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Guide to what’s on in London in March 2018
Spring is in the air!
Spring is nearly here… allegedly! The temperatures will soon start creeping up, and the days are brighter and longer. Those who love to hibernate over the winter are finally waking up and ready to explore. This month you can expect to see a lot of art and beer events on around the capital. Not forgetting, Easter Weekend kicks off at the end of the month on Friday 30 March so there is yet more school holidays for parents to deal with.
For a guide to what’s on in London over Easter, click here.
- 1 – 4 March : The Spring Knitting & Stitching Show
Haberdashery festival featuring workshops, knitworking, dressmaking studio, textile galleries, Mr X Stitch Guide to Cross Stitch and the Creative Living Theatre. Open 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-5.30pm, Sun: 10am-5pm. Tickets: Adults £13.50, Children £6. Olympia, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, W14 8UX. Nearest station: Kensington Olympia. For more information, visit the Knitting & Stitching Show website.
- 1 – 4 March : Number 90’s 4th Birthday
Popular canalside destination are hosting a mini festival of sorts over four days to celebrate their fourth birthday. Including DJs, live painting sessions, vintage clothes stalls, film screenings, dance show, magician, live music, food and drink. DJs and artists include Norman Jay MBE, Haggis Horns, Toytown Hustle, Dila V & The Oddbeats and the Pop-Up Choir. Open Thu and Sun 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-1am. Free entry. Number 90 Bar and Kitchen, 90 Wallis Road, Hackney Wick, E9 5LN. Nearest station: Hackney Wick. For more information, visit Number 90’s website. Read Metro Girl’s blog post on the festival.
- 1 – 8 March : International Women’s Day @ Seven Dials
A week of events, offers and promotions celebrating women at the stores and businesses of Seven Dials. Highlights include a panel discussion hosted by Gemma Cairney on IWD on 8 March. At venues and stores around Seven Dials, Covent Garden, WC2H. Nearest station: Leicester Square or Covent Garden. For more information, visit the Seven Dials website. Read Metro Girl’s blog post on the event.
- 1 – 20 March : Richmond Upon Thames Music and Drama Festival
Three weeks of music, dance and drama performances by local artists, arts organisations and schools. The Music and Drama Festival Showcase will take place at The Exchange in Twickenham on 4 March at 3pm (Tickets: £5-£10). The rest of the festival takes place in various venues across the borough. For more information, visit the Richmond.gov.uk website.
- 1 – 21 March : Pauline Bewick Art Exhibition
One of Ireland’s most acclaimed artists Pauline Bewick displays some of her huge collection as part of the St Patrick’s Festival. Open 9am-5pm. Free entry. City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, Borough, SE1 2AA. Nearest station: London Bridge. For more information, visit the London.gov.uk website.
- 1 March – 6 May : Somnai
Experience a live, multi-sensory experience with immersive technologies. Somnai is said to be the biggest theatrical event since Punch Drunk and offers a ‘lucid dreaming’ experience. Over 18s only. 90 minutes long. Times vary. Tickets: £50. 2 Pear Tree Street, Clerkenwell, EC1V 3SB. Nearest stations: Old Street, Barbican or Farringdon. For booking and more information, visit the Somnai website.
- 2 – 3 March : Movie Nights at the Museum
Watch a film under Hope the whale in the Hintze Hall. Movies include Star Trek, Star Trek: Into Darkness, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Star Wars: A Force Awakens. Screenings at 7.15pm and 10.15pm. Tickets: £28. Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, South Kensington, SW7 2RL. Nearest station: South Kensington. For booking, visit the NHM website.
- 3 March : Magic of India Holi Festival
Family friendly festival to celebrate the Hindu festival of Holi. Featuring dry colour powder play, DJs, drummers, giveaways, hot Indian food and more. 11am-3pm. Tickets: £12. Exact location to be revealed nearer the time. Nearest station: Swiss Cottage. For tickets, visit the Funzing website.
