A bona-fide legendary club night, and now in its 16th year, Blow Up was the centre
of the early to mid Nineties Brit Pop explosion, influencing the style and sound
of a generation, and voted No.4 in Time Out's Top Ten Clubs of the 90s. From its origins at The Laurel Tree, Camden Town (1993-1996), to Soho venues the Wag Club (1996-2001) the Metro Club (2002-2009) and with a few brief sojourns at several other Soho venues in-between, Blow Up has been on almost every Saturday since 1993. The club has now moved to a new home in the basement of 4 Denmark Street, Soho; the same building that once housed Regent Sound Studios where the Stones, Kinks, Beatles and Hendrix all recorded. The street, known as Tin Pan Alley, is synonymous with the hustle and bustle of the 50s and 60s music business, so a perfect fit for Blow Up, and only a stone’s throw from its old home The Metro (RIP).
Blow Up was founded by DJ and promoter
Paul Tunkin in a Camden pub in Oct 1993. Records were played from the
emerging 'British pop' scene (that came to be known as Brit Pop) together with Brit-centric
60s and 70s moves and grooves; swinging soundtracks to Mod Beat and Soul; classic
pop from The Beatles to Bowie to Blur. The club still stays true to its early ideals
- you will hear a selection of indie
pop, new wave,
pop electronique, underground 60s instrumentals,
experimental grooves and easy listening - all sitting nicely alongside
a selection of the current favs
from artists such as MGMT and Vampire Weekend. Despite its love of buried treasures,
Blow Up remains an accessible yet essential
night that is always a great party, week after week, year after year.
CLUB QUOTES
There is nowhere else quite like Blow Up, and in many ways it’s still
unique. ‘Blow Up may be inspired by the ’60s,’ wrote Time Out
years ago, ‘but their night could run and run.’ It looks set to do just
that.
Time Out London, January 2009
A feel-good hotspot for retro pop. Rest assured, London isn't about to stop swinging.
Metro London , January 2009
A refreshing break from the over-polished venue this hidden gem focuses on the music. Paul Tunkin has been DJing at Blow Up since 1993. His experience has paid off and this little beauty has stood the test of time
The Evening Standard, 2008
Few weekly clubs can keep up the sheer effort of throwing a good party every seven days. Yet, year after year, week after week, Blow Up just seems to get better
The Evening Standard
No.4: Time Out's Top Ten Club's of The 90s
The club that changed the world
Melody Maker
Home to and creator of everything, ever, Blow Up
The original, and we love you, baby
Jacques Peretti, The Guardian
This is the night which spawned a thousand bands, inspiring fashion designers and stylists to recreate the look for the mainstream
The Guest List
Legendary
Time Out, Evening Standard, NME
By the time Blur played Alexandra Palace about a year after Blow Up started, the whole audience looked like they went there. It's global and I think it started at Blow Up
John Best of Savage & Best PR on Britpop
The birthplace of Britpop
Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music
Where Britpop was born
Time Out
The Roxy, Blitz Club, Shoom, Syndrome & Blow Up: Vox Magazine's 5 Classic Clubs of our Time
The London clubland institution
The Guardian Guide