TO PROMOTE (verb): To contribute to the growth, enlargement, or prosperity of ; to forward; to further; to encourage; to advance; to excite

Plum Music is an independent live music company formed in 1998 by Allan North and business partner Nick Stockman. In the early years the company's main focus was running the live music at the Water Rats theatre in King's Cross. In 2000, Nick moved on to settle down and start a family, and Allan bought his share of the business. During their time at the Water Rats, the venue gained a reputation as one of the finest showcase venues in the country, playing host to both up and coming stars playing their first UK gigs to established artists getting back to their roots. These included early shows by the likes of Keane, Muse, Doves, The Hives and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, as well as low-key 'secret' gigs by Ash, Feeder, The Breeders and Alanis Morissette.

In 2002, Plum Music opened a second venue in Farringdon, the Betsey Trotwood. A tiny little place, it has enabled the company to dedicate itself even further to discovering and helping rising artistic talent, and this cosy, 60 capacity venue has seen early shows from Keane, Boy Kill Boy, the Magic Numbers, KT Tunstall, Simple Kid, New Rhodes, Hot Chip, the Subways, and a long line of quality artists who love playing in an intimate atmosphere.

In 2004, Plum were approached by the landlord of No. 1 Leicester Square to programme the live events at a new 900+ capacity venue. The Marquee Club opened in spectacular fashion in September that year with blinding shows from the Magic Numbers, Tom Vek, Do Me Bad Things, New Rhodes, Dirty Vegas, Ed Harcourt, Art Brut, and The Hidden Cameras, all in the space of two weeks.  The Marquee continued on a high with shows from Ash, Editors, the Raveonettes, Ordinary Boys, Vincent Vincent & the Villains, Chikinki, Wheatus, Rilo Kiley, Redjetson, Levellers, Out Hud, Mylo, Hot Chip, The Barbs, Talvin Singh, David McCalmont, Kubb and more, as well as providing a place for talented unsigned acts to play in the kind of venue they wouldn't normally get a chance to. After an exciting and eventful year at the helm, Plum took the decision to leave the venue and concentrate on their first love, working with new bands and raw talent.

With this in mind, 2005 saw Plum expand into a number of new venues, putting on shows across the capital, in particular in Brixton and Shoreditch, taking on events at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, a then relatively unknown venue which, like the Water Rats before it, has now become one of the Capital's 'must play' venues, with Plum playing a key role.

Whilst 2006 saw Plum expand into more venues, putting on shows at the 333 Club, the Mother Bar, Nambucca, The Spitz, The Metro, The Legion, and a new venue in Shoreditch called Industry, it also saw an end to their relationship with the Water Rats Theatre, after a remarkable 8 years in charge. It had become clear that Plum, a company originally formed to be the exclusive promoters for that venue, had expanded to the point where they were running more shows outside of the venue than within it, and this was something the owners were not comfortable with. Unable to reach agreement, Plum left the Water Rats in August 2006.

2007 has seen the company re-invent itself once more - free from the pressures of filling a venue every single night, they have been able to concentrate more on quality rather than quantity, a completely  independent company able not only to promote their own shows, but provide consultation, technical support and venue provision to a range of clients throughout the industry, As such, the company have twice been invited to speak at key conferences in Europe in association with the British council about the importance of the breakthrough band circuit. They have also move into management, taking on GODWITS, and exciting young act from Newbury that are already gaining high praise.

Operating from a small office in central London, Plum Music are dedicated to getting the maximum possible out of the spaces they promote. We don't cut corners, we go for quality. We have a solid reputation for well organised shows with fantastic sound systems and helpful, experienced staff. That said, we like to maintain a fairly low profile - we get the job done in the background and leave the showy stuff to the acts we book, and that's the way they like it too. At present, we have an office team of four:
 

Allan North. Owner and main booker. Prior to owning Plum, Allan was manager of the 12 Bar Club, during the period in which the venue held the TIME OUT magazine's 'Live music venue of the year' award. Allan concentrates primarily on business development - bringing in new clients, working with national promoters and finding new venues to work in.

Matthew Grundy. Assistant Manager / Booker. Matthew began working for Plum in 2002, following the launch of the Betsey Trotwood. Originally looking after publicity and press, writing for the website, and listening to demos, he is now the main booker for Plum's in-house events at Hoxton Bar and Kitchen and Industry,

Jenna Soame. Assistant Promoter. Having started out as an intern, we're delighted to say that Jenna is now a permanent member of the team, and whilst she continues to keep the admin side of Plum ticking over and expanding the press and promotional work we do, she is also branching out into booking, putting on shows at the Betsey and other venues. Oh, and she is also the office champion at table football.

We're currently looking for a new intern to work a couple of days a week. If you're interested, drop us a line - info@plummusic.com

As well as the office team, Plum Promotions also employs the services of a talented group of Engineers, Stagehands, Door Staff and Night Managers. Many of our engineers are taken on from college and trained in house, and the feedback we get assures us that our policy works, and that we have one of the finest crews in London. Too many people playing shows in London find venues with unco-operative staff with inflated egos. There's no room for that in our business - all our staff are friendly, down to earth, and dedicated to the job in hand. The company could not exist without the acts we book and the people that come to see them, so they are always the priority.

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