We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Arnö Vön Detritus a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Arnö, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

My mission is to try and keep providing excellent gigs and alternative events in a city that becomes more and more a gentrified & sterile playground for awful multinationals and soulless corporate clowns rather then the Rock n Roll and cultural mecca it once was

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Arno here, previously from The Lounge 666, now booking for the legendary Cart & Horses ( Iron Maiden’s Birthplace).

Im the booking agent for the them. The venue has recently been refurbished, and offers a great 120 cap basement ( on top of our historical bar upstairs – cap 100 ) with a brand new desk and spacious stage. We have a a great variety of spirits and beers, kitchen opens at 5pm, and the venue is well connected with both the central and Elizabeth line within short walk distance.

We have been working recently with great artists including Steve Harris & British Lion, Enuff Z’Enuff and many more.

We are a Grass Root Venue but our commitment is to provide a professional experience not only similar to bigger venues, but in fact BETTER, in an intimate setting.

We believe its extremely important to keep providing a stage for young (and not so young ha ha) artists who want and deserve a place to express themselves and have a chance to maybe become tomorrow’s hit makers.

We also believe it’s important to provide a safe and controlled environment for people who dont fit in the mainstream society, who wants to have a great time, listen to some good music and be able to be themselves. Im proud to say most people are incredibly happy to feel so welcome.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I moved to London and was lucky enough to eventually become part of a great and legendary venue in central London: The Intrepid Fox. Pat, the owner and the brain behind it, had not only created an aesthetically mind blowing venue (just google it) and the East End mecca of Rn’R, he also got an interesting bunch of misfits under his wings. This became our family and I do owe him a lot (Rest in peace Pat)

He did teach myself and the rest of us that not only was it ok to be different, he strongly encouraged it.
Unfortunately, London being the greedy and ever changing city it is, the Fox didn’t survived a 3rd relocation.

From there I moved onto a few different venues, but most didn’t stand a chance (the annual report from Music Venue Trust, the charity set up to protect and improve live music spaces in the UK, found that 125 spaces closed their doors to live music in the last 12 months- let that sink in).

After the pandemic hits and most venues were closed, I hit a string of bad luck mostly for trusting the wrong people and being a bad judge of character. Mistakes were made, and lessons were learned. Theses were pretty trying times,

Until a few people introduced me to Kastro and Cart & Horses. This venue changed everything.
Together we work hard and I have to say it was worth the wait, I love the venue, and I love its staff.

Watch this space

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Hard work and resilience. Nothing in life happens by accident pr by luck. Well very little anyway. You work hard and you hope for the best results.

Hopefully it pays off, but there is no guarantee it does. It doesn’t matter: You keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cartandhorses.london/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arnovond3tus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arno.vondetritus

Image Credits
Pictures By Danny Woodstock and Dan Thomas mainly.