of every month)
The 100 Club originally called The Feldman Swing Club attained legendary status in modern British music, having played host to live music since 24 October 1942. The venue was a restaurant called Macks, which was hired out every Sunday evening by Robert Feldman to host a jazz club featuring swing music. The club was popular with working people and American GI's, who introduced jitt
erbug to the club, banned at most other music venues. It was eventually taken over by Humphrey Lyttelton’s manager. Following involvement in the Trad boom, and the UK beat scene, the club became famous during the punk years. In September 1976 the 100 Club played host to the first International Punk Festival, an event which helped to push the then new punk rock movement from the underground into the cultural and musical mainstream. Under the promotion of Ron Watts it became a regular venue for original punk bands and several live albums were recorded at the club, including one by the Sex Pistols. The Rolling Stones played a secret show there in May 1982 as a warm-up for their European tour, and returned again in February 1986 to play a tribute show for their recently deceased pianist Ian Stewart. Other nights would see a range of old-school jazz, rhythm‘n’blues and soul groups on the famous stage. The 100 Club has also been the home to the world longest running Northern Soul all-nighters for the last 31 years. Today, the decor remains unchanged since the ‘70s, although punk bands no longer appear there regularly. Instead there is a busy programme often booked up many months in advance. Occasionally, big-name touring bands will play "secret" or low-key unadvertised gigs there, relying on word of mouth to fill the venue. On 10 June 2007 George Melly, whose association with the 100 Club goes back to the days when he performed there with Lyttelton, gave his last ever public performance. In September 2010, it was announced that the 100 Club would close at the end of 2010 owing to continuing losses. A campaign was launched to keep the venue open, supported by musicians including Paul McCartney and in February 2011 a partnership with Converse was arranged, enabling the 100 Club to remain open. Since 2012, promoter Stephen Stanley of SOLID ENTERTAINMENTS has been presenting TUESDAY BLUES, an ongoing series of regular Blues shows on the last Tuesday of every month. To date, there has been 125 TUESDAY BLUES with 375 acts appearing, many on more than one occasion, and still the public response remains undiminished. Stephen says "Tuesday Blues has not only developed as a brand, but has become a prominent feature in the programme at The 100 Club and the live music scene in London"
Showcasing legendary names side by side with guest acts and up and coming Blues artists and making sure that each occasion offers real 'value for money,' are key elements to its success.
