The Cluny
Encyclopedia
The Cluny is a live music
venue, pub and café
, on Lime Street, in the Ouseburn Valley
area of Newcastle upon Tyne
, England
. Based in a former flax spinning mill, The Cluny occupies part of the wider building at 36 Lime Street, sharing the space with artists, offices and recording studios.
The Cluny is a regular fixture in the top 100 list of World’s Best Bars, and is currently the only pub in Newcastle upon Tyne
to make the list.
. Lasting just 12 years, it was re-opened in 1860 as a steam-powered flour mill by Henry Proctor & Co.
At some point in its history, the building became a Scotch whisky bottling plant called the Cluny, hence the current name.
In 1982, Bruvvers Theatre Company purchased the building and it became an artists’ space.
A section of the building was opened as The Cluny Bar in 1999, and the same space was taken over by The Head Of Steam Limited in November 2002, when its current incarnation came about.
The Cluny now operates as a bar and live music venue, with food service provided by The Cluny Kitchen, and 36 Lime Street itself is a Grade 2 listed building
, an area of intense regeneration in recent years. Whilst the area was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution in Newcastle and was once home to many thriving (and very dirty) heavy crafts and industries, it fell into disuse and dereliction by the mid-twentieth century. The current incarnation of the Valley as a cultural regeneration hotspot was initiated by the Ouseburn Trust, in partnership with the local authority, in 1996. The Trust remains a landlord and developer in the Ouseburn, and seeks to involve people in the heritage and regeneration of the area through its programme of free walks, talks and volunteering activities
The regeneration of the Ouseburn Valley has seen several artistic and cultural enterprises move into the area. These include children’s literature centre Seven Stories
, Ouseburn Farm, Stepney Bank Stables, The Star & Shadow Cinema, Northern Print and art galleries The Biscuit Factory, Mushroom Works and Art Works.
These complement the already-established pub-trade which has long served the area, including The Free Trade, The Tyne, The Cumberland Arms, The Ship Inn and The Tanners.
The valley is named after the Ouseburn
river, which flows into the River Tyne
, and is just yards from the door of The Cluny itself.
The Cluny was one of only two pubs in Newcastle to make it into the 2004 Good Pub Guide.
, A Certain Ratio
, The 5.6.7.8's
, The Durutti Column
, Field Music
, The Futureheads
, Mumford & Sons
, I Am Kloot
, Emmy the Great
, Young Knives, The Fruit Bats, Editors
, Kieran Hebden, Th' Legendary Shack Shakers
, Hot Snakes
, David Honeyboy Edwards
, Midlake
, We Are Scientists
, Daniel Johnston
, The Dwarves, Jeffrey Lewis
, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
, Arctic Monkeys
, Kate Nash
, Evan Dando
, The Lemonheads
, Graham Coxon
, Seasick Steve
, Mercury Prize
nominees Led Bib
, The Go! Team
and Paul Heaton
In 2002, Dannii Minogue
played the venue in support of her single "Put The Needle On It
".
On 20 January 2007, Maxïmo Park
previewed their second album, Our Earthly Pleasures
in its entirety at The Cluny.
In January 2008, as part of The JD Set, Peter Hook
collaborated with The Wombats
on a one-off live performance of their single Backfire at the Disco
. A live recording of the song was released in April 2008, as a b-side on the single’s re-release.
In February 2008, Duffy (singer)
played at The Cluny, the gig coinciding with the Welsh singer’s second week at number one with her single Mercy (song)
.
In November 2008, Solange Knowles
, younger sister of Beyonce Knowles
, played at The Cluny as part of her first UK tour.
The Cluny is also one of the venues to be used for the filming of The JD Set, broadcast on Channel 4
, and is also on the of the key venues for the indoor programme of the Evolution Festival, UK.
In September 2010, The Cluny played host to a series of concerts, on three consecutive nights, by the legendary New York Dolls
.
, which went into liquidation in 2008. Re-branded as Cluny 2, it is a theatre-style, 160-capacity venue. The opening event occurred on Monday 11 May, and featured performances from Beth Jeans Houghton
and Dot To Dots.