- 3 March : RA Lates – Night at the Palace
Late night party at the Royal Academy of Arts inspired by their upcoming Charles I exhibition. The RA will be transformed into the King’s Whitehall Palace for dancing, feasts, art, music, immersive experiences and creative activities. Dress code: Courtly decadence. 7pm-11.45pm. Tickets: £25-£40. Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, Piccadilly, W1J 0BD. Nearest station: Green Park or Piccadilly Circus. For more information, visit the RA website.
- Now until 4 March : Vault Festival
Six week arts festival in the tunnels beneath Waterloo across three venues. Entertainment includes live music, theatre, film, dance, comedy and late-night parties. Open Wed-Sun. Ticket prices vary. The Vaults, 10 Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN. Nearest station: Waterloo and Lambeth North. For booking, visit the Vault Festival website. To find out about this year’s highlights, click here, or for a review of Neverland, an immersive theatre show, click here.
- Now until 4 March : Snow Kingdom – Backyard Cinema
Backyard Cinema have created a wintry immersive cinematic experience in the foodie surrounds of Mercato Metropolitano. Travel through an ice cave and across a frozen lake to watch new and classic films in the atmospheric Snow Kingdom. Tickets from £17. Backyard Cinema, 42 Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6DR. Nearest station: Elephant & Castle. For booking, visit the Backyard Cinema website. For Metro Girl’s review, click here.
- Now until 4 March : Ovo by Cirque du Soleil
The newest touring production from the Cirque, a spectacular exploration of the ecosystem, with insects working, playing, fighting and looking for love. Tickets range from £25-£231. Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, SW7 2AP. Nearest stations: South Kensington, Knightsbridge or High Street Kensington. For more information and booking, visit the Cirque Du Soleil website. Read the rest of this entry
Spring into spring with live music, DJs, entertainment and more at Number 90’s 4th birthday
Number 90 Bar & Kitchen are hosting a four-day festival to celebrate their 4th birthday
If you’re gagging for festival season already, why not get warmed up for the summer at Number 90 Bar & Kitchen’s 4th birthday party. The canalside venue in Hackney Wick is opening its doors for a four-day party. From 1-4 March, Number 90 will be hosting live music, DJs, interactive entertainment, and of course, its signature yummy food and drink offerings. Every day will have a different theme, offering a wide variety of activities and entertainment.
The festivities will commence on Thursday with an evening inspired by World Music Day. Guests will be entertained with a variety of different genres, from jazzy, funk and soul driven band, The Haggis Horns; to alt pop band, Toytown Hustle; to multinational gypsy folk group Dila V & The Oddbeats, among others. Meanwhile, fashion lovers will enjoy the vintage clothing stall, while budding artists can check out live painting sessions with Number Gallery artists, who will be creating murals throughout the weekend.
Friday evening will be celebrating womankind with Womb 2: Women Of Music Business led by Capital Xtra’s Coco Cole, festival mainstays My Bad Sister, local DJ duo Four Tit, rising star Loraine James, Aziza and SISU Crew. The event will celebrate women in music, art, fashion and business bringing together some of the most talented females from the dance and music industry. Expect female-focused film screenings, talks, DJ workshops and more.
The arrival of the weekend will see DJ legend Norman Jay headlining a block party, as Number 90 host a day bash on their canalside terrace on Saturday. Jay will be putting on two special performances, bringing his famous ‘Good Times’ to the party bus, before moving the revelry indoors until the early hours. As well as the dancing to the best tunes, revellers can win prizes in giant Piñatas, try to outwit a magician or sample the extensive cocktail menu. Joining Norman on the decks will be Backtobasics resident, Tristan da Cunha and Ron Basejam of Crazy P.
Finally, the four-day party will come to a chilled closing on Sunday with a range of live musical performances from The Pop-Up Choir, a live electronic set from This Is A Recording and an open jam session from neo soul band Re.Wind. Throughout the weekend, customers can also order delicious food and drink from the new summer menu.
