Middle Earth

ABOUT

Middle Earth was an all-night psychedelic club in the basement of 43 King Street, Covent Garden, a 1716-17 town house then used as a market warehouse. It opened on 24 August 1967, moved its nights to the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm in summer 1968, and had closed by June 1969. The house is now Galleria Melissa.

SIGNIFICANCE

The Yardbirds played Middle Earth on 19 January 1968, and Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band made their first live appearance of that British visit there the next night. After the move, Middle Earth promoted the Doors and Jefferson Airplane at the Roundhouse on 6 and 7 September 1968.

MUSIC & CHARACTER

SOURCES

Details compiled from public sources. Run this venue? Get in touch to confirm or correct the listing.

1. https://pocketmags.com/us/uncut-magazine/apr-25/articles/a-kind-of-love-in (news article)Supports: Middle Earth opened on 24 August 1967 in a Georgian mansion on King Street then used as a warehouse for Covent Garden market, and ran weekend all-nighters.
2. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/68/Melody-Maker-1968-0120.pdf (news article)Supports: In January 1968 Middle Earth, 43 King Street, billed the Yardbirds (Friday 19 January), and Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band made their first live appearance of their British visit there (Saturday 20 January).
3. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/68/Melody-Maker-1968-0601.pdf (news article)Supports: The club was still running at 43 King Street at the end of May 1968 (Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, the Deviants).
4. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/68/Melody-Maker-1968-0907.pdf (news article)Supports: Middle Earth then promoted all-nighters at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm: the Byrds on 6 July 1968 and the Doors with Jefferson Airplane on 6 and 7 September 1968.
5. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Melody-Maker/60s/69/Melody-Maker-1969-0607.pdf (news article)Supports: By June 1969 Middle Earth had shut; Melody Maker recalled it growing up in a Covent Garden warehouse basement before moving to the Roundhouse.