Blow Up

Blow Up returns to Komedia on Saturday 7 November, bringing a night that started in a Camden pub more than thirty years ago to Brighton. It's run by Paul Tunkin, who'll be there on the night, and the live guests are The Forty Fours.

If the name doesn't ring a bell, the history might. Blow Up launched on 16 October 1993 in the upstairs function room of the Laurel Tree, a pub in Camden Town, and it's still running in its 33rd year. It sat right at the heart of the mid-90s Britpop explosion, often cited as the catalyst and birthplace of the whole scene. Over the years it's picked up a fair bit of recognition: Time Out voted it No.4 in its Top Ten Clubs of the 90s, Vox Magazine listed it among '5 Classic Clubs of Our Time' alongside The Blitz Club, Shoom and The Roxy, and Melody Maker called it 'the club that changed the world'.

On the bill, The Forty Fours are the live guests. They're currently finishing their debut album for Blow Up Records, which is expected out this autumn, so this is a good chance to hear them before the record is actually out. Tunkin, who started the night back in '93 and still runs it, will be there too.

It's at Komedia Studio, inside The Komedia at 44-47 Gardner Street, BN1 1UN. Doors open at 7:00 pm on Saturday 7 November.