Les Cousins, Folk music venue in Soho, London, England
Description
Les Cousins was a music club located in a basement at 49 Greek Street in Soho, decorated with church pews, wagon wheels, and fishing nets for a rustic feel. The intimate space held small audiences and created a direct connection between performers and listeners.
History
The club opened in 1964 when owner Loukas Matheou converted part of his restaurant into a performance space for live music. It remained active for roughly eight years before closing in 1972 as the folk music movement evolved and venues changed.
Culture
The venue became a gathering place where folk musicians could test new material and push their craft forward in an intimate setting. It embodied the spirit of 1960s counterculture through its casual basement approach to live music.
Practical
The club held all-night sessions that gave musicians extended time to perform and experiment with their music. The basement location meant sound was intense and intimate, creating an up-close experience with the performers.
Did you know?
Roy Harper recorded an album here in 1969 that became an important document of British folk music from this era. The recording captured how musicians pushed their creativity within this intimate basement space.
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