New venue for 'best sound in the city' opens

A NEW underground gig venue has opened in Nottingham to champion grassroots music after the loss of one of the city's coolest hidden haunts.

- LYNETTE PINCHESS

The Chameleon, which was hidden away in an alleyway off Angel Row, had to close last year after the building's owner decided to sell up.

But now the gap is being filled by the man behind the sound of the Chameleon.

The former venue's sound engineer, Simon has set up his system in the basement of the Mist Rolling Inn micropub in Derby Road near Canning Circus.

For the past four months Simon has been transforming the room - now called Gorillas in the Mist - off his own back, with no funding or payment. But he is about to get a little help from his friends.

Will Robinson, managing director of record label and music events company I'm Not From London, and Johnny Scarr, promoter of Ram-mel Club, have launched a fund-raising appeal to help give the venture a boost. So far, more than £2,800 has rolled in from music fans in Nottingham and further afield.