HMV is to reopen its historic Oxford Street store later this year after a four-year absence. The music retailer shut the flagship store in 2019 after tumbling into administration before a rescue takeover by Canadian Doug Putman’s Sunrise Records. The site, where HMV opened its first shop in 1921, has been operating as an American sweet shop since the closure. It is … [Read more...] about HMV to reopen historic Oxford Street store
Music
In Video: Watch pianist Lang Lang perform at St Pancras station
St Pancras was treated to a special performance by renowned pianist Lang Lang, who put on a show in the heart of the London station. Lang Lang, a judge on Channel 4 show The Piano, said he was “a little bit nervous” before performing on the public piano and found it “a great, great challenge”. … [Read more...] about In Video: Watch pianist Lang Lang perform at St Pancras station
Celebration to mark 50 years since David Bowie released Aladdin Sane album at Southbank Centre
A 50th-anniversary celebration of David Bowie’s album Aladdin Sane will be launched at London’s Southbank Centre in April. The Aladdin Sane: 50 Years exhibition has been curated by Chris Duffy, the son of photographer Brian Duffy who worked with the late Bowie to create his highly recognizable lightning flash portrait. The show, which will celebrate 50 years since the … [Read more...] about Celebration to mark 50 years since David Bowie released Aladdin Sane album at Southbank Centre
Extensive archive of David Bowie’s life to be made public in 2025 at new V&A museum in East London
An extensive archive of David Bowie’s life, work, and legacy will go on display to the public for the first time in 2025; it has been announced. Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (V and A), the exhibition will include more than 80,000 items that span six decades of the cultural icon’s career. They will be made available to the public through the creation of The … [Read more...] about Extensive archive of David Bowie’s life to be made public in 2025 at new V&A museum in East London
Freddie Mercury’s childhood stamp collection to go on display this summer at The Postal Museum
The childhood stamp album of the late Queen singer Freddie Mercury is to go on display at The Postal Museum in London this summer. The 54-page album consists mostly of stamps from the British Commonwealth and showcases his upbringing in Zanzibar, Tanzania, and his artistic passion. It will be on display from July 13 to October 30 as part of the museum’s events to mark 50 … [Read more...] about Freddie Mercury’s childhood stamp collection to go on display this summer at The Postal Museum
The London Fiver: Five More Bands Founded in London
London certainly feels like the center of the universe at times, which also extends to music. Rock, pop, rap, and more have all gotten their start in Britain’s capital. We already covered groups such as the Rolling Stones and the Spice Girls in a previous article, so now we turn our attention to five other bands that started their domination of the charts in London. Punk, … [Read more...] about The London Fiver: Five More Bands Founded in London
London Histories: Your Complete Guide to Beatles London
The Beatles have lots of London connections, including where they have lived, recorded and performed. I've lived close to many of these locations and had no idea the world's most famous band had been in the area. (The Beatles even performed at my local cinema in 1964!) Let's have a look at the neighbourhoods they knew well. Bloomsbury Royal National Hotel The Beatles … [Read more...] about London Histories: Your Complete Guide to Beatles London
The London Fiver – Five London Locations for Beatles Fans
Sure, the Fab Four certainly got their start in Liverpool playing at venues such as The Cavern Club, but London has its own special connections to the Beatles. From the venues, they played to the places where they lived (and still live today), Beatlemania has touched virtually every part of Britain’s capital. While there is no shortage of such musical locales to see in the … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five London Locations for Beatles Fans
The London Fiver – Five London Christmas Songs
The holidays are certainly a time for new songs to hit the airwaves. When you turn on the radio, you’re bound to hear a mix of old and new Christmas singles across all genres. The United Kingdom is certainly no different and every once-in-a-while, you’ll see a British Christmas song that involves London. These songs can be entirely about London or simply make reference to … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five London Christmas Songs
The London Fiver – Five Bands from London – The London Invasion
London has been a happening place for music for decades. When Blues, R&B, and Rock n’ Roll crossed the Atlantic from the United States, it caught on like fire. Eventually, Britain returned the favor by sending back The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and many many more. While The Beatles originated in Liverpool, of course, London has been the epicenter of many a great … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Bands from London – The London Invasion
The London Fiver – Five of the Best Small Concert Venues
It’s good to go out and hear live music. No matter whether it’s classical, rock, punk, rap, jazz, or whatever makes your ears ring, there’s nothing like catching the vibrations of the sound as it hits you. While London certainly has some great larger music venues such as the O2 Arena, the Roundhouse, and Royal Albert Hall, sometimes it’s better to find a smaller place. A … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five of the Best Small Concert Venues
Future London: Take a Look at London’s Future Symphonic Concert Hall
London is a world-class city and one thing it lacks right now is a world-class symphonic concert hall. Yes, it has the Royal Albert Hall, but that's over 150 years old and not exactly to the standard of modern concert halls. This is set to change in the coming years and we now have our first good look at what the place could look like. The London Centre for Music is due to … [Read more...] about Future London: Take a Look at London’s Future Symphonic Concert Hall
Carnaby Street Unveils Bohemian Rhapsody Christmas Lights
We're very excited about the upcoming film about Queen called Bohemian Rhapsody and in celebration, Carnaby Street has decked out the street with Christmas Lights inspired by the song. They were switched on a few days ago (with surviving Queen members and film star Rami Malek present to do the honors). And they look amazing! The lights will grace Carnaby Street until early … [Read more...] about Carnaby Street Unveils Bohemian Rhapsody Christmas Lights
Ten Brilliant Modern Songs about London – Which One is Your Favorite?
