Royal Albert Hall announces a diverse summer line-up of performers for
its More at The Hall series
23 April, 2013
Highlights include:
-Alexandra Burke as you’ve never seen her before- singing Billie Holiday songs
-A double winning UK beatboxing champion pushing the human voice to its limits
-The former harpist of H.R.H the Prince of Wales, performing her own arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations
-Poets, writers and singers collaborating for a spoken word event that explores being ‘a modern day griot’ within the West African community
The Royal Albert Hall has announced its spring/summer More At The Hall programme with a wide range of excellent value events taking place outside of its main auditorium. Featuring a great selection of both upcoming and established artists, this summer’s series features an eclectic mix of events such as beatboxing and spoken word taking place in the 350-capacity venue, The Elgar Room, alongside regular comedy, late-night jazz, lunchtime gigs, classical recitals and family days - all part of the Hall’s mission to improve and increase access to the arts and sciences.
Following on from the previously announced 5-night residency in the Elgar Room of Alexandra Burke in June, taking her career in a whole new direction with her unique performances of The Lady Sings the Blues - the 1972 film soundtrack based on the life of Billie Holiday, the Hall is delighted to announce the remainder of the More at the Hall season for the upcoming spring and summer months.
Amongst the one-off events in the Elgar Room will be Irish indie band The Coronas who will perform an intimate show following their headline performance at the 14,000 capacity O2 in Dublin, and saxophonist Amy Dickson who has performed with the world’s leading ensembles, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The line-up this series gets even more eclectic with events including producer, performer, songwriter and remixer MaJiKer’s brand new show North, a collection of Nordic folk melodies; Reeps One and Friends, a vocal force and UK beatboxing champion who brings a fresh approach to beatboxing and will showcase collaborations with some of his favourite artists; and Jumoké Fashola’s Jazz Verse Jukebox, where established poets, writers and singers such as Anthony Joseph, Inua Ellams, Carrie Grant and John Siddique explore what it means to be a ‘modern day griot’ in this enticing spoken word event. For something more relaxing pianist James Rhodes returns to The Elgar Room to perform a programme of Beethoven and Chopin and ‘The Queen of Harps’ Catrin Finch, former Harpist to H.R.H the Prince of Wales, performs her own arrangements of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
Thursday nights continue to see some of the best in contemporary jazz showcased at Late Night Jazz sessions in the Elgar room, such as performances from Anthony Strong who starred in the West End show Million Dollar Quartet as well as performing with the likes of Marti Pellow, Beverly Knight and Paloma Faith, and the all-female a capella group Black Voices who have forged their own dynamic style by combining blues and jazz with their own African Caribbean gospel roots.
Sundays are set aside for classical recitals in the Elgar Room or laid back brunch with a side of jazz in Café Consort. The Classical Coffee Mornings series runs in partnership with the Royal College of Music and their students, and is complemented by a junior series with musicians from the Royal College of Music Junior Department. Talented performers to catch this season include Dinara Klinton, a pianist who made her debut recording at the age of 16, and a string quartet formed specially to perform one of the most ambitious pieces of the twentieth century chamber music repertoire, The Quartet for the End of Time, by Messiaen.
ignite brunch provides the perfect lazy Sunday recipe of brunch with a background of vibrant music. Each week brings a contrasting group, from Musica Paradiso, who perform a pastiche of movie songs representing stars such as Marilyn Monroe in Some Like it Hot, to the London Tango Quartet playing traditional tango from the forties, as well as music from flamenco artists and jazz swing bands. ignite brunch is accompanied by the free ignite concerts on Friday lunchtimes in the Café Consort, which feature a selection of talented musicians around the world.
Comedy continues to take place in the Elgar Room, this season welcoming Andrew Maxwell, a stand-up comedian who has sold out shows at the Edingburgh Festival and featured on TV programmes 8 out of 10 Cats and Have I Got News For You amongst others, Neil Innes, who performs a wry, poignant and topical one-man show, spiced with anecdotes of his life and times in the worlds media, and Pete Firman, the UK’s top comedic conjuror who will be premiering his brand new Edinburgh Festival Show for 2013.
Finally, the free exhibition series reflect will host two exhibitions this series. First up is Funny Tummy, a talented illustrator and graphic designer who will be displaying his numerous portraits of artists such as Rihanna, Tinie Tempah and Wretch 32. This will be followed by The Moving Portrait- Tom Oxley, who will be projecting three-minute high definition portraits on to the Royal Albert Hall’s gallery walls, overlooking the stunning main auditorium and featuring the likes of Professor Green, Liam Gallagher, Rizzle Kicks, Mark Ronson and Azealia Banks, amongst others.
Built to promote the understanding and appreciation of the arts, the Royal Albert Hall actively works as a promoter to support and contribute to the cultural life of the country. The Hall looks to provide memorable visitor experiences for all and, as a charity, these own-promoted events form a part of its extensive public benefit remit by offering cheaper tickets prices and to encourage new audiences into the building.
To see full details on the upcoming More At The Hall season or to book tickets please visit www.royalalberthall.com. Alternatively call 020 7589 8212.
