The Retro Bar, just off The Strand is one of our favourite bars with its many different nights and unique musical flavour. You can hear a modern soundtrack of Beth Ditto, Arcade Fire, Hot Chip, The Julie Ruin, Peaches and loads more but, not surprisingly they also love their cool retro tunes. We asked manager Lesley Lush and some of her DJs to tell us the biggest artists at the bar and pick a couple of songs.
Blondie
Picture This, a classic hit and their recent single Long Time, which is fabulous, they’ve still got it!
Grace Jones
No party is complete without Grace. I would pick Nipple to The Bottle and My Jamaican Guy.
The Smiths
Panic and There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, I don’t think a single day goes by without someone putting The Smiths on the jukebox.
Erasure
Have you seen the footage of everyone leaving their recent gig still singing? A Little Respect and Sometimes.
Kate Bush
Her live shows brought much excitement to the Retro Bar, we had fans from far and wide coming to hear some pre-show Bush. I’ll pick, Sat In Your Lap and Hounds Of Love.
Soft Cell
Marc Almond came in the bar once and he didn’t like the picture we had up! I have changed it now. Memorabilia and Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.
David Bowie
DJ Heidi Heelz is a huge fan, she even got a tattoo done the day he passed away. Changes and Boys Keep Swinging.
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Another firm favourite of mine and our regulars. Steve Severin came in a few times with The Readers, very nice he was too. Dear Prudence and Drop Dead.
ABBA
We go for the not so cheesy, less well known, but fabulous tracks such as Head Over Heels and If It Wasn’t For The Nights.
Plus
DJ Michael Kelly loves Depeche Mode and picked Just Can’t Get Enough because still sounds super fresh 36 years later. DJ Joe Pop would go for X-Ray Spex Identity or Jayne Country Fuck Off.
Entry is free.
Details of what’s on at retrobarlondon.co.uk.
The Retro Bar, 2 George Court, WC2.
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