We’re Back!
Owner Elaine Knight joins forces with Brennan’s Joan Brennan to restore London’s home to indie rock.
A popular London live music club that closed two months ago is about to reopen at a new venue.
APK Live will reopen Feb. 1 as APK at 347 Clarence St., now home of Brennan’s Bar and Bistro. APK owner Elaine Knight will join forces with Brennan’s owner Joan Brennan (who will continue to operate Elite Catering at the site) to develop the “social enterprise” that will bring back London’s home to indie rock and its reputation as a creative hub.
The club will reopen Feb. 1, although details have yet to be worked out.
“Joan said she’d be happy to let us take over the front and we’re working hard together to bring out the stage and for the artists to come back and recreate that APK Live feel,” said Knight.
The club is located next door to the popular Call The Office, which has worked with Brennan’s on events in the past. “Our live music always complements what they are doing there,” said Knight. “So, it’s going to be a pretty vibrant corner.”
APK Live was born of the bar Alex P. Keaton at Albert and Talbot streets and occupied the building at the corner of York and Wellington streets after Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club closed and moved to Western Fair District.
The club was bustling with creativity, rotating the work of young artists in the city, providing a venue for London Fringe and providing indie bands with a venue to reach audiences
Knight said the new venue is smaller with 137 seats inside and another 60 on the patio
Brennan said staff from the two enterprises will be “blended.” She said the fact APK will be a “social enterprise” where the focus is on cost-recovery and contributing to the community is a good fit for Brennan’s, which often holds community-related events to support charities.
“I’m really excited about this,” said Brennan. “APK is not just a bar, it’s a scene and that’s important for the city.” Knight said APK will continue to fund raise for LifePaths Global Alliance, which she founded and helps disadvantaged communities in the Caribbean and Central America, especially Haiti, in the areas of health, education, and economic growth.
“I think people will feel good that this will be run for the community and not just for someone to fill their pockets (with profit),” said Knight, who is working with volunteers to get the club reopened.
Knight said weekends will feature live music while weeknights will feature a mixture of live music, DJs and “community-driven events.”
Joe Belanger
December 28th, 2012
The London Free Press
