125 Years of KOKO: Music, Culture and Camden
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If These Walls Could Talk
KOKO History
The story of how we got here
1901
Ellen Terry
The Camden Theatre opens as a variety theatre, with actress du jour and icon of aestheticism, Ellen Terry, opening the venue
1909
Charlie Chaplin
The venue is renamed the Camden Hippodrome and Charlie Chaplin performs
1945
The Goon Show
The BBC acquire the building and the first ever BBC broadcasting studio is born. The Goon Show is recorded here for ten years
1964
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones perform and record their ‘Cops and Robbers’ EP live for the first time
1977
Adam Ant, The Clash and The Sex Pistols
The Music Machine is born during the new wave and punk scene with iconic acts performing and hanging out at the venue, including Adam Ant, The Clash, The Sex Pistols
1978
The Clash
The Clash take up a now legendary four-day residency, famous for high-energy performances and notable guest appearances that solidified the band's status in the British punk movement
1982
Spandau Ballet
The Camden Palace was born with the new romantics era, marking the transition of the underground "Blitz Kids" scene into a mainstream global phenomenon
1982
The Culture Club
The Culture Club played early, career-defining shows at the venue just as it reopened under the management of Steve Strange and Rusty Egan
1982
Grace Jones
Grace Jones performs an iconic, sold-out show at the height of her career
1983
Madonna
Madonna performs her first UK show, singing Holiday for the first time, age 23
1988
Prince
Prince performs for the first time as part of his Love Sexy Tour. Prince loved KOKO and went on to perform multiple times during his career
2004
Amy Winehouse, Pete Doherty and The Libertines
KOKO is born, a new era begins with Amy Winehouse, Pete Doherty and The Libertines all playing and regularly hanging out backstage at the venue
2005
Coldplay
Coldplay launch their X & Y album at the venue, an iconic and intimate moment for the global stars at the height of their career
2005
Madonna
Madonna performs her legendary album launch for Confessions on a Dance Floor, an iconic, full-circle moment, 22 years after her UK debut
2006
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse performs her first show at the venue with the official launch of Back To Black
2007
Prince
Prince performs a special secret show at his beloved KOKO, ahead of his 21 date run in the capital
2009
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga performs a high energy show as part of her London Live Special for Channel 4’s Chart Show
2010
Janelle Monae
This sold-out gig was a pivotal "warm-up" show ahead of her appearance at Bestival and served as a major showcase for her debut studio album, The ArchAndroid
2011
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers launch ‘I’m With You’ at special UK show
2012
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest hosted an intimate preview screening of their documentary, 'Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest', with Q-Tip, Phife Dawg, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, discussing the film's portrayal of their history and internal dynamics
2012
Dizzie Rascal
Dizzee Rascal appears with DJ Fresh to perform their hit collaboration "The Power"
2013
Public Enemy
Public Enemy bring their Kings of The Mic tour to the UK. The electric live show was part of their tour following their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame earlier that year
2014
Nick Cave
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds play one off show whilst filming 20,000 Days on Earth
2015
Prince
Prince returns to play three surprise, intimate shows with his band 3RDEYEGIRL as part of his "Hit and Run" tour
2015
Prince
Prince performs an intimate, surprise charity concert at KOKO in Camden, London, on 2nd February 2015. This set is widely noted as his final UK performance before his passing in April 2016
2016
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa performs a sold-out headline show as part of her Hotter Than Hell Tour. The performance was a significant "homecoming" show for the Camden-born singer, just as she was breaking through as a major pop artist
2016
Loyle Carner
Loyle Carner performs a sold out show, a career-defining moment, occurring just before the release of his acclaimed debut album, Yesterday's Gone
2016
Skepta
Skepta performs in celebration of his Konichiwa album. The event is widely regarded as pivotal moment for both the artist and the grime scene, described as a "show of power" by VICE that felt like a coronation for the "King of Grime"
2017
Little Simz
Little Simz performs as part of her Welcome to Wonderland: The Experience tour. A key moment in her early career, following the release of her second studio album, Stillness in Wonderland
2018
Raye
Raye performs a special, early career headline show as part of her "This Tour May Contain New Music”
2019
KOKO closes for restoration
What would become a three year restoration and redevelopment, overcoming challenges of a biblical nature; a fire, a flood and the global pandemic
2022
Arcade Fire & DJ Luciano
KOKO reopens April 28th, post pandemic, with Arcade Fire, DJ Luciano and Central Cee across the weekend to three sold out, euphoric shows
2022
KOKO Electronic
KOKO Electronic is born, continuing KOKO's legacy in electronic music culture. This new chapter cements KOKO's position as a multi-dimensional cultural powerhouse, offering a completely unique electronic experience featuring best-in-class DJs from the underground to the mainstream
2022
Jorja Smith
Jorja Smith performed a stunning show as part of KOKO’s reopening season
2022
Joey Bada$$
