The Square, Harlow
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The Square was a 250 capacity independent live music venue in Harlow, Essex. It was managed by SquareOne Entertainment LLP who took over the venue in July 2008. Prior to this it was run by Essex County Council, until funding was withdrawn and the venue was to be closed after over 35 years of service as a community resource.
The Square was a mainstay on the UK’s live music touring circuit and was one of the starting places for many successful acts including Enter Shikari, George Ezra, and The Subways. Harlow bands Collapsed Lung and Morning Parade formed at the venue. Cornershop name the venue as the gig that got them signed, as well as being the first venue to pay them to play. BBC DJ Steve Lamacq broadcast a live Coldplay show from the venue in 2000.
Record producer Paul Epworth worked at the venue in the 1990s.
The Square comedy club has played host to Jack Dee, Eddie Izzard, Jo Brand, Phill Jupitus, Terry Alderton and was regularly hosted by John Mann.
In 2012 a live recording by the band Seymour (later Blur) from 1989 was included in the Blur 21 box set.[1]
In May 2015 building owners, Circle Housing, announced plans[2] for redevelopment of the site. No commitment to rehouse the venue has been made.
In July 2015 a series of gigs under the banner 'Back To Square One' was announced, with big name acts coming back to play the venue one last time. The series includes Newtown Neurotics, The Members, Steve Harris British Lion, Buzzcocks, DragonForce, InMe, King Prawn, Attila The Stockbroker, The Beat, Nine Below Zero, Collapsed Lung, Gaz Coombes, Chas & Dave, Secret Affair
In October 2015 The Square was shortlisted for NME Magazines 'Britain's Best Small Venue' Competition.
The Square closed on the morning of 1st January 2016.[3]
Some notable acts who have appeared at The Square
- Biffy Clyro
- Blur (known as Seymour)
- Brigade
- Brother
- Capdown
- Captain Everything
- Coldplay (As part of a BBC Radio 1 Live Broadcast)
- Do Me Bad Things
- Deaf Havana
- Enter Shikari
- Francesqa
- Feeder
- Jawbreaker
- Lagwagon
- Laura Marling
- Less Than Jake
- The Libertines
- Morning Parade
- Million Dead
- Muse
- Neils Children
- Nerf Herder
- The Ordinary Boys
- Oceansize
- Skindred
- The Paddingtons
- The Quireboys
- Reuben
- The Subways
- The Wildhearts
- We Are The Ocean
- You Me At Six
- Turin Brakes
- Hawthorne Heights
- Wheatus
- Fei Comodo
- Sebadoh
- Pavement
- Carter USM
- The Damned
- Down By Law
- Frank Turner
- King Blues
References
- ^ "Blur 21 - Celebrating 21 years of Blur". blur.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-11-18.
- ^ "Plans to demolish The Square and YWCA for housing submitted". Harlow Star. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
- ^ http://www.thesquareharlow.com/news/
External links
51°46′15″N 0°05′22″E / 51.77083°N 0.08944°E
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