Kalamazoo Club marks 30 years of hosting music legends

Named after the US city where Gibson Guitars are made, The Kalamazoo Klub was founded by two music-loving North Londoners in 1995.

The opening night at The King’s Head was headlined by folk blues master Bert Jansch.

In the intervening years they have hosted the cream of acoustic musicians including Wizz Jones, John Renbourn, Bonnie Dobson, Julie Felix, Martin Carthy, Martin Simpson, and Michelle Shocked.

Guy Simpson is a co-founder of the club and a guitarist in the house band The Blinkin’ Buzzards. (Image: LAURIE LEWIS) Since Covid the club has been based at the Great Northern Railway Tavern in Hornsey High Street where it marks its 30th birthday on May 9 with a gig by slide guitar supremo Michael Messer, and Chaz Jankel, a founder member of Ian Dury’s Blockheads.

Guy Simpson who runs the monthly night with fellow house band member Paul Alcantara said: “We got tired of looking for places to play and traipsing around tedious folk clubs so we thought ‘let’s set up something special of our own where we run the show’.”

“We wanted to broaden the outlook from folk. It started as a community club and for years we were downstairs at the King’s Head, but since Covid we have a nice upstairs room at a lovely pub the Railway Tavern.”

The late guitarist Wizz Jones was a well loved performer at The Kalamazoo Klub. (Image: LAURIE LEWIS) The format sees five piece house band The Blinkin’ Buzzards perform alongside a guest artist with the genre ranging from folk blues to bluegrass and New Orleans jazz.

“It’s worked brilliantly, we built up our connections and a regular following although we do a lot of promoting to bring audiences in,” adds Guy, a former journalist for The Independent who plays resophonic guitar.

“Down the years we’ve had a glorious run with all sorts of fabled artists.

“Bert Jansch was a huge star whose career was in a bit of a lull. He was playing downtown in a little club in front of 20 people but we were lucky to get him. When we put up posters around the area, 120 people turned up – they were queuing around the block.”

Bonnie Dobson plays The Kalamazoo Klub in Crouch End. (Image: LAURIE LEWIS) Another “memorable night” was a recent gig by Hampstead-raised guitarist Martin Carthy, who started playing in the 60s folk clubs, influencing Bob Dylan and Paul Simon with his version of the traditional ballad Scarborough Fair.

“He was well into his 80s but people sill turned out to be in the presence of a legend with such a history.”

Guy hopes the 30th birthday gig will also be memorable.

“Chaz Jankel used to live in Crouch End and is part of rock ‘n’ roll history as a founder of the Blockheads back in the 70s. He’s a wonderful musician who has a new album out, which is right up our street.”

Michael Messer and Chaz Jankel play the Kalamazoo Klub on May 9 for the 30th anniversary celebration. www.kalamazooklub.com. Tickets from www.wegottickets.com