Joey touches down in Camden to perform as part of his 10th-anniversary tour for the 1999 mixtape, before heading backstage to the House of KOKO for an impromptu performance in the Piano Bar
2022
Knucks + Stormzy
Knucks’ sold-out show in May 2022 served as a major cultural moment for the UK rap scene, with Stormzy and Loyle Carner featuring and a one-of-a-kind ‘Bitcoin drop’
2022
Cleo Sol
This performance was particularly significant as it Cleo Sol’s her first-ever headline show. The evening featured guest appearances from major artists including Little Simz and Chronixx
2022
Raye
Raye returns to perform at "The Other Songs" event. This appearance was significant as it featured one of the first live acoustic renditions of her viral hit "Escapism", which was released earlier that year and went on to top the UK Singles Chart
2022
Gabriels
After performing a three night residency in the House of KOKO’s secret Jazz club, Ellen’s, Gabriels went on to perform a triumphant headline show in the Theatre, before heading to Glastonbury and performing with Elton John on the main stage
2023
Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean's connection to KOKO in London is a significant milestone in her career, highlighted by early secret shows backstage in the House of KOKO’s secret jazz club Ellen’s, followed by her sold-out headline Theatre show in March 2023
2023
Liam Gallagher
Liam performed a highly exclusive, intimate gig at KOKO in Camden, London, on 9 August 2023 to celebrate the launch of his live album, Knebworth 22
2023
Skepta
Skepta hosted a launch party for his house label, Más Tiempo, at KOKO Electronic, and creates a viral moment playing Amy Winehouse ‘Back to Black’ in tribute to the Camden star
2023
Tems
Tems performed a series of highly acclaimed, sold-out shows at KOKO in Camden, London, in July 2022 as part of her UK tour. Tems also got up one afternoon whilst dining in Cafe KOKO and began freestyling on the mic
2023
Ellie Goulding
Ellie Goulding’s two-night residency at KOKO London on 7 and 8 February 2023 was a high-energy, intimate preview of her album Higher Than Heaven
2023
Channel Tres
Channel Tres transformed the historic theatre into a massive disco dance party, performing a highly acclaimed, sold-out show, part of his "Real Cultural Shit" tour
2023
Nas & Wu Tang Clan
Legendary rapper Nas hosted a historic performance and afterparty at KOKO London in Camden on 13th June 2023. The event was part of his "N.Y. State of Mind" tour and served as an official celebration for the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, held in collaboration with Hennessy
2024
Burna Boy
In celebration of the 5th anniversary of his album ‘African Giant’, Burna Boy performed a special show and livestreamed it on YouTube
2024
Robert Glasper experience
Five‑time Grammy winner Robert Glasper brought his signature blend of jazz, hip‑hop and neo‑soul to London with two sold‑out KOKO shows, alongside a curated week of intimate House of Glasper performances and events
2024
Thundercat
Thundercat unleashed his genre‑bending, glitch‑tinged, gamer‑world eccentricity on Camden with a sold‑out, four‑night knockout residency at the iconic KOKO
2024
Kae Tempest
Kae Tempest performed a sold-out headline show on Tuesday, 5 November 2024 - a centerpiece of the Pitchfork Music Festival London 2024.
2024
Yannis & The Yaw
Yannis & The Yaw played KOKO on 13 September 2024, performing material from their Lagos Paris London project. The show paired tight, rhythmic arrangements with a focused live energy that highlighted the band’s collaborative sound
2024
Snow Patrol
Snow Patrol hit KOKO on 11 September 2024 with an intimate, high‑energy set, previewing music from their eighth studio album The Forest Hits The Path alongside fan‑favourite anthems
2025
Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul, the legendary British soul and club collective fronted by Jazzie B, returned to their 'spiritual home' in Camden for a special festive show featuring the group iconic hits
2025
Wyclef & Ms Lauryn Hill
Wyclef Jean touched down at KOKO for a full‑throttle Carnival celebration, his first London headline show in 15 years. The show featured a surprise appearance from Ms. Lauryn Hill joining him onstage for a rare run of Fugues classics
2025
Celeste
Celeste delivered a spellbinding, one‑night‑only performance at KOKO, filling the room with her unmistakable voice and cinematic soul
2025
Shaboozey
American singer-songwriter Shaboozey performed a headline show at KOKO as part of his "Where I've Been" Europe & UK Tour, following an appearance at the C2C: Country to Country festival earlier that month
2025
Loyle Carner
Loyle Carner joined us for three rare, intimate warm-up shows celebrating his new album, "Hopefully!"
2025
Sombr
Singer-songwriter sombr played an intimate one-off show in November 2025. The breakout star was joined by pop royalty Sophie Ellis Bextor for a performance of the 2000 disco-pop hit 'Murder on the dancefloor'
2026
Danny Brown
Danny Brown delivered a high-octane set full of hyperpop hits, as he kicked off the UK leg of his Stardust tour
2026
Maisie Peters
Maisie Peters delivered an incredible live show, performing fan favourites, sharing new music from her forthcoming album, and surprising the crowd with a special guest appearance from Sophie Elis Bextor
2026
Tom Misch
After more than four years away from the stage, Tom Misch returned with beloved tracks and new material from his latest album Full Circle, with special guests Jordan Rakei, Zak Abel and Loyle Carner
2026
Sébastien Tellier
The Parisian musician and producer dropped in for a stunning evening of lush, off-beat pop, mesmerising a sold out audience
Past & Present
Iconic Moments
Late night moments at
KOKO Electronic