There’s music in the streets of London and every borough has a song to sing. Plenty of songs have been written about the UK’s capital and its people across several decades and genres of music. These tunes have lyrics that address the different flavors of London, whether talking about its people, history, or current affairs. No matter what type of music you’re in the mood … [Read more...] about Ten Brilliant Modern Songs about London – Which One is Your Favorite?
The London Fiver – Five Important Places in London’s Music History
Cities are full of music, from buskers in the streets to famous artists in their recording studios. London certainly has its own pedigree when it comes to be the best musical acts of the last few centuries, and with performance venues from the Royal Albert Hall to the Marquee Club, you can believe it has an awesome history for music. Some of music’s most memorable moments … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – Five Important Places in London’s Music History
The London Fiver – All Fall Down: Five London Nursery Rhymes Full of Death, Ruin, and Conflict
Traditionally a song or a poem meant to entertain children; many nursery rhymes are so old that their original meanings have long been forgotten by modern audiences. Much like the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm or Hans Christian Andersen, there are darker themes and meanings behind what we treat as harmless kids’ fare. With its long history full of dark and troubling … [Read more...] about The London Fiver – All Fall Down: Five London Nursery Rhymes Full of Death, Ruin, and Conflict
Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About Carnaby Street
An avenue that’s always in style, Carnaby Street in Westminster has been the home of popular fashions for decades. Named for Karnaby House that was built in the area in 1683 with the street created not long after, it first became known as a retail location in the 19th Century when the Carnaby market first appeared. However, it wouldn’t be until the 20th Century that Carnaby … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts and Figures About Carnaby Street
Great London Buildings: St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square
Forming one of the corners of Trafalgar Square and existing as a landmark on par with Nelson's Column and the National Gallery. Prior to the 13th Century, there is no reference to a church existing on the site in the City of Westminster. The year 1222 marks the first recorded mention of the church when it came under a jurisdictional conflict between Eustace, the Bishop of … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church in Trafalgar Square
Great London Buildings: The Royal Albert Hall – Home of the Proms
Named for Prince Albert, a lover of the arts and sciences, the Royal Albert Hall is one of the premiere concert venues in the United Kingdom. Long before it achieved this honoured status, the property on which the RAH would sit was the Gore Estate in South Kensington. Following the Great Exhibition which was organised by Prince Albert and Henry Cole, Albert wanted to keep the … [Read more...] about Great London Buildings: The Royal Albert Hall – Home of the Proms
10 Interesting Facts and Figures about the Royal Albert Hall You Might Not Know
Albert, the Prince Consort to Queen Victoria was a great lover of the arts, and after the exhibition at the Crystal Palace ended, he wanted to establish more permanent venues for the public to engage in the arts and sciences. Work was still being done on this scheme when Albert died in 1861. Queen Victoria signed the charter and work began in 1867 on what would become the Royal … [Read more...] about 10 Interesting Facts and Figures about the Royal Albert Hall You Might Not Know
Video: Top 10 London Musicals To See On Your Next Visit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA_FSCZQCNM Experience the magic of West End theatre in London. See the capital’s best musicals come to life with our video guide to the most popular shows currently appearing in the West End. Check out London theatre tickets. See amazing scenes and hear the famous songs from these hugely popular musicals. Book tickets now for the best prices … [Read more...] about Video: Top 10 London Musicals To See On Your Next Visit
Video: London Shines in Beautiful Music Video Shot Entirely on an iPhone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUCqQ66rbCw This is a nice treat for a Friday. A beautiful new video of London that was surprisingly shot on an iPhone 6. I didn't know the video quality was so good and I love the timelapse/hyperlapse effect. The song is rather good too. About the video: This was filmed and edited entirely within the iPhone 6, using lots of slow motion … [Read more...] about Video: London Shines in Beautiful Music Video Shot Entirely on an iPhone
Upcoming Events at the Royal Albert Hall in June
If you’re looking to enjoy the ambience of a world class venue in the company of some of the world’s best arts and entertainment acts, the Royal Albert Hall is the place to be. Here we take a look ahead at some of June’s highlights at the London venue. Bruce Forsyth starts the month off on June 3rd, entertaining the crowds in his own inimitable style. The veteran … [Read more...] about Upcoming Events at the Royal Albert Hall in June
Top 5 Music Venues in London
Over the last few years many iconic London music venues have sadly shut their door. Notable casualties include the Hammersmith Palais and the Astoria. Despite many venues losing the war to redevelopment, England’s capital still remains one of the world’s most influential music cities where a wide variety of live music can be experienced 7 nights a week. Whether you want to … [Read more...] about Top 5 Music Venues in London
Chuffed to Bits: The Definitive Top 20 London Songs
With the Olympics beginning this week, one thing is certain: London is on the brain. And it’s especially on the minds of those of us who love it. As Samuel Johnson famously once said, "Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can … [Read more...] about Chuffed to Bits: The Definitive Top 20 London Songs
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