10 Songs You Need to Listen to When in Camden

Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse | © Wikimedia/Rama
Nicholas Atkins

Camden is known for being a bit rock and roll, a bit edgy in terms of music. So, what should you be listening to when in town? We’ve compiled a handy list for you, so you can just rock out.

Camden Town: Suggs

Suggs

Suggs (of Madness fame) wrote this song in 1995 for his album Lone Ranger. Having been a key player in the London music scene for many years, Suggs (AKA Graham McPherson) made Camden’s Dublin Castle (the slightly weathered and now well-known pub in the heart of Camden) his spiritual and musical home alongside his Madness buddies. The raucous times Suggs enjoyed with his friends, and his love for Camden inspired him to pen the lyrics to the song’.

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GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
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1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

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CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
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2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
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CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
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3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
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ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
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1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

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ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
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2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
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Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
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1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

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EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
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2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
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COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
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3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
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Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

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1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

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THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
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2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
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SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
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3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
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Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
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1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

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ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
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2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
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IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
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3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
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“In Camden town I’ll meet you,

By the underground,

In Camden town, we’ll walk there,

As the sun goes down…”

The song reached #14 in the UK singles charts.

Fame and Fortune: The Libertines

The Libertines

This song was released on the band’s third album in September 2015 and songwriting duties were split between Doherty and Barat. The song traces the band’s story, from their early days to their tabloid fame and infamy. Carl Barat insisted the song needed the sound of an engine revving so he brought a scooter into the studio to record the sound. In the chorus, Pete and Carl compare themselves to “Tin soldiers responding to a call / To Camden we will crawl / One and all”.

The Prisoner: The Clash

The Clash

The Clash are symbolic of everything that makes Camden great. The rebel punk rockers made Camden their home and reportedly had their first rehearsal there. In late 1976, The Clash shot the front cover of their debut album in Camden in an alleyway by their recording studio, Rehearsals Rehearsals, which was in an abandoned British Rail yard that now forms part of Camden Market. The majority of the album released in 1977 was recorded in the venue. The Prisoner which was released the following year contains the lyrics: “The Prisoner lives in Camden Town/ selling revolution/the prisoner loads his tracking arm up/ with self-disillusion”

Sorted for E’s and Whizz: Pulp

Pulp

This one is more about partying yourself silly in some festival field out in Hampshire, but in the story of the song, Jarvis and his chums wouldn’t have even made it to the festival without the services of a friendly ticket salesman in Camden: “Oh yeah, the pirate radio told us what was going down/ Got the tickets from some f*cked up bloke in Camden Town/ Oh, and no-one seems to know exactly where it is/ But that’s okay ’cause we’re all sorted out for E’s and whizz”.

Back to Black: Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse is the unofficial queen of Camden, so much so that they built a statue of her there. Her nights out playing pool in The Good Mixer and indulging in all the excesses that sadly led to her demise, among a cast of rag tag celebrity pals, made her a Camden legend. Her beautiful voice and song writing ability only make her story more tragic, and are immortalised in her famous song Back to Black.

Come Back to Camden: Morrissey

Morrissey

This mournful lament is typical Morrissey fair and name checks the great Camden Town in its title. In an interview with i-D magazine in 2004, he said: “The song is about a particular person. I have a history, yes. And that whole time in my life is a very emotive period for me.” This person is assumed to be friend and photographer Jake Walters with whom Morrissey lived in Camden in the mid-90s.

God Save the Queen: Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols

For punks, it all started in 1976 and Camden was ground zero. This is also the same year that Camden Market opened. In their anarchic, anti-establishment anthem, the Pistols tell us there is ‘no future’. For them, barring a few shaky reunion gigs over the years, this has turned out to be largely true.

Blitzkrieg Bop: The Ramones and Golden Brown: The Stranglers

The Ramones
The Stranglers

In a weekend that will go down in punk history, on July 4th 1976 American punk band, The Ramones took to the Roundhouse stage, supported by The Stranglers. The next night, both bands played at Dingwalls. The legendary two day punk fest is remembered as a rallying cry for the burgeoning punk scene in the UK. “Hey Ho! Let’s Go!” They shouted. And the punks followed.

Arnold Layne: Pink Floyd

Syd Barrett

Before punk, before Johnny Rotten and before anyone had decided to stick a safety pin anywhere on their clothing for anything other than practical reasons, Camden was already hosting legendary gigs. In 1966, Pink Floyd played their debut gig at the Roundhouse. It was an all night party, where the consumption of psychedelic drugs is likely to have reached astronomical levels. Arnold Layne is the Floyd’s debut single, penned by troubled genius Syd Barrett.

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