- Number 90 Bar & Kitchen’s 4th Birthday party takes place on 1 – 4 March 2018. Number 90 Bar & Kitchen, 90 Wallis Road, Hackney Wick, E9 5LN. Nearest station: Hackney Wick. Open Thu and Sun 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-1am. Free entry. For more information, visit Number 90’s website.
For the latest what’s on guide in London, click here.
Schumann Street review: A fascinating musical ‘crawl’ around Spitalfields
Andrew West and Rob Murray perform during Schumann Street, a ‘song crawl’ around the Huguenot houses of Spitalfields
The Spitalfields Music Festival is an annual celebration of innovative music, featuring local and international talent. Venues across east London play host to a wide variety of performances. The last event of the 2017 festival in December was the captivating Schumann Street. Sixteen artists from very different genre and backgrounds were invited to perform their own interpretation of the songs in German composer Robert Schumann’s 1840 song cycle Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love).
Baritone Benedict Nelson expresses forlorn desperation in Allnächtlich im Traume
The audience were split into groups to start our journey on the immersive, promenade musical installation. For the evening, eight local residents of the Huguenot houses of Spitalfields had opened their doors to stage two performances across different floors. The whole event takes place over 75 minutes so participants were invited to come and go as we please from each house, spending just long enough to hear the 16 pieces. We started our experience in Wilkes Street, a small group of us stepping into the parlour of a charmingly creaky early 18th century home. With just six of us squeezed into the wood-panelled front room, we sat quietly as a pianist Andrew West and tenor Rob Murray provided an interpretation of one of the song cycles by candlelight. Next, we headed upstairs for a cosier experience with a guitarist Aart Stootman accompanying singer Abimaro by a roaring fire in the living room.
Despite being a classical piece, the story of Dichterliebe was told to us through hip-hop, Bengali folk, soul, jazz, R&B, blues, as well as a classical. We stood, sat on chairs, tables and floors; or lingered in dark corners as we snuck in and out of the performances trying not to interrupt. The song cycle is about love, then loss, with the musicians giving musical expressions of the joy and the torment the heart goes through. One particularly enchanting performance was Mara Carlyle and Liam Byrne in the basement kitchen of a courtyard home. Carlyle sang while wearing Marigolds and washing up at the sink, as Byrne accompanies her on the viol. She then switches direction with a musical saw, bringing a quirky, modern end to the piece. Moving upstairs, we were greeted by an incredibly emotional performance by soprano Héloïse Werner and harpist Anne Denholm in a darkly lit living room. Werner looked positively heartbroken as she forlornly belted out lines from Und Wüssten’s die Blumen. I also particularly enjoyed German duo Apollo 47 depicting the torment and obsession that love can inflict as they rapped Hör’ ich das Liedchen Klingen. In a room covered in lyrics on the wall, the pair were oblivious to the audience as they rambled around with their lanterns trying to make sense of their emotions.
In the end, I only visited seven houses and was disappointed to have missed the last one, due to the fault of my own time management. I enjoyed the different stagings – from a more formal setting of a singer by a piano, to a drunken singing rampage around another house. While some artists acknowledged your presence, for many of the others, it felt like we were eavesdropping on a private or mundane moment – the writing of love letters, household chores, a lonely moping session. In addition to being entertained by very different performances, I felt privileged to see inside these amazing Georgian houses. I loved checking out their original shutters, fireplaces, wood panelling and window seats. Overall, it was certainly an ambitious premise, but the Spitalfields Music Festival certainly pulled it off. The result was a quirky, innovative experience which brought the classical workings of Schumann to a new audience.
- The Spitalfields Music Festival will return in December 2018. To keep up to date, visit the Spitalfields Music website.
Vault Festival 2018: Comedy, theatre and immersive experiences as London’s biggest arts festival returns
The Vault Festival returns to the tunnels underneath Waterloo station
© Vault Festival
Returning to the tunnels underneath Waterloo this winter is one of the country’s biggest arts festivals. Now its in sixth year, the Vault Festival features over 300 shows over eight weeks. Expect a jam-packed schedule of comedy, film, circus, musicals, theatre, immersive experiences and late-night parties. As well taking over the atmospheric and historic tunnels, the festival is also expanding to satellite venues such as Waterloo East Theatre and Network Theatre. Expect to see homegrown and international talent, with a spotlight on names to watch at the Vault New Writers Award.
