Tipped

Good Staple Music Venue

December 05, 2007

Cargo is a great venue if you happen to like jazz, soul, hip hop, electonica and such like.

They have live acts several times a week but be sure to check the listings as they have a wide range of promoters which means it has a very varied music policy.

The outdoor courtyard is great in the summer and they often have barbques. In the winter they have the restaurant which serves average food at reasonable prices.

The one bad thing about this place is the layout of the club - its sort of split into 2 which means that if its at capacity and the band comes on everyone rushes into one half of the venue which can make it really really packed - I saw The Roots here once and whilst it was a great show it was wayyy too packed.

Cool (but maybe too cool?)

November 29, 2007

Cargo is cool – and, depending on the context, potentially pretentious. I have heard of bad experiences there – it seems to depend on what band you see and what kind of people it attracts. However, for the context in which I went – a gig under the London Jazz Festival, a jazzy reinterpretation of some b-sides off of David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy albums – it was just right. A sophisticated but friendly crowd. The patio is great, I definitely want to go back when/if London weather permits. Cargo is divided into three sections: in the bar section, their only draught beer is Amstel, but the bottled beer, cider, wine and cocktail selection is quite good; the Street Food Café looks like a decent place for sharing platters; and the stage-section is a good size for intimate, but not too crowded, events. Definitely a nice décor all around; ambient lighting, low couches and wooden block tables make for a sleek but laid back look.

Tags: live music, hip, shoreditch