Dingwalls, 11 Middle Yard, Camden Lock, London NW1 8AB
In 1973, a venue opened in Camden Town that would go down in history—Dingwalls Dance Hall. The building, once a crumbling packing warehouse on the Regent’s Canal (now part of the iconic Camden Lock Market), was transformed into the perfect refuge for loud, uncompromising music.
Dingwalls soon became home to the resident band Kilburn and The High Roads, fronted by Ian Dury, who would later rise to fame with The Blockheads. The club quickly earned a reputation as the place to be. Even The Stranglers referenced Dingwalls in their debut single “London Lady,” giving it an almost mythical status.
But it wasn’t all glory and harmony. At the end of 1976, after a show at the venue, a clash erupted that would shake the punk scene. Legend has it that a member of The Clash spat at The Stranglers, sparking a brawl. On one side stood The Clash, Sex Pistols, and a few journalists; on the other, The Stranglers and their infamous fans, the Finchley Boys.
Over the years, Dingwalls hosted a parade of iconic acts: Sex Pistols, The Clash, Blondie, Ramones, and Eater, to name a few. And the club is still running today.
