Castle Live
Luton’s live music scene with The Castle…
The Castle is an alternative music venue in Luton town centre, a gem of Luton’s live music scene providing a platform to bands from across the country. Landlady of 14 years Cherrie and ‘Castlefest’ & Luton Live/s promoter Paul sat down to discuss live music in Luton.
Paul explained how the team have created a hub for live performances in town, “The Castle brings together local and national acts from Alternative, Heavy-Rock and Indie music scenes with weekly and annual events.” A venue showcasing smaller acts and large-scale names through their annual event ‘Castlefest’ they offer up the town’s only Alt Rock extravaganza.
‘Castlefest’, as summarised by Paul is, “an Alt Rock Punk Heavy music festival focusing on alternative styles of music and blending genres to continue evolving the lineup for what the town wants.” Forever moving with Luton’s musical taste, Cherrie first launched ‘Castlefest’ in 2012 and brought Paul on in 2013 as “the expert, because we were in way above our heads!”
It’s hard to believe that The Castle was a blank canvas when Cherrie first entered the venue all those years ago. With white walls and old-school pub furnishings, The Castle has continued to dress itself and evolve to become what it looks like today.
Inside the venue you’re greeted with blacked out walls that are drenched in old gig posters and historical photos of The Castle once before. Regular Castle faces relax between the bar and the newly built second stage out on their courtyard. Their outside stage is perfect for events on long summer days, from alternative rock festivals, club nights and Indie bands, it can all be found at The Castle.
The Castle continues to bring alternative music styles whilst bringing out the breaking acts that are making waves nationally and locally to the forefront of Luton’s live music scene. And as well as being a venue, the Castle also wants to shift perspective and bring a new rehearsal space for bands in the town centre. Offering a rehearsal space in the town means that bands can finally have a place to practice and hone their craft before hitting the stage.
With a fantastic series of events coming up at The Castle, make sure you’re following The Castle on their socials for more details.
