KOKO Launches Recording Studio & New Events for 125th Anniversary

KOKO is celebrating its 125th anniversary with the launch of a new in-house recording studio, an expanded KOKO Electronic programme, and a run of DJ-led takeovers and special events. The venue first opened in Camden in 1901 and has operated under several identities since, most notably as The Camden Palace between 1982 and 2004, when it hosted nights from Carl Cox, Paul Oakenfold, Sasha, LTJ Bukem and Depeche Mode.

After a three-year closure and full restoration, KOKO reopened in 2022 as a 50,000 sq ft site comprising three venues and sixteen rooms. The reopening brought with it KOKO Electronic, an in-house electronic music programme running every Friday and Saturday from 10pm to 5am.

Recording Studio

The new studio is located in the penthouse of the House of KOKO and is wired into every performance and event space in the building. It is built around a Solid State Logic desk, the same model used during Kendrick Lamar‘s Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.

The space is open to artists and members for recording, songwriting and podcasting. ANOTR and Omah Lay have already used it. It will also feed into the KOKO Foundation’s Arts Academy.

KOKO Electronic

KOKO Electronic is programmed entirely in-house and puts DJs in the round on an open stage, turning the main floor into a dancefloor for its 1,500-capacity crowds. Recent bookings have included Bedouin, Prospa and ANOTR. Coming up for the anniversary programme: Uncle Waffles, Armand Van Helden and Ayra Starr, with further additions to be announced.

Larger takeover events extend across the House of KOKO’s sixteen rooms, which include a rooftop restaurant, hidden jazz club, vinyl listening rooms, gallery spaces and a network of bars, with a 300-piece art collection running throughout. The setup allows artists to extend their presence across the building before and after performances, and the venue’s live-streaming infrastructure means those events reach audiences beyond the room. KOKO currently runs over 1,000 DJ sets, 300 live music events and 300 cultural events per year.

Upcoming KOKO Electronic highlights: 

DJ Tunez and Marvo Weekender

Armand Van Helden

Zsongo Weekender with Ayra Starr – London debut

Uncle Waffles

Beltran b2b Ben Sterling

Acid House Palace with Paranoid London

Jazzy Jeff

Paco Osuna

Desiree 

For more info and tickets, head to their website here!