Since then, Cluny 2 has seen performances by The Low Anthem
, Elliott Brood
, Woodpigeon
, Dent May
, Alvin Youngblood Hart
, Sharks Took the Rest
and The Duke & The King, the new project featuring Simon Felice, formerly of The Felice Brothers
.
Live Music
Live Music is a reggaeton company owned by DJ Giann.-Artists:* Jowell & Randy* Tony Lenta* Watussi* De La Ghetto* Guelo Star* Galante "El Emperador"-Producers:*DJ Blass*Dexter*Mr. Greenz*DJ Giann*Los Hitmen*Dirty Joe*ALX...
venue, pub and café
Café
A café , also spelled cafe, in most countries refers to an establishment which focuses on serving coffee, like an American coffeehouse. In the United States, it may refer to an informal restaurant, offering a range of hot meals and made-to-order sandwiches...
, on Lime Street, in the Ouseburn Valley
Ouseburn Valley
The Ouseburn Valley was a heavily industrialised valley in the East end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Since then the lower part of the valley has developed into a cultural oasis...
area of Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Based in a former flax spinning mill, The Cluny occupies part of the wider building at 36 Lime Street, sharing the space with artists, offices and recording studios.
The Cluny is a regular fixture in the top 100 list of World’s Best Bars, and is currently the only pub in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
to make the list.
History
The building of 36 Lime Street was completed in 1848, when it was opened as a flax spinning mill. The building was commissioned by Messrs Plummer & Cooke, and was designed by John DobsonJohn Dobson (architect)
John Dobson was a 19th-century English architect in the neoclassical tradition. He became the most noted architect in the North of England. Churches and houses by him dot the North East - Nunnykirk Hall, Meldon Park, Mitford Hall, Lilburn Tower, St John the Baptist Church in Otterburn,...
. Lasting just 12 years, it was re-opened in 1860 as a steam-powered flour mill by Henry Proctor & Co.
At some point in its history, the building became a Scotch whisky bottling plant called the Cluny, hence the current name.
In 1982, Bruvvers Theatre Company purchased the building and it became an artists’ space.
A section of the building was opened as The Cluny Bar in 1999, and the same space was taken over by The Head Of Steam Limited in November 2002, when its current incarnation came about.
The Cluny now operates as a bar and live music venue, with food service provided by The Cluny Kitchen, and 36 Lime Street itself is a Grade 2 listed building
Location
The Cluny is located in Newcastle upon Tyne’s Ouseburn ValleyOuseburn Valley
The Ouseburn Valley was a heavily industrialised valley in the East end of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Since then the lower part of the valley has developed into a cultural oasis...
, an area of intense regeneration in recent years. Whilst the area was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution in Newcastle and was once home to many thriving (and very dirty) heavy crafts and industries, it fell into disuse and dereliction by the mid-twentieth century. The current incarnation of the Valley as a cultural regeneration hotspot was initiated by the Ouseburn Trust, in partnership with the local authority, in 1996. The Trust remains a landlord and developer in the Ouseburn, and seeks to involve people in the heritage and regeneration of the area through its programme of free walks, talks and volunteering activities
The regeneration of the Ouseburn Valley has seen several artistic and cultural enterprises move into the area. These include children’s literature centre Seven Stories
Seven Stories
Seven Stories the national centre for children's Books in the United Kingdom is based in the Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne, close to the city's newly regenerated quayside...
, Ouseburn Farm, Stepney Bank Stables, The Star & Shadow Cinema, Northern Print and art galleries The Biscuit Factory, Mushroom Works and Art Works.
These complement the already-established pub-trade which has long served the area, including The Free Trade, The Tyne, The Cumberland Arms, The Ship Inn and The Tanners.
The valley is named after the Ouseburn
Ouseburn
The Ouseburn is a river which flows through Newcastle upon Tyne into the River Tyne. The river gives its name to the Ouseburn electoral ward....
river, which flows into the River Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
, and is just yards from the door of The Cluny itself.
Bar
The Cluny’s bar is renowned for its huge selection of real ales and world lagers, and strives to use local and independent breweries wherever possible.The Cluny was one of only two pubs in Newcastle to make it into the 2004 Good Pub Guide.
