Credit: Jason Hawkes Photography

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Hot Off The Press



This very moment, I have just received word of the annual series of gigs that take place within the courtyard of that oft underused building, Somerset House.

The home of the Taxman, this building and it's open air square are increasingly being used for more inspiring means. A staple of this is the opportunity every summer for Somerset House to make for a superb music venue. I am often want to recall seeing Orbital there in what ranks right up there in my favourite all time musical experiences.

Having said that, the line-up for Somerset House is often mixed, and toppling towards disappointing. However, this year, they must have employed at least one person with a half-decent taste in music as there are sporadic highlights.

These are...

Friday 9th July Air

Tuesday 13th July The xx

Sunday 18th July Soul II Soul

If any of you imagined throngs out there in webland fancy a jaunt along and a singalong, then I am able to get priority booking if you get off your behind by Friday.

Come along now...

Folksy Antifolk

                                                        Photo by Sarah Cass

I'm not sure I've ever really understood the use of the term 'Antifolk', although I am aware that Kimya Dawson and Jeffrey Lewis are two bastions of this particular institution.

I am also aware that they make funny, touching and acutely self-aware music that I personally feel is almost impossible not to relate to, so frankly their genre could be called 'Antijew' and I would still love it.

In one of those happy happenstances, they are both playing, together with The Bundles, at one of my all time favourite London music venues, The Union Chapel and at the eminently reasonable fiscal subtraction of 15 English pounds.

I'll be there gladly paying Kimya Dawson for being Kimya Dawson. If you're sat next to me, it could hardly make it worse now, could it...?

19th May 7pm
The Union Chapel
£15 + unavoidable bastard tax of £1.50