Sound system venues

Blues dances in front rooms came first, because most clubs operated a colour bar. Then came the clubs, halls and fields where sound system culture grew up.

• Four Aces Club, DalstonHackney

  The Four Aces in Dalston was one of London's most important reggae venues. Count Shelly was a big draw there, and Admiral Ken played it in the 1970s. Its sound clashes…

• Phebes, HackneyHackney

  Phebes in Hackney was a key 1970s reggae club and one of the places where Jah Shaka made his name. A rare piece of film of 1970s London reggae, Roy Shirley performing…

• Cue Club, PaddingtonPaddington

  The Cue Club in Paddington was opened in 1962 by Wilbert Campbell, Count Suckle, making it one of the first Black-owned clubs in London. Photographer Charlie Phillips…

• 31 Club, HarlesdenHarlesden

  The 31 Club in Harlesden, north-west London, was home to Count Shelly's sound in the 1960s, drawing West Indians and white Britons who wanted to hear ska and rocksteady.

• Africa Centre, Covent GardenCovent Garden

  The Africa Centre on King Street, Covent Garden, held club nights from 1975, including the Limpopo Club from 1983. Soul II Soul's sound ran there from 1985 to 1989 and…

• Bouncing Ball, PeckhamPeckham

  The Bouncing Ball club in Peckham had Admiral Ken as its resident sound in the 1970s. Ken Edwards also owned clubs around Hackney, including the Palace Pavilion…

• Noreik, TottenhamTottenham

  The Noreik in Tottenham was one of the north London venues where Jah Shaka played his bass-heavy roots sessions in the 1970s.

• The Dug Out, BristolBristol

  The Dug Out club in Bristol was where The Wild Bunch held its residency in the 1980s, mixing hip hop, reggae and soul. Photographer Beezer documented the club, the crew…

• Castlemorton Common, 1992Malvern Hills, Worcestershire

  In May 1992 dozens of sound systems, including Spiral Tribe, DiY Sound System, Bedlam and Circus Warp, set up on Castlemorton Common in the Malvern Hills. An estimated…

• Digbeth Civic Hall, BirminghamBirmingham

  Digbeth Civic Hall hosted big Birmingham sound clashes. In 1979 Quaker City competed there for the Gold Cup.

• Trinity Centre, BristolBristol

  The Trinity Centre in Bristol hosts Teachings in Dub, promoted by DJ Stryda of Dubkasm and powered by Firmly Rooted. Maasai Warrior has stacked its boxes in each corner…

• The Tavern, BlackpoolBlackpool

  The Tavern in Blackpool was the first club to install a Void Acoustics system, the Static 3 and Static 5, made by the Poole company founded in 2002 by Rog Mogale and…

• Maximum (The Vox), Leicester SquareLeicester Square

  Maximum, also known as The Vox, was a club in Leicester Square in the heart of 1990s West End nightlife. Our crew installed and ran its sound system.

• Los Locos, Covent Garden and SohoCovent Garden

  Los Locos was a Tex-Mex bar, restaurant and club at 24 Russell Street, Covent Garden, with a branch in Soho. It opened in 1986, turned into a club from 10.30pm with DJs…

• Influence FM ravesLondon

  Influence FM was a 1990s London pirate station that put on raves across the capital, at a time when pirate radio was how you found out where the party was. Our crew…