Venue
The Cluny’s live music venue is a 300-capacity standing space, and is recognised as one of the main circuit venues for new and up-and-coming bands. Notable acts to have played the venue in recent years include GlasvegasGlasvegas
Glasvegas are a Scottish indie rock band from Glasgow. The band consists of James Allan , Rab Allan , Paul Donoghue and Jonna Löfgren . The band received critical acclaim for their debut album Glasvegas which was released in September 2008, reaching No...
, A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio
A Certain Ratio are a Post-punk band formed in 1977 in Manchester, England. While originally part of the punk rock movement, they soon added funk and dance elements to their sound. They are sometimes referred to as "post punk funk"...
, The 5.6.7.8's
The 5.6.7.8's
The 5.6.7.8's are an all-female Japanese rock trio, whose music is reminiscent of American surf music, rockabilly and garage rock. They frequently cover songs from American rock and roll. Each member is from Tokyo, Japan....
, The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column
The Durutti Column are an English post-punk band formed in 1978 in Manchester, England. The band is an ongoing project of guitarist Vini Reilly who is often accompanied by drummer Bruce Mitchell. Other current members are Keir Stewart and Reilly's girlfriend Poppy Morgan...
, Field Music
Field Music
Field Music are a band from Sunderland, England who formed in 2004. The band's core consists of brothers David and Peter Brewis , with Andrew Moore. Their line-ups have at times featured members of both Maxïmo Park and The Futureheads...
, The Futureheads
The Futureheads
The Futureheads are an English post-punk band from Sunderland. consisting of Ross Millard , Barry Hyde and David "Jaff" Craig...
, Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons
Mumford & Sons are a British folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford , Ben Lovett , Country Winston Marshall , and Ted Dwane...
, I Am Kloot
I Am Kloot
I Am Kloot are an English band formed in Manchester, in 1999 by John Bramwell , Peter Jobson and Andy Hargreaves .-History:...
, Emmy the Great
Emmy the Great
Emma-Lee Moss , known by her stage name Emmy the Great, is a London-based singer-songwriter. She has released two albums, First Love and Virtue.-Early life:Moss was born in Hong Kong to an English father and a Chinese mother...
, Young Knives, The Fruit Bats, Editors
Editors
Editors are a British indie rock band based in Birmingham, who formed in 2002. Previously known as Pilot, The Pride and Snowfield, the band consists of Tom Smith , Chris Urbanowicz , Russell Leetch and Ed Lay .Editors have so far released two platinum studio...
, Kieran Hebden, Th' Legendary Shack Shakers
Th' Legendary Shack Shakers
The Legendary Shack Shakers are an American punk blues band. They are inspired by punk, Delta blues, rockabilly, Texas polka, gothic rock, and other traditional Southern music genres, formed in Paducah, Kentucky in the mid-1990s...
, Hot Snakes
Hot Snakes
Hot Snakes were an American post-hardcore band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis, formed in 1999 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005. Reis and Froberg had previously performed together in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu, after which Reis had found international success with Rocket from the...
, David Honeyboy Edwards
David Honeyboy Edwards
David "Honeyboy" Edwards was a Delta blues guitarist and singer from the American South. Edwards was the last Delta bluesman before his 2011 death.-Life and career:Edwards was born in Shaw, Mississippi...
, Midlake
Midlake
Midlake is an American rock band from Denton, Texas. The band first gained popularity in Europe, signing to Bella Union Records and playing at festivals such as Les Inrockuptibles, Wintercase, End Of The Road Festival and South by Southwest.-History:...
, We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists
We Are Scientists is a New York-based indie rock band that formed in Berkeley, California in 2000. Originally formed of Keith Murray on drums, Chris Cain playing bass guitar and Scott Lamb providing vocals and guitar, before Michael Tapper became drummer and Keith became vocalist and guitarist...
, Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
, The Dwarves, Jeffrey Lewis
Jeffrey Lewis
Jeffrey Lewis is an American singer/songwriter and comic book artist.-Early life:Lewis attended State University of New York at Purchase and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Literature...
, The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster
The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster were an English rock band from Brighton, England, formed in 1999. They have released three full-length albums, Hörse Of the Dög , The Royal Society and Blood And Fire...
, Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
, Kate Nash
Kate Nash
Kate Marie Nash is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. She had a UK no. 2 hit "Foundations" in 2007, followed by the platinum selling UK number 1 album Made of Bricks. She was named Best Female Artist at the 2008 BRIT Awards....
, Evan Dando
Evan Dando
Evan Griffith Dando is an American musician, most famous for fronting the alternative rock band The Lemonheads. He is the only original member left in the current Lemonheads line-up, having served as lead singer since the band's original formation in 1986...
, The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads
The Lemonheads are an American alternative rock band first formed in 1986 by Evan Dando, Ben Deily and Jesse Peretz. Dando has remained the band's only constant member....
, Graham Coxon
Graham Coxon
Graham Leslie Coxon is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter. He came to prominence as the lead guitarist, backing vocalist and occasional lead vocalist of rock band Blur, and is also a critically acclaimed solo artist, having recorded seven solo albums...
, Seasick Steve
Seasick Steve
Steven Gene Wold, commonly known as Seasick Steve, is an American blues musician. He plays guitars, and sings, usually about his early life doing casual work.-Childhood and early life:...
, Mercury Prize
Mercury Prize
The Mercury Prize, formerly called the Mercury Music Prize and currently known as the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for sponsorship reasons, is an annual music prize awarded for the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland. It was established by the British Phonographic Industry and British...
nominees Led Bib
Led Bib
Led Bib are a modern jazz group from London, England. Their fourth album, Sensible Shoes, was shortlisted for the 2009 Mercury Prize.- History :...
, The Go! Team
The Go! Team
The Go! Team are a six-piece band from Brighton, England. They combine indie rock and garage rock with a mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood soundtracks, double dutch chants, old school hip hop and distorted guitars similar to the style of Sonic Youth. Their songs are a mix of live...
and Paul Heaton
Paul Heaton
Paul David Heaton is an English singer-songwriter. He was a member of The Housemartins, who disbanded in 1988, and a member of The Beautiful South, who disbanded in 2007. He is currently pursuing a solo career....
In 2002, Dannii Minogue
Dannii Minogue
Danielle Jane "Dannii" Minogue is an Australian singer-songwriter, actress, television personality, radio personality, fashion designer and model...
played the venue in support of her single "Put The Needle On It
Put the Needle on It
"Put the Needle on It" is a dance-pop song performed by Australian singer Dannii Minogue. The song was written by Minogue, Henrik Korpi, Mathias Johansson and Karen Poole for Minogue's fourth album Neon Nights . It is the album's opening track, and was released as its first single in November 2002...
".
On 20 January 2007, Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park
Maxïmo Park are a British alternative rock band, formed in 2000. They are signed to Warp Records. The band consists of Paul Smith , Duncan Lloyd , Archis Tiku , Lukas Wooller and Tom English...
previewed their second album, Our Earthly Pleasures
Our Earthly Pleasures
Our Earthly Pleasures is the second album by Newcastle-based Alternative rock band Maxïmo Park. It was released on 2 April 2007 in the UK , being preceded by the single "Our Velocity", released two weeks previously, on 19 March 2007.-Album information:Album details, including track listing, were...
in its entirety at The Cluny.
In January 2008, as part of The JD Set, Peter Hook
Peter Hook
Peter Hook is an English bass player, musician and author.He was a co-founder of the post-punk band Joy Division along with Bernard Sumner in the mid-1970s. Following the death of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, and Hook played bass with them throughout their career until...
collaborated with The Wombats
The Wombats
The Wombats are an indie rock band formed in Liverpool, England. The band comprises native Liverpudlians Matthew Murphy and Dan Haggis , alongside Norwegian-born Tord Øverland-Knudsen...
on a one-off live performance of their single Backfire at the Disco
Backfire at the Disco
Backfire at the Disco is a single from Liverpudlian indie band, The Wombats. It is from their debut album, The Wombats Proudly Present: A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation...
. A live recording of the song was released in April 2008, as a b-side on the single’s re-release.
