Danny Pearson's Love Letter to Hitchin's iconic live music venue Club 85

Club 85

'Dearly beloved

We are gathered here today

To get through this thing called "life"

Electric word, life

It means forever, and that's a mighty long time...'  (Prince, 1984)

 So, here we are, in the final months, weeks and days of our beloved club, writes Danny Pearson

Danny Pearson's Love Letter to Hitchin's iconic live music venue Club 85. CREDIT: Danny Pearson

Most of us by now will have read the statement released last September ( Hitchin Club 85 landlord and owner Jas Lidder reveals exactly why he is closing legendary live music venue - find out more | Local News | News | Hitchin Nub News | by Layth Yousif ).

The statement was of course fair and transparent, and the community were given the facts to digest.

We were able to better accept the decision that the club, where it stands now, would not be… forever.

A lot of us felt a sense of mourning. It was like an old friend telling us that they won't be around for much longer.

It's one of those places that you thought would just be with us forever.

This building isn't just a music venue, for a lot of us it was a classroom. This is where we learnt to 'gig'.

A safe space where you could test out live music and learn how to just be.

Of course, for some, it's where they first performed, learnt how to promote, set up a stage, fix lighting, and adjust sound.

This place has educated so many people and it's given our community countless opportunities to explore, experiment, play and grow.

Danny Pearson's Love Letter to Hitchin's iconic live music venue Club 85. CREDIT: Danny Pearson

Club 85 hosts...

It's hosted many genres of music. Jazz, reggae, dance, ska, punk, metal, rock, electronic… the list goes on.

It's also hosted football screenings, wrestling matches and is the spiritual home of Rhythms of the World.

A particular favourite night of mine was when Wheatus rolled into town the night before they were due to play the 02 in London.

It was a guilty pleasure type of night – classic early 00s rock meets pop, and everyone knew it. Cheekily the band played their biggest hit 'Teenage Dirtbag' at the front end of their gig, which caught most by surprise.

The rest of the set was loud and fun, but we were all waiting for the encore and another round of 'Teenage Dirtbag'. This time the crowd were ready!

'Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby

Yeah, I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby

The energy from the crowd in that room could have powered the entire town for a week!

Sold out

I was there again the other week, the queue stretching out the front door to get in. Another SOLD OUT performance.

Climbing the stairs laughing and joking as the excitement built.

Plans being drawn up as to who was getting the first round in before the music started. The smell.

That is something that would be hard to replicate. Not at all an unpleasant smell, just unusual and unique.

The smell of a million mighty gigs.

The buzz of the waiting crowd. Standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow music lovers. The vibrations in the room as the guitar screams out.

The psychedelic neon paint clinging onto the walls and above the stage. The baby doll sitting on a swing up in the light rigging, perched watching every gig from the best seat in the house.

A beautiful beast of a place. How will this not be here forever? I will miss it all.

All these memories made in one special building that means so many things to so many people. Its final date is fast approaching and now it is our duty to make sure that Club 85's final days at this site are its finest.

Danny Pearson's Love Letter to Hitchin's iconic live music venue Club 85. CREDIT: Danny Pearson

Club 85: The best live music venue in our area

It's a fact - Club 85 is the best live music venue in the area. Bob and his team have supported artists and creatives from every genre, country, and background.

I am excited to see how Club 85 is going to evolve and adapt. It will live again, and I am sure the team, with the help of the community, will once again succeed in creating a new grassroots venue for all.

But, as we can see, it's not over yet. Not by a long way. Acts are booked in all the way to the end of the year, culminating in one huge party in December!

So how best can we support this magnificent beast, this classroom, this jewel in the crown of Hitchin?

It's easy. If you haven't been to Club 85 before... then now is the time to go see what everyone has been talking about.

If you've been before… then go again!

Get on their website and buy tickets, buy T-shirts, get down there for a few gigs and enjoy the live performances!

Sing along and dance, mosh, bounce, shake, take photos, drink, laugh and enjoy. The Club is, and always will be, ours.

Dearly beloved, here's to the future of Club 85 - whatever and wherever that may be… 

To Be Continued!  

Club 85 – North Hertfordshire's Independent Music Venue (club-85.co.uk)

See Hitchin Nub News for more on Club 85 very soon

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Danny Pearson's Love Letter to Hitchin's iconic live music venue Club 85. CREDIT: Danny Pearson