After a massive re-fit, Wandsworth Palais opened its doors at the beginning of the summer. Having started out as a theatre 90 years ago, it’s had various incarnations over the decades: dancehall, nightclub, it was once even a church.

2009 though sees the Palais gravitate back towards live entertainment in its new guise as a concert venue, and with its grand architecture and obvious aura of history, it feels somehow as though the building has eventually come to realise its natural calling.

Lucie Buckner has a background in touring, live production and events. Since the Palais’ re-launch she has been brought in to run the live bookings and production side of things. She tells me that since the venue’s re-fit was completed, the sound crew have been “testing and tweaking” the PA system with the help of Razorlight, Above & Beyond and Mirrorkicks, all of whom have held their production rehearsals at the Palais.

“We pride ourselves on being a non-genre orientated venue,” says Buckner. “Our hope is to provide an eclectic mix of current touring bands, one-offs and to act as an ambassador for unsigned acts, supporting local and national talent.
“The Palais has the intimacy and atmosphere of a club gig with the interior heritage of a beautiful concert hall. It has been so well thought out, it looks and sounds great and has been designed by touring technicians and engineers, so it’s live production made easy.”

As yet, The Palais hasn’t hosted a huge number of gigs, but Buckner and the team are in the process of booking acts and planning the kinds of nights that will make Wandsworth Palais one of London’s premier live music venues in the months to come.

Buckner tells me that if she could book any act to play the Palais it would be Kings Of Leon. Optimistic maybe, but with the size, grand architecture and crystal acoustics of the venue it may become the sort of venue to attract some of the bigger names on the circuit.

Could it be South London’s Koko by the end of the year? With the passion and knowledge of those who are running it, we reckon it might even go one better…


Where? 52-54 Wandsworth High Street, London, SW18 4LD
020 8875 7980
Web? http://www.wandsworthpalais.com/
How? Tube: East Putney (District Line Underground)
Buses: 28, 37, 87, 170, 485, 220, N28, N44, N87
Founded? Summer 2009-08-25
Vibe? Glitter-ball-tastic!
Pint? £3.75 (bottle)