One of this year’s big shows is Neverland, an immersive musical adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale. Guests will come face-to-face with glittering pirates, mermaids, food fights, absinthe bars and live music from a band of lost boys. If immersive experiences floats your boat, there is also Caravan, a journey through hip-hop dance, or Lamplighters, an improvised spy story in the style of John Le Carre.
If you want to be amazed, there’s plenty of mind-blowing circus acts, including the Chivaree Circus’ award-winning re-imagining of the Persephone myth, Becoming Shades. Explore hypnotism with David Aula and Simon Evans in their show The Vanishing Mankind, or be wowed by the brilliant Madhi The Magician, who was born without hands or feet. There will also be a busy comedy schedule, with Joe Lycett, Bridget Christie, Richard Gadd, Phil Wang and Adam Riches, Mat Ewins, Graham Dickson and Joe Sutherland aiming to tickle your funny bone.
The Vault Festival promises to showcase some of the best female and BAME talent, with over 52 per cent of shows written or directed by women. Fringe First winner Katie Bonna explores gender conditioning in Paper Scissors Stone, while Edinburgh hit Glitter Punch deals with student/teacher relationship boundaries. Nicole Acquah examines racism in the UK in her powerful piece For a Black Girl, while round-table discussions on gender equality will also be providing food for thought.
Among the late-night parties at the weekends, includes Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Ball, St Patrick’s Day, the South London Soul Train and the opening and closing bashes. As well as all the entertainment, there will be plenty of options to keep you fed and watered with intimate themed bars and street food stalls.
- The Vault Festival runs from 24 January – 18 March 2018 and takes place at The Vaults, Leake Street, Waterloo, SE1 7NN; Network Theatre, 246a Lower Road, SE1 8SJ and Waterloo East Theatre, Brad Street, SE1 8TN. Nearest stations: Waterloo or Lambeth North. For more information and tickets, visit the Vault Festival website.
Read Metro Girl’s review of Neverland at The Vaults.
To find out what else is on in March, click here.
Shake off the winter blues at the London Remixed Festival 2018
London Remixed Festival returns to Rich Mix
© Alejandro Tamagno
Need to shake off those winter blues? Well, you don’t have to wait until spring as the London Remixed Festival is returning to Shoreditch this February. Over two days, over 25 innovative and exciting bands and DJs from a range of genres will perform across four stages. Revellers will be entertained by talented artists playing Latin Grooves, Afro beats, Tropical Bass, Vintage-Remix, Desert Remix Balkan Beats, Urban Roots, Acoustic Soundclash and Brass Band Remix.
Taking over Rich Mix, music fans can soak up the festival spirit without the mud or dodgy toilets. As well as live music and DJ sets, guests can also take part in the free Remix workshops, Silent Disco, the ‘Disco Lift’ or the infamous Remix Speed Dating. Among the headliners include Wara, Holy Moly & The Crackers, The Baghdaddies, John Fairhurst, Siska and Subajah.
On Friday night, the Brass Off stage curated by Continental Drifts features New York Brass Band Vs Temple Funk Collective; DJ Chris Tofu and Count Bassy. On Saturday, revellers will be spoiled for choice with four stages to choose from, including Tropicarnival (Curated by Wormfood, Movimientos and Vibes & Pressure); Polka Club (Curated by Continental Drifts and Arts Canteen); and Folk Ghetto (Curated by Two For Joy and Woodburner).
- The London Remixed Festival takes place from 2-3 February 2018 at Richmix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch, E1 6LA. Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street. Open Fri 2 7pm-1am, Sat 3 8pm-4am. Tickets: £7-£15. For more information and booking, visit the festival’s official website.
Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2017 in London
Happy New Year! 2018 is coming…
What a year 2017 has been – Trump shenanigans, the on-going Brexit negotiations, a wave of harassment allegations in Hollywood, the horror of Grenfell Tower and more. There are many of us who are looking forward to closing the door on this year and greeting 2018 with open arms. Fortunately, there’s a host of celebrations to help you welcome in the new year from clubbing, to meals and fancy dress or fireworks, depending on your taste and budget. With all the listings below, I would highly recommend booking in advance to take advantage of some early bird prices and to avoid disappointment as many will sell out. Many events won’t be taking walk-ups. Whatever you do, have a good one!
Don’t forget, TFL will be providing free public transport from 11.45pm on New Year’s Eve until 4.30am on New Year’s Day.
Central London
- New Year’s Eve firework display over the River Thames
Thousands expected to take to the north and south of the River to watch the fireworks display near the London Eye. Since 2014, City Hall has introduced a fee to cover costs, this year’s being £10. Tickets went on sale in November. There will be a lot of congestion or potential closures of some tube stations around the Embankments so check with TFL before you travel. For more information of where you can and can’t access without a ticket, visit the London.gov.uk website.
- Vintage New Year’s Eve Party @ Royal Festival Hal
Travel back in time with a glamorous extravaganza of live bands and DJs spread across six pop-up vintage nightclubs from the 1920s to the 1990s, with dining, bars, beauty parlours and photo studios also on site. Around midnight, some of the action will move to one of the balconies (weather permitting) for a great vista of the New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Thames. 7pm-2am. Tickets start from £99. Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX. Nearest station: Waterloo. For booking, visit the Southbank Centre website. For more information, read Metro Girl’s blog post on the evening.
- New Year’s Eve Stand Up Show – Comedy Store
See in the new year laughing your socks off with MC Mandy Knight, Felicity Ward, Jeff Innocent, Tom Lucy and The Noise Next Door. There are two shows – an early one if you’ve got plans for midnight or the later one, with a DJ spinning tracks for the after-party. Doors open at 5pm/8pm, two shows at 6pm and 9.30pm. Tickets £27-£65. The Comedy Store, 1a Oxendon Street, SW1Y 4EE. Nearest stations: Piccadilly Circus or Leicester Square. For more information, visit the Comedy Store website.
- Black Cat NYE and Black Cat Ball
London’s dark and daring cabaret show is offering two opportunities to see in the New Year in the Spiegeltent in Leicester Square. The cabaret show at 6.30pm for early starters or the Black Cat Ball from 9.30pm, features a cabaret show, promenade circus spectacle, live music, roving performers and extended DJ set. 6.30/9.30pm-2am. Tickets: 6.30pm cabaret show £24-£29, Black Cat Ball £55 (includes glass of bubbly). Spiegeltent, Leicester Square, WC2H 7NA. Nearest station: Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. For tickets, visit Black Cat website.
- Great Gatsby New Year’s Eve @ Sky Garden
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the top of the ‘Walkie Talkie’ in the bars and restaurants of the Sky Garden with views over London. Food, drink, entertainment and DJs. 6pm-2am. Tickets prices start from £95. Sky Garden, 20 Fenchurch Street, City of London, EC3M 3BY. Nearest station: Fenchurch Street or Monument. For booking, visit the Sky Garden website. For Metro Girl’s review of the Sky Garden, click here.
- Life Of A Legend @ Playboy Club
The Playboy Club pays tribute to its late founder Hugh Hefner with a decadent bash. The club will be transformed into the Playboy Mansion, with games area, film zone, photo studio, live music, DJs, American canapés, complimentary midnight fizz and, of course, bunnies. 8pm-3am. Tickets: £49. Playboy Club, 14 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1ND. Nearest station: Hyde Park Corner. For more information, visit the Playboy Club website.
- Prohibition 1920s New Year’s Eve party
Welcome the new year, 1920s style at this prohibition-themed party from Bourne & Hollingsworth, featuring live music, gramophone DJs, gambling, dancers and cocktails. Dress code: 1920s. 9pm-3am. Tickets: £55. In a secret London location to be revealed two weeks before. For more information, visit the Prohibition Party website.
