Some musicians have been famous for so long that it’s hard to imagine a time when they weren’t. But even the legends have to start somewhere and for many it was the sacred walls of the Troubadour.
Tucked in between a doctor’s surgery and a pub, you’d be forgiven for thinking the Chelsea cafe doesn’t look like anything special. But dip into the history books of the swinging sixties and you’ll soon learn that it was the hottest place in London.
The troubadour quickly became a favorite of the ‘it’ crowd in London’s hip coffee scene after opening on Old Brompton Road in 1954. Bringing with it the capital’s most revered artists and intellectuals, the venue was soon the epicenter of philosophical debate and political counterculture, all soundtracked by folk – and the jazz style of budding singers trying to “make it”.
Legend has it that a then-unknown 21-year-old Bob Dylan was sent to London by mentor Pete Seeger with no advice other than to find “Anthea at the Troubadour”. He would go on to play his first UK show there on Christmas Day under the name Blind Boy Grunt.
Martin Carthy also taught Dylan the chords to Scarborough Fair, the inspiration behind the hit song Girl from the Northland, at one of the wooden tables. Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Charlie Watts, Sammy Davis Jr and a teenage Paul Simon are also said to have frequented the floorboards early in their careers, and Led Zeppelin have been known to host intimate jam sessions in the basement after gigs elsewhere.
The troubadour has also seen some fascinating moments in London’s political sphere. It was here that the Black Panthers met after leaving the 1968 riots in Paris and early meetings with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament took place. The magazine Private Eye, now run by Ian Hislop, is also said to have been produced and distributed first from the front room.
Unlike other cafes of its time, the Troubadour never closed. These days the music plays on thanks to both local bands and bigger names like Adele, Ed Sheeran and Paolo Nutini but things are much smaller blustery than they used to be.
Contrary to its rock and roll past, the picturesque green area is the perfect piece of tranquility to take in some musical history. Now in its 70th year, The Troubadour shows no signs of slowing down and who knows, maybe you’ll discover the next musical legend.
You can find The Troubadour at 265-267 Old Brompton Road, SW5 9JA. Check out their Instagram here.
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