What Happened When Fender Revived The Marquee Club (In Pictures)

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Fifteen years on from its closure, this week Fender Guitar revived one of London’s all time legendary venues, The Marquee Club, for one night only to celebrate their all-new vintage-style line of electric guitars and basses, the Vintera II series. Established in 1958, The Marquee Club was a legendary music hub that witnessed the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, and countless other iconic artists grace its stage before it closed its doors in 2008. Here’s what went down when Fender revived The Marquee Club.

As guests filtered into The Marquee Club on Wednesday night, memories of the legendary venue flooded to the minds of many as they walked past posters specifically made for the night. Those in attendance were invited to take the opportunity to try out and experience the new Fender Vintera II guitars and basses as they waited for the music to start.

I was expecting big things from Lambrini Girls after catching their set at Truck Festival earlier in the year, and they didn’t disappoint. Right from the moment they stepped out you could tell it was going to be one hell of a night, as they launched themselves into the crowd, where they spent most of their set. From ‘Mr Lovebomb’ to ‘Lads Lads Lads’ the band had the crowd bashing their heads throughout their set as they caused a ruckus for half an hour. From the bar top to the shoulders of fans there was nowhere Phoebe (vocals/guitar) wouldn’t take her Vintera II ‘50s Jazzmaster during the set – even using myself as a mic stand for a couple of songs.

Nova Twins would take to the stage next, with both Amy and Georgia clutching their Vintera II ’70s Stratocaster Guitar and ’70s Telecaster Bass respectively. Their stage presence and raw energy captivated the room as they laid into their set, which featured fan favourites such as ‘Cleopatra’ and ‘Taxi’. The set culminated on a high with final song ‘Choose Your Fighter’, which saw the whole room bouncing.

A final dose of punk energy was shot into the room with Soft Play. Delivering a high-energy, rebellious performance the band electrified the crowd as they performed a varied set of both their past discography and a cover of Skepta’s ‘Shutdown’. Just like the bands before them, any and all opportunities were taken to join the crowd off the stage, even seeing the duo perform on the bar for ‘Beauty Quest’.

Following the initial Vintera series from 2019, this new line of vibrant and highly playable guitars pay homage to the iconic Strat and Tele guitars of the 50s, 60s and 70s while simultaneously nodding to some of the rare gems that have studded the Fender lineup such as the Mustang and Bass VI.

Fender’s Vintera II Series offers era-correct neck shapes that deliver a worn-in, super-comfortable feel, reflecting Fender’s most classic neck designs for an exceptional playing experience. The series also includes vintage-voiced pickups, allowing players to capture the authentic sound of bygone eras. Adding to its allure, the Vintera II lineup introduces some of the rarest custom colours ever produced by Fender. Alongside these features, the series showcases all-new models like the Bass VI, Tele Deluxe with Tremolo and a maple-neck Mustang, catering to the preferences of even the most seasoned collectors. The Vintera II Series is available now. To shop the entire collection, visit HERE.