In February 2008, Duffy (singer)
Duffy (singer)
Aimée Ann Duffy , known as Duffy, is a Welsh singer-songwriter. Her 2008 debut album Rockferry entered the UK Album Chart at number one. It was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 2008 with 1.68 million copies sold...
played at The Cluny, the gig coinciding with the Welsh singer’s second week at number one with her single Mercy (song)
Mercy (song)
"Mercy" is a soul song performed by Welsh blue-eyed soul singer Duffy, released as the second single from her debut album, Rockferry . Co-written by Duffy and Steve Booker and produced by Booker, it was released over 2008 worldwide to critical acclaim and unprecedented chart success...
.
In November 2008, Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
, younger sister of Beyonce Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, played at The Cluny as part of her first UK tour.
The Cluny is also one of the venues to be used for the filming of The JD Set, broadcast on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, and is also on the of the key venues for the indoor programme of the Evolution Festival, UK.
In September 2010, The Cluny played host to a series of concerts, on three consecutive nights, by the legendary New York Dolls
New York Dolls
The New York Dolls is an American rock band, formed in New York in 1971. The band's protopunk sound prefigured much of what was to come in the punk rock era; their visual style influenced the look of many new wave and 1980s-era glam metal groups, and they began the local New York scene that later...
.
Winning Newcastle’s Best Live Music Venue award
The Cluny was voted Best Live Music Venue by music development agency Generator North East in May 2009.Cluny 2
In May 2009, it was announced that The Cluny would be taking over the running of the former Round TheatreThe Round
The Round was a theatre-in-the-round in the Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The region's first theatre-in-the-round, it specialised in theatre for children and young people. The Round opened in September 2007, and was home to the Bruvvers Theatre Company.The building in which The...
, which went into liquidation in 2008. Re-branded as Cluny 2, it is a theatre-style, 160-capacity venue. The opening event occurred on Monday 11 May, and featured performances from Beth Jeans Houghton
Beth Jeans Houghton
Beth Jeans Houghton is a singer-songwriter from Newcastle upon Tyne who plays "sweet and gentle folk music." Beth Jeans Houghton has been described by The Guardian as looking like "Gwen Stefani with a touch of Brody Dalle", with a sound that "is Vashti Bunyan crossed with Nico and Laura Marling"In...
and Dot To Dots.
Since then, Cluny 2 has seen performances by The Low Anthem
The Low Anthem
The Low Anthem is an American indie folk band from Providence, Rhode Island, formed in 2006. The band consists of multi-instrumentalists Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prystowsky and Jocie Adams, and rose to prominence with the re-release of its third studio album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, in 2009.In...
, Elliott Brood
Elliott Brood
Elliott BROOD is a three-piece, alt-country band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, consisting of Mark Sasso on lead vocals, guitar, banjo, ukulele, and harmonica, Casey Laforet on guitar, backing vocals, bass pedals, keys and ukulele and Stephen Pitkin on percussion, sampler and backing vocals...
, Woodpigeon
Woodpigeon (band)
Woodpigeon are an independent rock band from Calgary, Alberta, consisting of eight core members: Mark Hamilton , Kenna Burima , Michael Gratton , Annalea Sordi , Daren Powell , Peter Moersch , Foon Yap , AJ Benoit...
, Dent May
Dent May
-Biography:May attended Jackson Prep, then later NYU Film School and Ole Miss, where he studied English and Southern studies, and found his home in the music of Serge Gainsbourg and Lee Hazlewood...
, Alvin Youngblood Hart
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Alvin Youngblood Hart is a Grammy Award-winning American musician.-Career:Born in Oakland California, Hart had family connections with Carroll County, Mississippi, and spent time there in his childhood, hearing his relatives stories of Charlie Patton, "being around these people who were there when...
, Sharks Took the Rest
Sharks Took The Rest
Sharks Took the Rest are a British alternative pop band brought together by Beccy Owen and Adam Kent. The band are based in the North East of England and write original songs that incorporate influences from many different genres, including pop, Alternative Rock, Jazz, Ambient music, Electronic...
and The Duke & The King, the new project featuring Simon Felice, formerly of The Felice Brothers
The Felice Brothers
The Felice Brothers are a folk rock/country rock band from Upstate New York founded in 2006.-History:The Felice Brothers got their start as a band playing in the New York City subway,. The sons of a carpenter, they would play together on Sundays at their father's afternoon barbecues...
.