Gaze out over London at View From The Shard
- New Year’s Eve Party @ The Shard
Watch the fireworks from the highest party in London, featuring welcome cocktail, DJs, complimentary champagne toast, goody bag and 360 degree view of the capital. 10pm-2am. Tickets: £199. View From The Shard, Floor 72, Joiner Street, London Bridge, SE1 9QU. Nearest station: London Bridge. For booking, visit View From The Shard.
- Vintage New Year’s Knees Up @ Cahoots
Vintage lovers will enjoy this post-war shenangians in an old underground war shelter, featuring a Moet & Chandon and canape reception, Bottomless Belvedere cocktails, live entertainment by the Hotsie Totsies, New Year’s Eve toast and DJ set by The Roustabouts. Dress code: Post-war chic. 5pm-3.30am. Tickets: Bar £100, Table £150. Cahoots, 13 Kingly Court, Soho, W1B 5PW. Nearest station: Oxford Circus or Piccadilly Circus. For booking, visit the Cahoots website. For Metro Girl’s review of Cahoots, click here.
- New Year’s Eve @ Flight Club
Dancing, drinking and darts at the Bloomsbury branch of Flight Club. Featuring DJs playing party hits, 90 minutes social darts session, fizz on arrival and more. 7pm-2am. Tickets from £15. Flight Club, New Oxford Street, Bloomsbury, WC1A 1BS. Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road. For tickets, visit DesignMyNight.
- New Year’s Eve @ Devonshire Club
The City’s private members club is opening its doors for the New Year. Start your night with welcome drinks and canapes, before a decadent three or five-course dinner in the brasserie. Live entertainment from The Night Lights and DJs until the early hours. From 6.30pm until late. Tickets range from £50 (members)/£75 (non-members) to £255 depending on package. Devonshire Club, 5 Devonshire Square, City of London, EC2M 4YD. Nearest station: Liverpool Street. For more information, visit the Devonshire Club website. Read the rest of this entry
Party through the decades at a Vintage New Year’s Eve @ Southbank Centre
Party through the decades as you welcome 2018 at the Vintage New Year’s Eve Party
© Neil Buchan Grant
Fancy something a bit different than a house party or your local pub for New Year’s Eve? How about celebrating the dawn of a new year in a vintage nightclub and enjoying stunning views of the capital and its fireworks?
Returning to the Southbank Centre this month is A Vintage New Year’s Eve Party, an extravaganza of dancing, drinking, dining and more from HemingwayDesign. Curators Wayne, Gerardine and Jack Hemingway will transform five floors of the Royal Festival Hall into vintage nightclubs, dining rooms, a vintage hair and beauty salon and photo studios. At midnight, guests will have the opportunity to watch the capital’s iconic fireworks over the Thames from the riverside terrace (weather permitting).
Highlights of this year’s party include:
- The Torch Club
Enjoy the sounds of the ’20s, ’30s and ’40s with live big band music from Alex Meedham and his 18 piece orchestra. Meanwhile, DJ Daddy Rich will be spinning original vinyl and dance, while vintage dance tutors Mark & Hoc will be showing guests the moves from yesteryear.
- Bar Bonkers
Experience pure joy as you immerse yourself in the world of ’80s and ’90s, with the best pop, rock and dance anthems, musical bingo and karaoke. Cheer along to the sounds mixed by disco dancing DJ Anna Greenwood, Jess Indeedy, DJ Helix, while their dancing grannies deliver a special edition of Indeedy Musical Bingo.
- The TIKI Bar
Sip colourful cocktails while gazing over stunning views of the River Thames in a very tropical pop-up. Listen to the sounds of 1950s exotica Martin Green and DJ Martin Karminsky while revellers show off their samba and mambo skills, as hula girls do the limbo.
