London Astoria January 14 2009 Various Reviewed By : Bree Rayfield

One of London’s most iconic live music venues will be closing its doors before the end of the month. The Astoria is due to be demolished to make way for a Crossrail project that will install a new train line linking the east and west of the capital. The venue has played host to some of the music world's biggest names including The Rolling Stones, Prince, U2, Foo Fighters, Eminem, David Bowie, Nirvana, Radiohead, Alice Cooper and Jimi Hendrix.
For its final night of live music, the line-up will include The Automatic, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, My Vitriol, King Blues, Frank Turner, VV Brown and special guests are still to be confirmed. Sam Duckworth from Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, who helped organise the final live-music gig, suggested other bands may just turn up on the night and play.
The Demolition Ball - The Last Goodbye Astoria Final Show: the final night of live music - is set to be an emotional event for people who have relied on the venue to provide big-name acts for the previous 20 years. Built on the site of a former pickle factory, and starting its entertainment history as a cinema, the Astoria building has come a long way since it was constructed in 1927. It was converted to a theatre in 1976 but by the late '80s, was firmly established as a live music venue. As well as the long list of well-established bands who have made the Astoria their first choice for intimate gigs in London, some even chose to do live-recordings at the venue; Radiohead, Hard-Fi and Sum 41 are among them.
So whether you're an Astoria regular, or are yet to visit this historic venue, this end of an era event for live London music is set to be special. Doors open from 6pm and tickets were still available (at time of posting) via Seetickets.