=Alex|last=Flood|date=19 December 2014|access-date=18 February 2017}} The Subways and Mclusky (who performed a fundraising gig for staff{{cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/news/mclusky-to-play-the-buffalo-bar|title=McLusky To Play The Buffalo Bar|work=Clash|date=28 November 2014|access-date=18 February 2017}}), and the intervention of local politicians including local councillor Olly Parker and local M.P. Emily Thornberry. Parker said in a speech that the Buffalo Bar had "probably done more for cultural life in Islington than anyone" and Thornberry stated that the bar "makes a very important contribution to youth culture and.. the cultural significance of this part of London."
The Buffalo Bar was one of a number of grassroots London music venues subject to closure during the same period, including Madame Jojo's,{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/clubs/au-revoir-madame-jojos|title=Au revoir, Madame Jojo's|work=Time Out|first=James|last=Manning|date=18 December 2014|access-date=18 February 2017}} 12 Bar Club,{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/96787/12-bar-club-closing-in-january-2015|title=London loses another great venue as 12 Bar Club set to close|publisher=Gigwise|first=Andy|last=Morris|date=12 December 2014|access-date=18 February 2017}} Power Lunches,{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2015/12/11/power-lunches-closing-down/|title=Dalston venue Power Lunches is closing down|publisher=Fact|first=Chal|last=Ravens|date=11 December 2015|access-date=18 February 2017}} The Grosvenor,{{cite web|url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/24157/1/property-developers-close-down-more-pubs|title=Property developers closed another London music venue|first=Lisa|last=Walden|date=19 March 2015|publisher=Dazed|access-date=18 February 2017}} Passing Clouds{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/passing-clouds-hundreds-join-march-to-save-hackney-music-venue-a3347536.html|title=Hundreds join march to save Hackney music venue|website=Standard.co.uk|date=17 September 2016}} and The Silver Bullet{{Cite web|url=http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/finsbury-park-music-venue-could-be-set-to-close-after-being-bought-by-burger-lobster-owners-a3268416.html|title=Music venue could close after buyout by Burger & Lobster owners|date=11 June 2016|website=Evening Standard|access-date=23 February 2020}} – prompting questions over the future of venues faced with the threat of "soaring rents..noise pollution orders, and developers".{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/fears-for-musics-toilet-circuit-small-venues-that-nurtured-big-stars-are-increasingly-at-risk-of-9893213.html|title=Fears for music's 'toilet circuit': Small venues at risk|website=Independent.co.uk|date=30 November 2014}} The Mayoral Music Venues Taskforce reported in 2015 that 35% of small venues had closed since 2007.{{Cite web|url=https://www.london.gov.uk//what-we-do/arts-and-culture/arts-and-culture-publications/london-grassroots-music-venues-rescue-plan|title=London Grassroots Music Venues Rescue Plan|date=20 January 2017|website=London.gov.uk|access-date=23 February 2020}} In 2016 incoming Mayor of London Sadiq Khan appointed a "Night Czar", Amy Lamé, with a remit of looking at this issue.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/sadiq-khan-appoints-amy-lam-as-first-london-night-czar-lgbt-a7397246.html|title=Sadiq Khan appoints LGBT event runner Amy Lamé first London Night Czar|first=Jacob|last=Stolworthy|date=4 November 2016|website=Independent.co.uk|access-date=18 February 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://thequietus.com/articles/16947-buffalo-bar-closing-down-interview Article on Buffalo Bar], The Quietus
- [http://now-here-this.timeout.com/2014/11/16/in-memorium-the-buffalo-bar-in-highbury/ Article on Buffalo Bar] Time Out
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Category:Music venues in London
Category:Former music venues in London