London's Marquee Club - Wednesday 16th February 05 By Steve Rudd

Never does a night go by down in the capital when there isn't at least one quality gig on, and now there is no excuse for music lovers not to catch a gig or two if they are right in the heart of London's West End since the legendary Marquee Club has now been relocated to Leicester Square, where it has been up and running for a good few months now. There might not yet be live music on there every single night of the week, but that is ultimately the intention.

And, ok, there might be bigger and better music venues scattered elsewhere across the city, but few venues have as much history attached to their name as The Marquee does.

Back in the Sixties, when the venue was found down Wardour Street, many of the big breakthrough rock 'n' roll bands graced the stage at the Marquee... bands such as The Rolling Stones and The Who, along with artists such as Hendrix and Bowie. This relocation to Leicester Square doesn't mark the first time that the venue has moved its premises, and there was a Marquee venture set up and running in Islington for a short while a couple of years ago - which was heartily supported by Dave Stewart.

I personally couldn't imagine a better location than Leicester Square, but the guy who runs the venue - Alan North - admits that just because it is literally right in the heart of the West End doesn't necessarily mean that the venue is naturally busy as a direct result.

He says it is still damn hard work to pull punters into the gigs that are put on there, and despite the fact that there have been some very well known bands and artists to have performed there so far in its new location such as Art Brut, GLC and Har Mar Superstar, it seems that The Marquee ethos really is to support brand new bands that the majority of the music-loving public might never have even heard of before.

Face it, when all the bands back in the Sixties and Seventies first played at The Marquee, more often than not they weren't - at the time - the household names that they proceeded to become. As if Alan North hasn't got his work cut out as it is, he also helps to run and manage the hugely popular pub venue The Water Rats (which is to be found in North London... just around the corner from King's Cross train station), along with another venue that puts on live music.

Talking to him, you can see that he's hugely enthusiastic about working in and around such important music venues, and he admits that the layout of the current Marquee venue was actually conceived on napkins when he was in a meeting with other people who were interested in the venue.

The way that the venue is laid out utilises the floor space to the max, and the building's conversion from a nightclub has been stunningly realised: it really is a sight to behold, and greatly enhanced by its prominent balcony feature that enables people to watch the bands both from ground level and from up above them - whichever most takes their fancy. I headed into the venue on spec and was overjoyed that I had done when The Feeling proved themselves to be an awesome indie-styled rock band with hugely catchy pop elements. Facts faced, The Feeling's tunes are far, far more exciting and unforgettable than Franz Ferdinand's and they deserve to go far.

The female-fronted Airport are equally as magnificent, and are just as good to look at as they are to listen to. From both Airport and The Feeling I can't wait to hear more. As for The Marquee itself - there, I really can't wait to return...

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