The 100 Club

The 100 Club is a 350-capacity underground music venue at 100 Oxford Street in London, operating continuously since 1942. It is widely recognized as the birthplace of the UK punk movement after hosting the 100 Club Punk Special in September 1976, which featured the Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Buzzcocks, and The Damned.

History and Background

The venue began in 1942 as a restaurant called Macks, rented every Sunday evening to Robert Feldman for jazz performances. The Feldman Swing Club hosted American jazz acts including Benny Goodman, Art Pepper, and Mel Powell, alongside British musicians like Ronnie Scott. American GIs stationed in London during World War II frequented the club and introduced jitterbug dancing, which was banned at most other venues at the time.

By the 1960s, the club shifted toward the UK beat scene and mod culture, hosting The Who and The Kinks. The venue also featured regular blues nights with Muddy Waters and BB King. In September 1976, the 100 Club hosted the first international punk festival, pushing punk rock from the underground into mainstream awareness. Under promoter Ron Watts, the venue booked punk and hardcore acts throughout the 1980s, including Black Flag, Discharge, Crass, and The Adicts.

The Rolling Stones played unannounced warm-up shows at the 100 Club in 1982 and returned in 1986 for a tribute to their late pianist Ian Stewart. That 1986 performance was their only live show between 1982 and 1989.

Notable Performances and Legacy

The 100 Club has hosted an extraordinary range of artists across genres. Jazz legends including Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Sonny Stitt, and Archie Shepp all performed there. The venue also runs the world's longest-running Northern soul all-nighter, the 6t's Rhythm 'n' Soul Club, which started in the 1970s and held its 31st anniversary event in 2010.

In 2010, the venue faced closure due to rising rent costs. A campaign supported by Paul McCartney and a partnership with Converse enabled the 100 Club to remain open. Recent acts include Idles, Shame, Black Midi, Sleaford Mods, Alice Cooper, and The Specials. In autumn 2023, the U.K. Subs played a five-night sold-out residency to cap their final British tour.

Venue Specifications and Visitor Information

The 100 Club has a capacity of 350 and retains its original 1970s decor. The venue is located underground on Oxford Street, accessible via the London Underground (Oxford Circus and Tottenham Court Road stations). The London Swing Dance Society holds swing dancing nights every Monday with live bands. A monthly classical music series called Limelight hosts classical artists in a rock-and-roll setting.

Tickets for events are available through the official 100 Club website. The venue books acts months in advance and occasionally hosts unannounced secret gigs that rely on word of mouth.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

The 100 Club represents what a single small venue can do for music history. A 350-capacity room launched punk in the UK, hosted the Rolling Stones in secret, and kept Northern soul alive for decades. For independent artists, the lesson is clear: small rooms build careers. Playing a packed 350-capacity venue teaches you how to command a room in ways that festival stages cannot.

If you are planning a UK tour, research the 100 Club's booking process through their website. The venue has a history of booking emerging acts alongside established names. Use our Tour Revenue Calculator to estimate earnings from small-venue tours like this one. For broader income strategy, read our guide on 21 ways musicians can earn income.

Related Resources

• Tour Revenue Calculator - Estimate earnings from live shows at small and mid-size venues
• Complete Guide to Making Money as a Musician in 2026 - Revenue streams beyond ticket sales
• Building a Music Fanbase From Scratch - How to fill small rooms as an emerging artist
• Venues Directory - Browse more live music venues worldwide
• 100 Club Official Website - Current event schedule and ticket information