Oz, The White Lion & The World Highest Gig
Last month we wrote about some of the new music emerging out of Streatham, so it seems only right, this month, to mention the venues, which are supporting the live music scene. One in particular, which has helped breathe new life in to Streatham High Road, is The White Lion. The former pub closed down a couple of years ago after police were called to break up a fight. It sat empty for some time until musician, charity founder and former world record holder, Oz Bayldon, took it over and re-invented it. It’s now a “live music bar and hostel”, although that title barely tells half the story of what the pub has become.
The White Lion is the HQ for Oz’s charity, Music 4 Children. The charity was founded during a trip to Nepal in 2002. After helping to feed a group of hungry children, (orphans of the armed conflict in Nepal), Oz realised he could do much more to help. He set about forming the charity, in order to raise money to build an orphanage. For their first fundraiser, he and his band, ‘The Hidden’, climbed 5,545m up Mount Everest, to play a 40-minute concert, in front of about 100 mountaineers, raising £30,000 and breaking the record for the world’s highest gig in the process. A German band, performing at 6,000 metres in Bolivia, has since beaten that record. However, that has only strengthened Oz’s desire to go one better. In October this year, he’s planning to climb Mount Mera, in Nepal, for a performance at 6,475 metres, taking back the record, hopefully, for good. But these days, no charity concert is complete without big-name acts, so Oz has managed to recruit, soul singer, Joss Stone, to come with him. Not content with just one famous, soul-singing act, he’s also got the Noisettes expressing an interest too. It’s Stone, however who’s the most keen. As soon as she was approached she embraced the idea wholeheartedly and personally met Oz in a café to discuss the plans. Her first words to him were “So when are we doing this?”, showing not a hint of apprehension at the challenge ahead.
Back at the White Lion, Oz’s plans are just as ambitious. When we popped in to see him recently, he was hard at work with a team of volunteers turning a large store-room, out the back, in to a community centre with a pedal powered cinema and kids club. Once that’s finished, he’s planning to build a recording studio and facilities for a local radio station in the cellar. Upstairs on the roof, there are plans for a beehive, wind turbine and community garden. Oh and maybe a hot tub too. This really is no ordinary pub.
Oz has a background in setting up venues, right through from the building work and project management, to installing the sound systems and interiors. His previous projects include, Dex, in Brixton (which many readers will know, already has one of Oz’s roof-top hot tubs) and The Tabernacle in Westbourne Park (host to The Leisure Society gig, which we reviewed last month). It seems like he has the qualifications and the will, to turn The White Lion in to one of the most exciting and unique venues in London. It’s not surprising that The BBC are in talks about making a six part documentary series about Oz, The White Lion and The Worlds Highest Gig. It looks like Streatham could be coming to TV screen near you soon.
This article has also appeared in this months edition of New London Review, the new magazine for Streatham, Brixton & Clapham.
What this article fails to mention is that since taking over the White Lion, the new owners have shown nothing but contempt for the residents of neighbouring properties – they regularly have late and loud gigs midweek for example.
Also the plans mentioned in this article for the roof, have been drawn up with out any consultation with the people they are most likely to effect, and, as far as this frustrated neighbour can tell, without getting any of the required planning permissions
Dear Simon????,
Not sure if your the guy next door who complained once and has had no need to since. Our door is always open and we’re trying to do our best to make the community a better place. Your never going to keep all the community happy but every other bit of feedback we’ve had has been more than positive.
The hot tub on the roof is a bit of a joke and won’t happen and the gardens are educational not social places. If you don’t want Streatham to have a place that is geared towards helping kids get off the street and re-educate those in less fortunate circumstances maybe living in London is not for you and you should find a cocoon in the country somewhere.
For the record we have all the local authorities behind our plans and everything has been dealt with in the right manner.
If you still have a problem please fell free to come and talk to us and we will do everything we can to respect your position rather than bagging our efforts on a website.
Great work Oz! Wish I was closer to enjoy it all. Maybe I could move into Simons place…… Xxx
Hi Oz,Great to here that you are doing so great over sea’s..Might come and see you to get out of Noosa..
nice work mate
The White Lion is exactly what Streatham needs now that they have got rid of every other reason people would visit eg. ice skating rink, mega bowl and zap zone……. There is no where like The White Lion!!! They help people in need of housing with the hostel upstairs, the bar is open to everyone and has games for kids and some great live music. The work shops are going to be fab!!! We need more people like Oz and his crew!!!!!!! Thank you for everything! x
Hello Oz,
I am very much happy to learn about your work here in Nepal to help Nepalese street and war victim children. I got to know about your work from local newspaper. Being just curious more to know after goggling I came across this page,I really appreciate your work and commitment to support further. I too reside in dhulikhel. Let me know if I can be of any help. I can contribute my time whenever possible and eager to help these children. you can email me.
samir