Where to begin? (London)

Shipwreck

No doubt a story as old as time but: I've been increasingly annoyed at myself for allowing "life to get in the way" of me playing with others. Sorted a lot of life stuff out in the last 18 months or so (new job, bought a gaff, got married...) and still playing lots at home and upgraded some gear too. But I've not jammed, played live or written with others in years. I desperately want to change that this year - but where do you even begin?

I live in SE London and there's seemingly no shortage of bands and musicians but it somehow feels entirely unwieldy and more daunting that smaller towns. Are there sites / apps to meet folks in this incredibly dense city? Are the forums like this? Or is it entirely through mates? 

My dream would be to play in a 90s adjacent indie / post-punk / grunge band but I'd gladly play pub covers, session stuff or literally anything at this point. It just feels an entire part of my physique that I've put on ice and it's starting to get me down.

So I'd really value any tips / tricks / thoughts to getting "out there". Cheers!

 

topdog91

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/categories/personnel

Also the Networking for London Musicians FB group which also has a Jam Sessions chat and get to as many of your local jam sessions as you can and meet people. It can be frustrating as there are loads of guitarists about, but just be persistent and it will happen.

London is big and I don't know if SE means Bermondsey or Bromley, but apart from your local pubs etc, check out the jams at Blues Kitchen Camden (Brixton may be nearer you but not sure if there's a jam there) and Ain't Nothin' But in Soho.

ALMuti

Hey Shipwreck, I'm in SE london too and in a similar predicament. DMing you. 

rze99

You could try the Pelton arms in Greenwich they have a regular blues jam there With nine below zero as the house band it’s free you can sit in as a bunch of musicians come and go there get yourself known and ask about

soma1975

I'm in Orpington and would kill to find people to play with in SE London. 

Probably more the early 90s alt rock stuff than the later punk stuff but just want to play. 

soma1975

Just to add to the above, that's the reason I started going to the Fretboard meetups and jams. Well worth popping along to say hi. 

Bork

I'll be back in SE12 for a couple of weeks in August.  May have a bass.

Shipwreck

Up for a TFB jam if people are. On a side note - I actually put an ad out after this thread and have been writing and rehearsing with some likeminded lads. We're a drummer short of a full band now. Watch this space!