London Folk Magazine and News
Return to London Town - Annual Festival of Traditional Irish Music, Song and Dance
Friday 25th to Monday 28th October sees the 21st instalment of London’s internationally renowned Festival of traditional Irish music, song and dance
IMDL´s annual Festival, previously named ´Return to Camden Town´ and now subtly rebranded after 20 years to ‘Return to London Town’ will be predominantly based at the beautiful 4-Star Clayton Crown Hotel in a part of London with important historical links to Irish music in London – Cricklewood.
The North West London areas of Kilburn and Cricklewood are well known for having large Irish populations since the 1950s. In 1952 London’s most iconic Irish dance hall, The Galtymore, opened its doors in Cricklewood and went on to serve thousands of Irish people on a nightly basis for the best part of the six decades that followed. The venue catered to all, hosting céilí music in one part of the venue and more mainstream dance bands in the other. The famous neighbouring hostelry ‘The Crown’, was originally a coaching inn, accommodating carriages passing between London, Elstree, Watford and St Alban’s since the 1850s. Rebuilt to its current form (a beautiful red sandstone building over three levels with elegant carvings inside) in 1900, The Crown pub became well known as a meeting place for Irish in London – the forecourt also served as a morning meeting place for Irish construction workers and potential employers on a daily basis. The pub is also famously referenced in the Dominic Behan song ‘McAlpine’s Fusiliers’ sung by The Dubliners – ‘Oh, the craic was good in Cricklewood and they wouldn’t leave the Crown..’
At the end of the last century, Dublin publican and hotelier, Tom Moran purchased The Crown plus an adjacent plot of land, and went on to build a fabulous 152 room, 4 Star hotel alongside the listed Victorian pub building. Currently owned by the Clayton Hotels Group, the building boasts beautiful architecture, old and new, between both sides. The Hotel’s stunning and spacious atrium welcomes the visitor to a huge complex which comprises a basement venue for up to 400 people, 3 bars, a living room, a restaurant, two dining spaces, plus numerous additional meeting, lounge and break out areas dotted around this impressive multi-level space (oh, and there’s a pool and gym too!). The Festival organisers/ Irish Music and Dance in London (IMDL) have enjoyed hosting a number of concerts, rehearsals, parties and sessions at the venue since 2013 and are very excited about bringing the whole 4 day Festival here in its 21st year.
All regular Festival-goers should expect the same consistently high standard of programming to which they have become accustomed over the last two decades, whilst enjoying the benefits of more space in luxurious surroundings with easy access to bars, restaurants and, if needed, overnight accommodation. The Festival production team will load in on Friday 25th October, transforming the Hotel’s basement venue - ‘The Bentley Suite’ into the perfect concert setting. ‘Return to London Town Festival’ will offer 4 days of concerts, workshops, a céilí and an extended session trail – held at the Clayton Crown Hotel, or one of the additional Festival venues (walking distance from the Hotel).
Whether you’re a Londoner commuting to Festival events on a daily basis (excellent public transport links – train, tube and bus – don’t forget the Jubilee line to nearby Willesden Green or Kilburn runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Also free on street weekend parking on the Cricklewood Lane side of the Broadway/ hotel parking onsite) OR a visitor to London wanting to move in for some, or all of the weekend (special Festival B&B rates at the Clayton Crown Hotel - £99 single, £109 double/ twin, £119 triple, plus other less expensive options a few doors down at Travelodge and Windmill Hotels), there will be something for you at this welcoming, friendly, intergenerational event which presents the finest in traditional Irish music, song and dance, and promises to be bursting with atmosphere as always. The Festival’s new home for 2019 brings almost all Festival events under one roof, and you can look forward to an extended session trail during the weekend, which, in addition to the programme of concerts, workshops, céilí and album launches, may leave you in a pickle about what to do first!
You may choose to walk in to the Hotel on Friday evening and not leave again until Monday (and why not? – with the big concert venue, 3 bars, a living room, a restaurant, two dining spaces, plus numerous other areas to relax dotted around…). Alternatively, you may want to pop out to the late night bagel shop, the Chinese restaurant, the land of the ‘golden arches’, the local coffee shop or any number of other local eateries on Cricklewood Broadway for a breather, before throwing yourself back in to all things Festival again – safe in the knowledge, that even once the concerts have finished, tunes will continue to flourish into the wee hours, with licences in the main hotel bars until 2am and the Residents Bar open until 4am.
We very much look forward to welcoming you to Cricklewood this October.
SPECIAL OFFER TICKETS: £40 All Inclusive Concerts Fri/ Sat at Clayton Crown Hotel, plus Sunday Céilí at St Agnes’
ALL MUSIC AND SONG EVENTS FOR UNDER 18s: £6
For a full programme, more Festival information and to purchase tickets please visit:
Twitter: @ReturntoCamden
Instagram: irishmusicdanceinlondon
