Review: Juliyaa, Bands And Stables @ Proud, Camden

That’s it. I’ve decided. This is probably where I’m spending my next birthday.

Situated in the heart of the Stables Market (itself a bustling tourist attraction) in Camden, Proud is where I embraced a manic Monday night doing what every individual in London should be doing on the first day of the week – listening to live music and having an embarrassing battle on the dance floor.



Proud has got pretty much everything you need for a summer loving night; a lovely terrace with comfy seating, a BBQ smoking away and a bar (a spot not just for the smokers). Inside there’s a long lit up room with another bar and seven separate ‘stables’, chill out areas which you’re able to rent out for parties (there’s even one with a dance pole, but this night wasn’t that kind of party!). Walk through and we reach the main music stage room – with yes, yet another bar (you can never have too many).

And the common factor across the venue? The answer, on this particular Fourth of July, was an array of live music on hand. From the terrace, to the stables and the main music stage, unsigned band after solo act after acoustic set stepped up to create the infectious ‘I’m not going home until last train’ vibe. Family, friends, and fans of the performers eventually just merged into clusters of audiences, spoilt for choice at what, and who to jam to.

I vouched for Juliyaa in the main room, an awesome front girl (Julia Suit) and her band responsible for that shameful dance-off aforementioned. I loved it. Call Juliyaa soothing soul with a stiff kick, with blissful beats such as Talk to Me, Down To The River, and a stunning piece of vocals in a remix of Outkast’s Hey Ya.



Note: For more of Juliyaa catch her on Facebook and Twitter.

Veteran visitors of Proud will know it’s not just about up and coming music and bars though, as spoken word poetry, film screenings, and established acts from Florence and the Machine to Babyshambles, and even The Saturdays have featured there. So for any Proud virgins, visit www.proudcamden.com, see what’s on, and have a go.

This was also published on the Media Trust Community Channel