Music at The Old Queen’s Head

From its traditional pub exterior, you would never know that The Old Queen’s Head in Islington doubles as a vibrant live music venue. Having played host to plenty of big names in the past (The Kooks, Annie Mac and Jamie Woon to name but a few), and with a full schedule over the next few months, I popped in to check out their regular Monday night acoustic slot, promoted by Dead and Alive.

The evening’s line-up was kicked off by singer-songwriter Drew Worthley, who played seven songs off his album, The Ember, all slow and soulful reflections on life. One of these was a cover of Paul Simon’s Crazy Love Vol II – a brave move, considering that the original was supported by South African band Stimela. It took a while for me to adjust (being a big Paul Simon fan myself), but I came to enjoy Worthley’s mellower, and distinctly non-South African, version.

Worthley was followed by Alistair and Patrick of Silvers, who usually perform as a four-piece band. Their latest single, The Heartland, had some broken-down moments of brilliance, but throughout the set it felt as though they were longing to start leaping about the stage, flinging electric guitars. Clearly more at home making lots of noise, their set still did every song justice – Silvers’ EP will definitely be worth a listen.

Next up was Sophie Yau, who lit up the stage in a floral dress and red heels. Accompanied by a Jason Mraz lookalike on guitar, and a nervous backing singer (confusingly, also called Sophie), her voice was raw and full of emotion. Frustratingly, she spent more time tuning her guitar between songs than playing it – her set lacked flow, but offered flashes of potential.

Scott Pickering wound up the evening and, despite appearing to be quite nervous on stage, his voice was assured and his guitar-playing precise. His cover of California Dreamin’ – a predictable choice – was upbeat and warm.

The magic of the evening, however, was in the atmosphere. The upstairs room of the Old Queen’s Head feels like stepping into a lounge at a house party – the décor is a cross between a 16th-century English country house and an American hunting lodge: high ceilings, leather booths, distressed wallpaper, imposing fireplaces and elaborate chandeliers all make for a warm and vibrant evening.

Don’t expect to find the ‘next big thing’ in this Monday evening slot – most of the acts are likely to be raw, unpolished and still finding their musical personas – but it is worth a visit just to enjoy the atmosphere, the music, and more importantly, to support local music talent. Isn’t it events like this that make us Londoners love London?

Acoustic night is held every Monday at:

The Old Queen’s Head
44 Essex Road
Islington
N1 8LN