The Luminaire
Encyclopedia
The Luminaire was a live music venue on Kilburn High Road in north west London
, UK
. It opened on 1 March 2005 in what was a nightclub called Late, above McGovern's Pub and The Kilburn Bar. Its last public show was 7 March 2011.
It was co-founded by John Donnelly, a publican from Ireland
, and Andy Inglis, a Scot.
Donnelly had previously had a minor role in CHiPs
, the American television programme, as well as a number of Steven Seagal
films before moving back to London and becoming involved in the music business. Donnelly, who played for Arsenal
reserves before a leg injury finished his career, lives with Siobhan Fahey
, a member of Bananarama
. He was previously engaged to writer Zadie Smith
. Donnelly came in second place at "The Living Statue" awards in Montreal in 2007.
Inglis (rhymes with tingles) was formerly a band and record label manager. The most notable bands he managed, between 2000 and 2002, were Utah Saints
, Wet Wet Wet
and Travis
. He has a close friendship with fellow Scots Sean Connery
and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
, Richard Lochhead
. Inglis has spent increasing time in Norway
over the past few years and occasionally lectures at the University of Oslo
.
The venue name was inspired by a bar called Lit, in the Lower East Side
, New York City
. It was voted as Time Out Magazine's London Venue of The Year in 2006 and as Music Week
's UK Venue of The Year in 2007 , primarily because of its positive attitude to both artist and audience..
In a newsletter to their email database on 24 November 2010, The Luminaire announced their closure:
"It is with sadness that we have to announce the closure of The Luminaire and The King's Head on 1st January 2011. It's been a labour of love for a while now, and at this point it makes no sense for us to continue. We hope to be able to do some final farewell shows, probably in late March, and we'll let you know about those through the usual channels. To all of you - who supported this independent venue, and the great artists who played here, since we opened back on 1st March 2011 - you have our grateful thanks.
We were nothing without you."
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It opened on 1 March 2005 in what was a nightclub called Late, above McGovern's Pub and The Kilburn Bar. Its last public show was 7 March 2011.
It was co-founded by John Donnelly, a publican from Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and Andy Inglis, a Scot.
Donnelly had previously had a minor role in CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
, the American television programme, as well as a number of Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...
films before moving back to London and becoming involved in the music business. Donnelly, who played for Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
reserves before a leg injury finished his career, lives with Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey
Siobhan Fahey is an Irish musician and founding member of the 1980s British girl group Bananarama, and later formed the BRIT Award and Ivor Novello award winning musical outfit Shakespears Sister.-Career:Fahey was born the eldest of three daughters to Helen and...
, a member of Bananarama
Bananarama
Bananarama are an English female pop duo who have had success on the pop and dance charts since 1982. Rather than relying on a two part harmony, the duo generally sings in unison, as do their background vocalists. Although there have been line-up changes, the group enjoyed their most popular...
. He was previously engaged to writer Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith is a British novelist. To date she has written three novels. In 2003, she was included on Granta's list of 20 best young authors...
. Donnelly came in second place at "The Living Statue" awards in Montreal in 2007.
Inglis (rhymes with tingles) was formerly a band and record label manager. The most notable bands he managed, between 2000 and 2002, were Utah Saints
Utah Saints
Utah Saints is a dance band based in Leeds, England. The music is produced by Jez Willis and Tim Garbutt, who are joined on-stage by other musicians whenever the band plays live...
, Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet
Wet Wet Wet are a Scottish pop rock band that formed in the 1980s. They scored a number of hits in the British charts and around the world. The band is composed of Marti Pellow , Tommy Cunningham , Graeme Clark and Neil Mitchell...
and Travis
Travis (band)
Travis are a post-Britpop band from Glasgow, Scotland, comprising Fran Healy , Dougie Payne , Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose...
. He has a close friendship with fellow Scots Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
and Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is a position in the Scottish Government cabinet responsible for the Environment and Rural Affairs department. The Cabinet Secretary responsibilities include agriculture, fisheries, environment as well as land reform and sustainable...
, Richard Lochhead
Richard Lochhead
Richard Neilson Lochhead is the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Moray.-Background and early career:...
. Inglis has spent increasing time in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
over the past few years and occasionally lectures at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
.
The venue name was inspired by a bar called Lit, in the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was voted as Time Out Magazine's London Venue of The Year in 2006 and as Music Week
Music Week
Music Week is a trade paper for the UK record industry.Founded in 1959 as Record Retailer, it was relaunched on 18 March 1972 as Music Week . On 17 January 1981 the title was again changed, owing to the increasing importance of sell-through videos, to Music & Video Week...
's UK Venue of The Year in 2007 , primarily because of its positive attitude to both artist and audience..
In a newsletter to their email database on 24 November 2010, The Luminaire announced their closure:
"It is with sadness that we have to announce the closure of The Luminaire and The King's Head on 1st January 2011. It's been a labour of love for a while now, and at this point it makes no sense for us to continue. We hope to be able to do some final farewell shows, probably in late March, and we'll let you know about those through the usual channels. To all of you - who supported this independent venue, and the great artists who played here, since we opened back on 1st March 2011 - you have our grateful thanks.
We were nothing without you."