Koko (music venue)

About

Koko is a concert venue and former theatre in Camden Town, London. Opened in 1900 as a theatre, it was first named The Camden Theatre, before reopening as a variety theatre in 1909 under the name Camden Hippodrome Theatre and then converting to a cinema two years later as Camden Hippodrome Picture Theatre. It was closed during World War II and taken over by the BBC following the war's conclusion. The BBC left in 1972 and the building lay empty until being reopened in 1977 as a live music venue named The Music Machine. The Music Machine was renamed the Camden Palace in 1982. The venue was purchased in 2004 and was the subject of extensive restoration, led by Oliver Bengough and Mint Entertainment. Following the restoration, the venue was renamed as Koko. In this guise it has been described as one of the premier live music venues in London.