DHP Family unveils new London venue
UK-based promoter and venue operator DHP Family is launching the Grace, a new late night music venue in Islington, north London.
The 150-capacity venue is the latest addition to the DHP Family portfolio, which includes London venues the Garage (600-capacity) and Oslo (375-capacity), as well as award-winning boat venue Thekla (400-cap.) in Bristol.
Opening today (Friday 13 September) with music by DJs from Soho record store Sister Ray Records, upcoming shows at the venue include country singer Lauren Jenkins, Manchester bands Ist Ist Ist and the Covasettes and neo-soul singer Ben Brown.
Housed in what originally opened as Upstairs at the Garage, the space has already hosted acts including Jeff Buckley, the Killers, Sheryl Crow, Mogwai and Grimes.
“Here at the Grace, we had the perfect opportunity to combine our bar and live music space”
“London is well known for its live music pubs which are institutions in their own right,” comments DHP Family owner George Akins.
“Here at the Grace, we had the perfect opportunity to combine our bar and live music space to create an atmospheric space that can function equally well for after-work drinks or post-gig partying.”
The Grace will open from 5 p.m. each day, closing at 2 a.m. Monday to Thursday and at 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The venue will not open on Sundays.
The venue is situated opposite Highbury and Islington tube station. More information can be found here.
In addition to its venue portfolio, Nottingham-based DHP Family runs the 25,000-capacity Splendour festival in Nottingham and multi-venue festival Dot to Dot in several cities. DHP also puts on 1,500 gigs per year, promoting tours by Ed Sheeran, the War on Drugs, Enter Shikari and more.
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DHP Family hails best-ever Splendour attendance
DHP Family welcomed a best-ever 21,000 people to its ninth Splendour festival in Nottingham, UK, on Saturday 23 July.
Splendour, a co-production between the promotion/venues group and Nottingham City Council, was held in the 500-acre Wollaton Park and headlined by Jess Glynne in her first festival headline slot. Other performers included The Human League, UB40, The Fratellis, The Darkness and Turin Brakes.
George Akins, DHP Family’s owner and managing director, says: “We’re proud to have once again staged a hugely successful Splendour. The months of careful planning by DHP Family and Nottingham City Council paid off to make it an enjoyable experience on the day for everyone involved, from the artists backstage to all the people who came to enjoy the music, comedy, food and fringe acts.”
Councillor Dave Trimble, Nottingham’s portfolio-holder for leisure and culture, adds: “This year’s festival has been a fantastic success. […] Nottingham has a great reputation for its music scene and Splendour festival showcases that talent.”
View drone footage of the festival, courtesy of dgtl Concepts, below:
Nottingham-based DHP Family expanded its footprint in London in May with the acquisition of famed venues The Garage and The Borderline, previously owned by the MAMA Group/Live Nation.
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