“ Our goal is to showcase and celebrate London’s legendary spaces and places and bring to life the narrative, the personalities and the anecdotes that have contributed to a venue’s legend from those who have lived and breathed it. ”
Jeremy Newton
Head of Agency Business, DLMDD
‘If These Walls Could Talk’ is the podcast hosted and created by DLMDD’s Head of Agency Business and music obsessive Jeremy Newton, produced by Greg Moore.
Episode 9
Join us for Episode 9 of If These Walls Could Talk as we delve into a legendary London space steeped in folklore—a building that has hosted some of the biggest icons in music and beyond, from Charlie Chaplin to Prince.
This is a spiritual home for countless legendary London scenes, whether Punk, the New Romantics, or Garage. It’s a place that conjures up memories for so many.
Since 2004, in its current incarnation, it remains one of the UK’s most forward-thinking, eclectic, and fully independent music venues. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to KOKO.
To help tell this story, we are thrilled to be joined by KOKO's owner, Olly Bengough, and its Head of Music, Mr. Nick Lewis.
Episode 8
Join us for episode 8 of If These Walls Could Talk as we discuss a venue that holds a very special place in London folklore. A space that has been gifting us live music since 1942 and continues to do so. A club that has hosted a who's who of icons, legends and heroes to so many - Louis Armstrong, BB King, Fela Kuti, The Clash, The Specials, Toots & The Maytals, Oasis, Primal Scream, Nas to name but a few.
A space that holds the title of the oldest independent venue world wide. Somewhere that consistently and authentically champions new and alternative music. Ladies and gentleman - Welcome to the 100 Club!
To help tell the story, we are joined by 2 generations of the family who have been at the helm of the 100 for quite some time. Owner of the 100 Club Mr Jeff Horton and Jeff's daughter and the Venue Manager Ruby Horton.
Episode 7
For Episode 7 of If These Walls Could Talk we speak with Tim Perry, legendary music journalist for The Independent turned booker for The Windmill in Brixton.
We cover what bands and music venues can do to support their local communities, the unlikely convergence of country and hip-hop (The Gourd’s bluegrass cover of Snoop Dogg’s Gin and Juice has an honorary mention), and how Covid brought a global audience - from Estonia to Kenya - to The Windmill.
Episode 6
For episode 6 of 'ITWCT', we have something different lined up with real resonance to the theme of the podcast. So instead of talking about a specific venue, today we delve into the wider, social and economic landscape that venues exist within. To help tell that story, we are joined by the fabulous Mark Davyd - founder and CEO of the Music Venue Trust; a charity which acts to protect, secure and improve UK grassroots music for the benefit of venues, communities and upcoming artists.
Join us as Mark shares his love for crowd surfing, running a club in a toilet, sliding doors moments and much much more...
This particular pod launches in tandem with Jeremy featured in Music Week - read his full article here.
Episode 5
Join us for Episode 5 of ITWCT - where we're delving into the storied past of a legendary venue that is rooted in London Folklore. The spiritual and physical home for a thriving artistic community; and a space that symbolises the struggle against corporate greed, gentrification and the need to preserve the institutions that enable community and connection in an ever more fractious world.
Ladies and gentleman: welcome to The George Tavern.
To tell the story we are joined by the irrepressible Pauline Forster, the driving force behind The George Tavern.
Episode 4
Join us as we delve into a venue that has consistently punched above its weight and played host to the first London gigs of iconic artists and bands such as Bob Dylan, The Pogues and Oasis.
We were lucky to be joined by the former licensee, booker and resident of the venue who saw it all in the 90's; from the legendary splash club, to Paul Daniel's Rolls Royce and everything in between. Ladies and gentleman - welcome to The Water Rats!
Episode 3
In this third instalment, DLMDD’s Jeremy Newton sits down with Ruth Butler, Head of Technical and Production, Lucy Wood, Head of Music and Marcus Davey, CEO and Artistic Director of Roundhouse, to delve into the history, influence and impact of the renowned venue, which first opened as a performing arts venue in 1966.
Over an eclectic 60 years, Roundhouse has hosted artists as varied as Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, The Doors, The Clash, Patti Smith, Jay-Z, Lady Gaga, PJ Harvey, Janelle Monae and many more.
Alongside its role as an arts venue, the Roundhouse is also home to a registered charity, The Roundhouse Trust, and runs a youth programme, providing young people aged 11-30 with the space to experiment, develop skills and turn creativity into a career. The venue also offers a membership programme for freelancers and creative industry entrepreneurs, underscoring its mission to raise the creative potential of the UK.
This third episode sets the stage for a renewed focus from DLMDD on the cultural importance and community-building power and economic significance of the UK’s live music scene, and the importance of investing in live music and the arts.
Episode 2
The next episode in the series delves into the increasing popularity of ‘listening bars’, with Jeremy recording the episode at Spiritland in Kings Cross.
Inspired by the Japanese tradition of listening bars, which make use of high-quality sound systems where customers are given permission to listen more and talk less, Spiritland has been running since 2016. Following the popularity of the Kings Cross venue, it has since opened a second brand on the Southbank.
In the Spiritland episode Jeremy speaks with the venue’s founder Paul Noble and explores a range of topics inspired by DJ culture, sound systems of the highest spec and Kings Cross’s musical legacy.
Episode 1
The first episode takes the listener on a journey through the hallowed turf of Ronnie Scott's, a venue steeped in prestige, history and legend. Joined by Ronnie's stalwarts Miles Ashton, James Pearson, and the incomparable Paul Pace.
From the vibrancy of post war Soho to encounters with the Krays, an impromptu Stevie Wonder performance, and a visit from Prince, the episode explores Ronnie Scott's mystique and brings its rich story up to date to the present day.
