‘What Blackbird has is THE voice’ Preferring to paddle in the bluer side of the musical pool, the bubbling Jazz jacuzzi of this metaphor always intimidated me. An artificial aura of “cool” rippling out from its denizens. Although Lady Blackbird supported by DoomCannon hasn’t completely changed my mind on that front, they has pried open my reluctant eyes somewhat. EFG London jazz ...
‘An evening is a glimpse into a country in the grips of great change’ Only a few times in my career as a music reviewer have I experienced the Barbican shucking off its cool yet relatively formal façade and getting downNdirty. One was a 24-hour concert, where any sense of decorum flittered away by about the 7th hour. The second time was ...
‘Birkin is a hard-working singer’ The epitome of a cross-channel-life and 1960s cool, Jane Birkin returns to the stage at the barbican after 3 years of absence. The same charm sits quietly with her, proving she is so much more than an overpriced handbag. Although linked inexorably with the swinging 60s, and Serge Gainsbourg her professional life after their breakup ...
‘Slight cracks in their polished CA charm’ What’s more psychedelic than California? With San Francisco being the multicolored fractalizing centre. The sun, the sea, and the soul. Beginning as an amalgamation of three bands in 2005 in the North Bay music scene . Monophonic’s mind-bending tones, with dashes of classic Motown, has…..soared seems the wrong verb for these deeply relaxed ...
‘Wistful, yet touchingly heartfelt’ An evening of Russian classical music and patriotism sounds like a tough sell currently. But despite the raging argument of cultural-canceling the Barbican and BBC Symphony Orchestra’s clever selection and curation prove to be a thought-provoking event. Framing the work and more specifically Symphony No 5 in D minor of Dmitry Shostakovich alongside one of his ...
‘We’re simmering’ “Like a bee to some honey…..you got an addiction” we sure did, addicted insects, buzzing round the aura of Liv Warfield. The Unexpected singer is on a stratospheric rise, from an Illinois upbringing to touring with Prince and his band New Power Generation, and now solo. Along with playing Live on Jimmy Fallon, there is no stopping a ...
‘A musical funhouse’ A vague haze fills the Barbican as if someone had a furtive ciggy right before everyone filed in. The dark shapes of the multitudinous BBC Symphony Orchestra are broken up by a glittering jacket here and there like scattered gemstones – appropriate for a night filled with moments of bright beauty. Lit by four large, glass globes ...
‘Expansive talent’ London Symphony Orchestra and Barbara Hannigan Barbara Hannigan. Photograph: Marco Borggreve / courtesy Barbican Surrounded by the masked, pointed bows of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) at the Barbican, on strides the imposing figure of Barbara Hannigan. Hannigan is celebrating her recent appointment as the LSO’s associate artist for the next three years. What wonders will they bring? ...
‘Life in the old dog yet’ Surrounded by the golden stuccoed and sweeping grandeur of the Shoreditch Town Hall the evening of uplifting music and youthful talent is surprisingly spartan. Simple orange lights never change allowing for the music to sing… for itself. Rebecca Miller looks very much like a chic circus ringleader conducting the red and black orchestra in ...
‘A riotous explosion of infusion, colour and reinvention’ As (seemingly) the whole of London’s Ukrainian population squeeze In the Barbican Hall I find myself pleasantly astonished. DakhaBrakha may technically be a folk group and wear traditionally Ukrainian costume but there’s nothing old-fashioned or conservative about what I’m about to witness. Created as a theatre project in 2004 Marko Halanevych (vocals, ...