A Brief History of Koko - Formerly Camden Palace
Reported by benz
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Submitted 23-12-04 09:31
Love it or hate it, it is very likely that you have had at least one very enjoyable night in Camden Palace at some point in your life. I’m definitely from the ‘love it’ camp - yes the toilets were filthy, yes there were often a lot of pikeys there, yes it was rather dirty in places…but for me that was about it. Everything else about the venue rules as far as I am concerned. The seemingly infinite amount of different parts of the club is definitely something I love - I still get lost!
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During a sneak preview of the newly refurbished venue (now doing business as Koko), I was with Will Patterson, promoter of Frantic. We were in the Black & White bar, and I suggested that we go to the very top balcony to have a look at the view. He didn’t even know it existed! That kind of sums up this labyrinth-like venue.
Camden Palace started life as a theatre / music hall - it was previously known as Camden Theatre, The Palace Theatre, The Camden Hippodrome, and The Music Machine. It was opened on Boxing Day 1900 (!!!). It played host to legendary comedy act The Goonies, and even Charlie Chaplin! It went from being used as a playhouse, to a cinema, to studios for the BBC. Later on as a concert and club venue, it was used in full effect for debauched afterparties for Prince concerts, for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Madonna, The Clash, and for many other world famous musicians.
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As a club venue, it has hosted some of the most memorable events the capital has ever seen. The long running trance and breaks night Peach was absolutely unbeatable in its heyday, and hard dance events from crews such as Mind Over Matter, Sunnyside Up, Sundissential, Frantic and Insomnia, will go down in history as some of the most enjoyable events ever. Ah happy days!
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Having spent £1 million refurbishing the venue, the new owners of Koko must be pretty proud. Its status as a listed building meant that there were no possibilities for changing the structure of the building at all, so the money has been spent purely on interior design so to speak. The club looks resplendent, harboring echoes of Café-de-Paris with its grandiose chandeliers, deep red carpets, and soft orange lights here and there, and combines this elegant classical look with the more modern feel of chrome, big f*ck-off mirrors, state-of-the-art plasma screens, the biggest mirror ball I have seen in my entire life, and red leather sofas. All in all, it’s a stunner. Heat’s recent ‘Curtain Raiser’ event seems to have received mostly positive plaudits vis-à-vis the venue itself - almost all are agreed that it looks stunning, some say it doesn’t feel the same, some say its better. Judge for yourself good people of Harderfaster. From Charlie Chaplin to Paul Glazby…who’d have thought it? Well I do remember Glazby wearing that 'tash at HHA once but still...
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Frantic New Years Day: 010105
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On:
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Saturday 1st January 2005
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At:
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KOKO (formerly 'Camden Palace')
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From:
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12pm - 8pm
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Website:
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www.franticuk.com
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Ticket Info:
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Tickets
£15+BF Early Bird Tickets Sold Out
£20+Bf Saver Tickets Selling Fast
Warning: Standard Tickets £25+BF
Ticketweb 08700 600 100/ www.ticketweb.co.uk (Credit/ debit cards)
Maria 07813 684 399 (Cash sales/ will meet in North or Central London or can send them to you)
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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New Years Daytime
010105
Midday to 8pm
The Koko Club
www.koko.uk.com
After nearly a year of waiting, Frantic are excited beyond belief to proudly announce our return to The Koko Club, formerly Camden Palace.
Following a lengthy and multi-million pound renovation the club now has a brand new, state of the art, showpiece sound system, a massive new lighting rig and 7 next generation plasma screens for 21st century visuals.
The whole venue has been repainted and new flooring introduced throughout.
This will be the very FIRST Hard House and Trance event at The all-new Koko Club. It will also be the last one until Easter 2005.
We have been besieged by phone calls since the reopening was announced! We SOLD OUT of all £15 Early Bird Tickets in ONLY 8 Days. The £20+BF Saver Tickets will selll out very, very soon and then we will put on sale £25+BF Standard tickets. There will be no door sales and no guestlist.
We expect this event to SELL OUT completely by the end of Oct or the start of November. This is a once in a lifetime chance to revisit what we believe to the greatest venue in London and the best way to really celebrate the New Year!
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Flyer:
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Other Features By benz:
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The return of The Colosseum
Modernism, Politburo and Sedition: Matthew Duffield’s manifesto
The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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