Shoreditch must surely be one of London's most active areas when it comes to artists and such like. And anyone living there is bound to have heard of
Village Underground.
Village Underground is an ongoing project, a place that lets creative types do what they do best (create); a place that endeavours to help artists connect, whether they be painters, sculptors, fashion designers, VJs, photographers or filmmakers. And it's a lot more than that, too.
Its centrepiece is a giant 4,000-square-foot (you wouldn't think it from the outside) Victorian warehouse, which once functioned as a dusty coal storage depot for the capital's steam trains.
Its walls now reverberate to the sounds of one-off events covering the whole gamut of entertainment genres.
Besides the warehouse, they also have something else that might catch your eye: tube trains. You won't find any sweaty commuters inside these ones though.
The carriages at Village Underground don't move ("no change there then" regular tube travellers might say...).
They can be glimpsed from several spots at street level, perched high up above Shoreditch looking rather resplendent with their fancily painted exteriors.
The interiors of the carriages are used as art studios - a place for artists to come and work, talk and exchange ideas. They've also utilised old shipping containers for the same purpose.
An important part of Village Underground's philosophy is to protect and enhance the local environment.
Their green outlook was evident when they came to put a new roof on the warehouse to better shield the local area from concert noise.
The project involved placing tons of soil on the roof, which soaks up noise, as well as heat and carbon emissions.
It's what is known as a living roof, with various wildlife making it their home, many of which must be grinning from ear to ear with all of the free concerts they get to enjoy.
As a regular human being, you'll have to pay for the entertainment offered at Village Underground, but choose right and it'll be money well spent.
Big party nights, movie screenings, DJs, fashion shows, solo artists, bands – Village Underground welcomes them all, including you. Check
their listings page to see what's coming up.