- The Studio
Explore the history of disco as The Studio revisits some of the greatest club nights from the mid ’70s to the early ’80s. Partiers will be treated to the sounds of funk and disco, to electro and Northern Soul.
Throughout the evening, top Jive teacher Andrew Hall will help guests learn the Jive basics, while DJ Mr Jinx will be hitting the decks and The Jive Romeros will be mixing classic American and early British rock ‘n’ roll in Let It Rock. After midnight, The Clore Ballroom will become a cabaret club with live performances and vintage dancing and music.
In addition to the wealth of entertainment, there are also some dining packages available to add on to your ticket. Guests can feast on a three-course meal and have the use of a reserved table by the main ballroom floor for the whole night and access to a dedicated bar. Or if you want something lighter, there is also a buffet dining option.
- A Vintage New Year’s Eve Party takes place on 31 December 2017 from 7pm until late. At Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX. Nearest station: Waterloo. Tickets: Party £99 (second release), £119 (final release), Add buffet for £35, Add dining, reserved table all night and access to dedicated bar for £85. For more information and tickets, visit the Southbank Centre website or phone 020 3879 9555.
For a guide to what else is on in London in December, click here.
For a guide to London’s other New Year’s Eve events, click here.
Go on a musical journey at Spitalfields Music Festival 2017
This year’s Spitalfields Music Festival is curated by Andre de Ridder
© Brian Sweeney
Returning to London this December is the annual Spitalfields Music Festival. Over eight days, local and international musicians will gather in east London for a programme of bold and innovative performance. This year has been curated by conductor André de Ridder, with his vision shaking up the festival for 2017. Ridder is Artistic Director of Finland’s largest Contemporary Music Festival, founder of the ground-breaking ensemble s t a r g a z e and has worked across many genres with artists such as Nico Muhly, Damon Albarn, Max Richter, Uri Caine, Brian Eno and Jonny Greenwood.
Among the wide variety of performances and experiences include an immersive time-travel journey in a Spitalfields Huguenot House, meditation-inspired music under an interactive light display, an art commission in a church and a new work inspired by US punk band Fugazi. Acts include Sam Amidon, Bryan Benner, Sam Beste, Liam Byrne, Uri Caine, Mara Carlyle, Rahel Debebe-Desselegne, Anne Denholm, Abimaro, Lisa Hannigan, Topi Lehtipuu, Katherine Manley, Phil Minton, James McVinnie, Robert Murray, Ben Nelson, Alex Reeve, Shapla Salique, Saied Silbak, Aart Strootman, Heloise Werner and Apollo 47.
Among the highlights include:
- 3 December : East End Speed Histories: Tales Less Told
An unpredictable adventure through history including tales from actors, historians and authors in a mystery location not usually open to the public. 2pm and 4pm. Tickets: £10. At secret location, meet at steps of Christ Church.
Classic Album Sundays presents an evening with composer Max Richter and conductor André de Ridder to discuss Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons. 7pm. Tickets: £15. Shoreditch Church (St Leonard’s).
- 4 and 6 December : Musical Rumpus: Fogonogo
From the award-winning Musical Rumpus series, explore the multi-sensory world of Fogonogo – an opera specially created for babies and toddlers. 11am and 1.30pm. Tickets: Child £8, Accompanying Adult £2. Rich Mix.
- 6 December : Renegade New Classical: Daniel Brandt, Nik Colk Void
Presented by André de Ridder’s orchestral collective s t a r g a z e, listen to the realms of classical collide with minimal techno, experimental and electronic music. 8.30pm. Tickets: £10-£28. Shoreditch Church (St Leonard’s).
- 7 December : Late Night Bach
Festival-featured artist James McVinnie performs a stunning 40-minute set of solo keyboard music by JS Bach. 9pm. Pay what you decide. Shoreditch Church (St Leonard’s).
