Camden institution The World’s End is bringing back the classic rock ‘n’ roll “house band” tradition for Christmas, gifting London gig‑goers three nights of free live music from genre‑bending rockers Speedvark.
The legendary High Street pub, whose basement venue The Underworld has hosted everyone from The Foo Fighters and Radiohead to Ghost, Mastodon and Rage Against The Machine, has booked Speedvark in as its official House Band in the run‑up to the holidays.
From Thursday 18 December to Saturday 20 December 2025, the band will play three sets a night upstairs at The World’s End, hitting the stage at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm before the decks take over with DJ sets of rock anthems until closing time. Entry is completely free, with ages 14+ allowed in with an adult until 7pm and 18+ only after that.
Billed as “Live & Loud”, the shows will see Speedvark tear through adventurous covers and their own off‑kilter originals. Expect everything from an 11‑minute blast through Led Zeppelin epic In My Time Of Dying to sing‑along moments from The Beatles, Deep Purple, The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, The Animals, The Everly Brothers and Van Halen.
The set will also feature Speedvark favourites such as the gloriously spiky festive number I Hate Your Mother.
To tie in with the residency, the band are reissuing their cover of T. Rex classic Children Of The Revolution. Described over the years as “the ultimate party band” and “about as truly original as you can get”, Speedvark have drawn praise from many and more for a sound that pulls in everything from Talking Heads and XTC to early Eno while remaining firmly rooted in sweaty, guitar‑driven heavy rock.
The World’s End and Underworld promoter Jon Vyner, who has been booking bands at the venue for almost three decades, says reviving the house band idea feels like the perfect way to celebrate the pub’s long rock heritage. “The ‘House Band’ was a staple in the early years of rock ‘n’ roll but faded away as touring developed in the ’70s and ’80s,” he explains.
“The World’s End is famous as a historic rock pub so we are really pleased to reintroduce this long‑forgotten format. Speedvark will put on some great shows that should pull in new live rock fans alongside our fantastic regular crowd. It is free, it is festive and it should be great fun.”
With its 400‑plus‑year history, tales of infamous local witch Jinny Bingham and a roll call of bands who have cut their teeth in The Underworld basement, The World’s End remains one of London’s most storied homes of live guitar music.
This December, Speedvark’s return as House Band looks set to write another loud chapter in that story. For more details, visit theworldsend.co.uk and the band’s social channels.