To download the full programme please visit www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/more-at-the-hall/default.aspx
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ENDS
Notes to editors
For the Royal Albert Hall please contact:
Sean Carrigan - 020 7959 0531/ seanc@royalalberthall.com
Elgar Room Events and Dates:
Classical Coffee Mornings
Elgar Room, 11am, £11 (tickets include tea/coffee and a pastry)
Sunday 12 May Amy Tress and Alison Rhind
Sunday 19 May Son Quartet
Sunday 26 May Quartet for the End of Time
Sunday 9 June Dinara Klinton
Sunday 30 June Timothy Nelson
Sunday 21 July Ben Excell
Junior Classical Coffee Mornings
Sunday 5 May Martin James Bartlett
Sunday 7 July Dominic Doutney and the RCMJD Piano Trio
Late Night Jazz
Elgar Room, 9.45pm, £12-£15
Thursday 9 May Savoy Super Five
Thursday 23 May Anthony Strong
Thursday 30 May Kai Hoffman Quartet
Thursday 13 June The Cable Street Band
Thursday 20 June Black Voices
Thursday 27 June Dom James and His Dixie Ticklers
Elgar Comedy
Elgar Room, £15
Saturday 4 May Andrew Maxwell, 8.30pm
Saturday 29 June Neil Innes: Another Chance To Get It Right, 8pm
Thursday 11 July Pete Firman, 8pm
One off Shows
Elgar Room
Tuesday 14 May Catrin Finch: Goldberg Variations, 8pm, £18.50
Thursday 16 May The Coronas, 8pm, £10
Sunday 19 May Amy Dickson, 7pm, £15
Tuesday 4 –Friday 7 June Alexandra Burke performs Lady Sings the Blues, 9pm, £37.50
Saturday 8 June Alexandra Burke performs Lady Sings the Blues, 7pm and 10.30pm, £37.50
Sunday 9 June An Evening with James Rhodes, 6pm, £17.50
Tuesday 11 June North by MaJiKer, 8pm, £12.50
Monday 17 June Reeps One and Friends –Music Face Sessions, 8pm, £15
Friday 5 July Inspired Word: Jumoké Fashola & Guests present Jazz verse Jukebox, 7.45pm, £13.50
Family ignite
Elgar Room, 12 noon and 2.30pm, £3.50 (for children 16 years and under), Adults £5 Tuesday 28 May Princes and Princesses- Albert’s Band
Café Consort Events and Dates:
ignite brunch
Café Consort, 11.30am, £28.50, £15 for under 12s (including a two course brunch menu)
Sunday 12 May Musica Paradiso
Sunday 19 May Sumaya Flamenco
Sunday 9 June Enchanteuse- The Songs of Edith Piaf and Marlene Dietrich
Sunday 30 June London Tango Quartet
Sunday 21 July Caroline Loftus & F.R.E.D
Sunday 28 July Leonie Evans and The Baker Boys
Sunday 11 August John Martin Quartet
ignite
Café Consort, 12 noon, free entry
Friday 17 May Giacomo Smith and Robin Katz’s Club Royale
Friday 24 May Peter Michaels Trio
Friday 31 May Ma Polaine’s Great Decline
Friday 7 June Atongo Zimba
Friday 14 June FB Pocket Orchestra
Friday 21 June Melange
Friday 5 July Brigitte Beraha
Friday 12 July The Swing Ninjas
Friday 19 July Son Yambu
Friday 26 July Goosebumps
Friday 2 August Graham Hughes & The Sunshine Band
Junior ignite
Thursday 23 May Out of the Loop
Thursday 6 June Trey and Freddie
Reflect
Free Exhibition Series
Funny Tummy, Ground floor corridor
Wednesday 29 May- Monday 1 July
This exhibition can be viewed when attending performances or on the free open days:
Saturday 1 June 10am-3pm
Saturday 8 June 10am-3pm
Sunday 30 June 10am-3pm
Face to face: The Moving Portrait- Tom Oxley, Gallery
Sunday 16 June, 6pm-9pm
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is the world’s most famous stage. Its breathtaking auditorium hosts over 370 shows a year by the world’s greatest artists. The magical atmosphere combined with inspired artists creates legendary events.
Opened in 1871 as part of Prince Albert’s vision for a centre for the Arts and Sciences, the Hall is a registered charity which operates without public funding, remaining true to his founding ambitions within a modern context. Extending the brand with 200 events outside the auditorium, the Hall has broadened its appeal to younger, diverse audiences whilst still engaging its existing customers.
The Hall also offers the Elgar Room, a state-of-the-art small-scale performance space which hosts performances of classical music, jazz and world music, comedy, dance and hush, a series of gigs for just signed bands throughout the year. In the main auditorium, it offers the Albert Sessions, an initiative that encourages up and coming acts to play at the Hall by offering reduced rental fees to promoters and lower ticket prices to encourage younger audiences to visit the Hall. It also works extensively with schools, young people, disadvantaged groups and partners such as Music For Youth through its Education programme, reaching over 100,000 participants each year as part of its extensive public benefit remit. It has also been appointed by the Arts Council as one of the country’s regional music education hubs.
For more information, please visit www.royalalberthall.com/
Registered charity number: 254543