- 9 and 10 December : Schumann Street
An ambitious staging and (re)interpretation of Schumann’s iconic song cycle: Dichterliebe. Set across the stunning Huguenot Houses of Spitalfields, each of the 16 songs in Schumann’s cycle will be performed by a different artist drawn from a wide range of stylistic backgrounds including Bengali folk, rap, classical, soul and jazz. 5pm and 7.30pm. Tickets: £35. Huguenot Homes of Spitalfields.
- The Spitalfields Music Festival takes place from 2-10 December 2017. At various venues around Spitalfields. Nearest stations: Shoreditch High Street or Liverpool Street.
For a guide to what else is on in London in December, click here.
Music, dance and giving back at the ‘Art for Love’ Christmas festival at Devonshire Square
Help those less fortunate at Devonshire Square’s Giving Tree during the ‘Art for Love’ festival
© Patrizia Ilaria Sechi
December is finally here so the Christmas countdown can really begin. This month, Londoners will be entertained with a festive extravaganza with music, dance, ice skating and more. The ‘Art for Love’ festival will take place in Devonshire Square’s historic Western Courtyard, with lunchtime and after-work performances.
The events are:
- 1 December (12.30pm) : Christmas Wonderland ballet show.
- 7 December (5.30pm) : A Magical Christmas – Traditional Carols Concert by The Capital Arts Children’s Choir and London Cantamusica.
- 8 December (12.30pm) : Magic on Ice – Ice skating show.
- 11 December (6pm) – An evening of carols by the Constanza Chorus.
- 14 December (5.30pm) – The Deep End of Sound by Composer Alberto Ferro.
- 15 December (5pm) – Violins and Butterflies Christmas Show: LED Violins concert and illuminated butterfly ballerinas.
- 16 December (6.30pm) – Zalon Live in concert with his band.
- 19 December (5pm) – Saxophonist Aaron Liddard and his band The Argonauts live in concert.
Of course, Christmas is all about the spirit of giving so Devonshire Square will be teaming up with homeless charity The Connection to grant Christmas wishes and raise money for an important cause. Taking centre stage will be the Christmas Giving Tree, featuring wishes written on paper hearts. You can help them come true by writing ‘honoured’ on them and pledging to make that special request a reality. Surrounding the trees will be the stunning ‘Twilight Trees’ installation by artist Susie Reid, featuring sparkling cherry trees covered in illuminated blossom.
Amidst all the entertainment and festive fun will be plenty of restaurant and bars in the square if you’re feeling peckish, including Mac & Wild, Cinnamon Kitchen and Pitt Cue. Located in the City of London, just a short walk from Liverpool Street or Spitalfields Market, Devonshire Square is a historic business and entertainment quarter, dating back to the 18th century.
- Art For Love Christmas Festival takes place from 1-19 December 2017. At Devonshire Square (Western Courtyard), City of London, EC2M. Nearest stations: Liverpool Street or Aldgate. For more information, visit the Devonshire Square website.
Music from your favourite films performed live on the Dreamworks Animation in Concert UK tour
Over the years, Dreamworks have entertained millions of families with their animated movies. This December, fans will have the chance to listen some of the songs from the films performed live as the Dreamworks Animation in Concert UK tour comes to the capital.
Coming to London for one night only, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra will be accompanying some of the favourite moments from Dreamworks’ most popular films. Families will be entertained with 20 years of animation and music scores by Hans Zimmer, Harry Gregson-Williams, John Powell, Alexandre Desplat, Alan Silvestri, Danny Elfman and many others. Scenes from Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon will be projected on the big screen in HD as they are accompanied by live music. Children and adults alike will be enthralled as the music is played in full live splendour.
Carol Nygren, Vice President, Worldwide Live Entertainment, Universal Brand Development, said: “We are excited to bring the stunning music of DreamWorks Animation composers to life on stage to be showcased in this great and fun event for music and movie fans of all ages.”
- Dreamworks Animation in Concert UK tour comes to London on 1 December 2017. From 6pm. Tickets start from £28.32. Wembley SSE Arena, Arena Square, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0AA. Nearest station: Wembley Park or Wembley Stadium. For tickets, visit the Dreamworks SeeTickets website.
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