June 09, 2007
Festival
The festivities for the reopening of the newly-refurbished (though not markedly changed) Royal Festival Hall were, well, festive. We went to a "Lucky Dip" concert that turned out to be flamenco guitarist Paco Peña ("who first appeared on this stage with Jimi Hendrix, that's how cool he is!") -- undeniably brilliant even if not my normal cup of tea. Later there was gamelan, massed choirs on the river, video projections and a silent disco (sadly, I didn't get in to that, but perhaps I'll try again tonight). And the South Bank in general is looking pretty funky at the moment, what with the grass on the side of the NT and Antony Gormley's spooky Event Horizon figures all over the place. It was a perfect, balmy evening and just lovely all round.
In fact, I'm off back there in an hour or so to see Lea Anderson's Flag performed by 150 dancers, including both current Cholmondeleys and Featherstonehaughs and those kids. Fun :)
Posted by matt at June 9, 2007 01:24 PM
Comments
I'd have been tempted to spend the entire time up on the 6th floor with Saint Etienne and pals. Even so, it looks and sounds like a great time was had by all. And next up, it's Jarvis' Meltdown...
Posted by: Robin at June 13, 2007 04:15 AM
I did actually spend an hour or two in the Turntable Café, after a second failure to get into the Silent Disco -- prompted at least in part by revulsion at the odious motherfuckers in the queue who would have been our co-clubbers. It was all good loungey fun, but I can't say I noticed any particular St Etienne presence.
Posted by: matt at June 13, 2007 11:49 PM
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