When was the last concert you went in 2017

A tad a early for me. Depeche Mode booked for May.

None yet but The Handsome Family coming up in Feb, Leeds Brudenell Social Club. Suspect might be rather fun. Great little venue.

Bruce

We were given ticket for the new years eve concert in Montpelleir, Corum, only an hour or so and mostly Austrian music with a garnish of French and Danish but a really good atmosphere once you'd got through the security check.

That sounds lovely Yeti.

How is the acoustic there? I see there are *civilised* cushioned seats. Nice!

How was the security?

I must say this day and age, anyone can work in the Orchestra Hall and start shooting at people.

The only audience entry was through a double door 2 at a time, some sort of sensor waved over you and a bag check made if you had one. There was a lot of grumbling in the queue. No guns in sight at the concert hall but some army types in fatigues with automatic carbines visible around town. Police were also in evidence but mainly to deal with the over refreshed crowds later that evening.

There was more than a hint of "last night of the he proms" but less flags, though there was a model train that came across the stage in front of the orchestra bearing Champagne and roses, these were distributed to some in the front row except one rose which was given to a young girl of 9 or 10 who strode down from the back determined she wouldn't miss out.

Acoustic was fine from row K.

Thanks Yeti.

Sounds like an airport security. It would be a huge drag if a public event requires it. ( flashback of Two Minute Warning ) :/

Security was extra tight in NYC's *ball drop* at midnight on NYE following a truck incident in Germany.

In Chicago many people stayed home but could not prevent the horrific gang shooting.

None yet but a good few lined up including Iron Maiden, Kings of Leon, Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and a Kinks tribute band.  Why do they always bring out the concert tickets just before Xmas?

Not nearly as bad as that.

John McLaughlin is playing at Ronnie Scotts in March...great birthday treat...definitely one on the finest guitarists ever ... 

Current Bookings:

Knifeworld + Admirals Hard
Spratleys Japs + Guapo
Quest Ensemble
Soccer 96 + Lunch Money + Donna Leake
The Dears (Maybe?)
This Is Not This Heat
North Sea Radio Orchestra (Maybe?)
Laura Marling
Richard Barbieri
Pink Floyd Exhibition @ V&A

I've got the V&A Floyd thing too, plus Manuel Gottsching, Black Sabbath, Fairport Convention and Kraftwerk.

So, old folk's boogie for me

Last Thursday (12th), at the BBC (Balham Bowls Club) in SW12. Four bands: Peter Parker's Rock N Roll Club, Ese & The Vooduu People, Tasha Fox and Niall Kelly. My business partners and I put it on. Pretty successful, and we had it professionally filmed and recorded...

Bloody concerts are like buses - none for ages then 3 in 3 days!

Jan 29 Live Dead 69 in Exeter Phoenix Theatre

Jan 30 Darlingside Bristol Tunnels

Jan 31 James McMurtry Bristol Tunnels again

Radio Paradise and Tidal have a lot to answer for!

I have currently still a nice program in front of me:

Arcadi Volodos

Tschechische Philharmonie

Lang Lang

Helene Grimaud

Hilary Hahn

Joshua Bell

Daniil Trifonov

Rafal Blechalcz

....and last but not least North Sea Jazz Festival.....

and more to come...

Very nice program indeed Bert. I would only skip Bang Bang..

Chag -

La Boheme tonight, updated to 2010 Soho, performance by opera upclose in the Oxford playhouse with piano accompaniament, Mimi is a Ukrainian cleaner. This company is always interesting and affordable. 40 minutes to go.

And it was....  gripping. Opera Up Close are a small young company who take liberties with the libretto (in english) and have either a small ensemble or piano accompaniment but  manage to stay true to the spirit while relocating the drama, and it is drama, powerful enough t bring tears to the eyes of the audience at the end. Mimi was an illegal immigrant from Ukraine afraid to go to a doctor for fear of deportation, the crown scenes were performed out in the aisles among the audience, one singer providing the chorus from where I couldn't see.

A fine use of £20. Their performances would be a good introduction to opera for anyone curious but put off by the price and perceived formality of the big houses. 

The music of Jason Robert Brown - 'Songs for a New Year' - at the Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham. Sung by the OJS Musical Theatre Company.

...and more again

Pineapple Thief + Godsticks
Spratleys Japs + Kavus Torabi + Ham Legion

Chag... posted:

Very nice program indeed Bert. I would only skip Bang Bang..

Chag -

I know quite a number of people don't like him, and I realize why. However I have never heard Chopin's 2nd piano concerto as well executed live, and I have other memorable concert memories with him.....

I saw yesterday Shadowland 2 which perhaps doesn't count as concert, but a lot of music and an interesting performance. 

Last night saw Sarah Jarosz supported by Blue Rose Code at the City Halls Glasgow, brilliant evening. The Mastersons next up in Feb.  

Have bad luck, and the conductor and the pianist had to cancel the concert ...so no Arcadi Volodos but Alixei Volodin for Beethoven 3rd piano concert and Brahms 1st Symphony..... let's see...

So Volodin was a bit sloppy in his Beethoven, and not always in sink with the orchestra. The Brahms after the break was great. The encores of Volodin where good, so I ask myself if it was the short prep or that he just didn't have his evening....

Jah Wobble & The Invaders of the Heart @ The Jazz Café in Camden, London on 25th January.

A storming two hour set, covering all the bases - from jazz, to soundtracks ("Get Carter", "Midnight Cowboy"), reggae (Dawn Penn's "No No No"), some PiL classics ("Public Image", "Poptones", "socialist"), deep dub, world music - with a brilliant band.

Appropriately enough, the highlight of a set dedicated to the late great Jaki Liebezeit was "How Much Are They?" - from the superb 1981 Czukay-Wobble-Liebezeit EP of the same name.