Big Takeover

Big Takeover is a DIY community music project born in London in Summer 2009, as a productive response to the lack of all-ages, non-corporate, stimulating spaces to witness and participate in live independent music and art.

So far we've created events in railway arches, disused offices, fire stations, the hull of a boat on the Thames, empty department stores, warehouses, many radical social centres, in every part of the city, and even the roof of the Hayward Gallery. For one night only we bring the best local and international DIY bands (from Japan to Australia to Mexico to Canada, and all over the US and Europe) to these amazing spaces, and donate all profits to social justice causes.

Here's an archive of images and stories from previous Big Takeovers. We're always looking to collaborate with space owners, collectives and interested parties, or get tip offs about new spaces:
bigtakeoverlondon@gmail.com

This is 195 Mare street, Hackney. Venue for BTOs 4 and 5.

Read a bit about its history, here. Sadly the hope for restoration on that page is out of date as it has long since been bought by a bank and is now empty aside from live in security that live not in the grand old functional and quite warm building but in freezing portakabins outside, ha. Thanks world!

2 months ago

Big Takeover

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