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10 Nov

80s Flashback at the Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Pubs & Bars 2 Comments

I Remember the 80s quizFor those of you who know their Duran Duran from their Japan, last Friday night in the Met Bar would have been the event for you. We time-warped back to the era of shoulder pads, mullets and power ballads for our first I Remember the 80s music quiz.

Hosted by none other than Met Bar loyalist Jonny Awsum, our eight teams of members (including Oasis’s Andy Bell) were each given a different 80s wig, from punk rocker to Tina Turner.

Music intros from one-hit wonders to cartoon theme tunes and famous faces were played in quick-fire rounds.

To buzz in, guests had to don their wig, jump up and scream “I Remember the 80s” first. One point was awarded for every correct answer, but two were deducted if the answer was wrong! Suffice to say, much chaos ensued (what can you expect with a room full of DINKIES and BOBOs)!

After an hour and a half of intense battle (and a little bit of cheating), the final bell tolled and the scores on the doors were totted up by Jonny’s glamorous Flashdance assistant, Eleanor. For the losers, a wooden spoon; for the winners, neon leg warmers and the chance to sing karaoke on stage to Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer!

 

Another successful Met Bar event involving fancy dress and slightly wild behaviour (you might notice a pattern emerging!) In fact, we enjoyed it so much we have decided to host a 90s quiz next time. So dig out your combat trousers, your Spice Girls fan club badges and your yoyos, and watch this space!

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9 Oct

JD Set Gig Gives Jack a Birthday To Remember

Posted by Jenny in Music No Comments

Jon McClure, Brett Anderson and Carl Barat on stage

Last night, I attended the 159th birthday party of whiskey-legend Jack Daniels. Sadly, the man himself couldn’t be there, but 400 competition winners turned out to celebrate and down whiskey cocktails in his honour.

Plus, there were performances from Carl Barat, Brett Anderson and Jon McClure.Brett Anderson

A particular treat was the specially assembled Silver Cornet Band, featuring Nashville greats David Hood, Wayne Carson and Billy Block. It’s not often you get the chance to hear Elvis’s hit, Always on My Mind, sung by the guy who actually wrote it (Wayne Carson).

Jon McClure (of Reverend and The Makers) sized up to the crowd and got  them going with his hit, Heavyweight Champion of The World. Then Brett Anderson took us back to the 90s with Suede hits Everything Will Flow, Trash and, of course, that floppy fringe! Definitely my favourite part of the night.

All three musicians performed a combination of their own hits and covers. Carl Barat sang unashamedly from a lyric sheet when it was his turn, but drew the biggest cheer from the crowd when he sang Libertines classic, What Katie Did.

The JD Set prides itself on the unique collaborations it puts together for its gigs, and so Jon McClure, Brett Anderson and Carl Barat dutifully took to the stage for a group rendition of Venus in Furs by Velvet Underground. It was certainly a strange line-up – Jon and Brett looked slightly bemused and Carl Barat was a little worse for wear – but they pulled it off!

See the grand finale yourself in the video below.

Were you at the Birthday JD Set? Tell us what you thought of it.

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8 Oct

FrankMusik Live and Found at the Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Clubs, Pubs & Bars No Comments

FrankMusicAs a child of the electro generation, it’s no surprise Jamie became a big fan of electro-pop whizz kid and singer-songwriter du jour, FrankMusik.

Recently back from touring with Keane, Pet Shop Boys, Lady GaGa and Perez Hilton Presents in the US, it only took a few calls to entice FrankMusik to the Met Bar decks.

Or, we should say BACK to the Met Bar decks? Although not commonly known, FrankMusik used to DJ here regularly before starting his glittering music career!

His return was much anticipated, and after a quick bite in Nobu on Thursday evening, he came down to an already packed bar full of Met Bar members, achingly cool music moguls and the gorgeous Natalie Imbruglia (with friends Sam and Holly Branson).

With the paps going crazy outside, the atmosphere was quite simply electric – echoing the sounds from FrankMusik himself including remixes of his latest hits – the beat-boxing and vox-popping went long into the night.

Suffice to say it was Berocca popping for us on Friday morning! Watch this space for the next big Met Bar party…

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26 Sep

Femme Fatale at the Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Music, Pubs & Bars No Comments

If you have ever been seduced by an alluring woman, you will be familiar with the meaning of Femme Fatale. Until last night we (Jo and Jamie) had never succumbed to the fatal charms of a woman but in true excessive style, we fell for not one but four in one evening!

Last night, our new live music event Femme Fatale debuted in the Met Bar in conjunction with ZEN FM presents, showcasing the best in emerging female musicians. Naively sipping our cocktails, we were unaware of the potent mix of music that was to follow.

Axe Girl

The first performance, a Celtic Harpist called Jharda, enchanted the audience with her haunting voice and melodic strings, delicately evoking a strange desire to dance in the royal courts of Henry VIII.

Then, Axe Girl with her punky attitude rocked the stage with a mix of edgy pop-rock anthems. Cue much head banging and air guitar action.

After we were released from the clutches of our first two sirens, voluptuous songstress Charley Bird sent the audience into a heady whirl of Kit Kat club excitement with her Dietrich-esque voice and pin-up poses.

Finally, Chyna Wyne captivated the crowd with her striking beauty and Reggae beats in her gravity defying high heels (teacher by day, diva by night) whilst we got up and got down to the bongo beats!

Dazed and delighted, we took to our carriages in a love-struck stupor satiated by our first experience of Femme Fatale. Tempted? Join us for the next Femme Fatale in December.

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25 Sep

Michael Jackson Exhibition Tickets On Sale Now

Posted by Jenny in Attractions, Music No Comments

Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition

Micheal Jackson: The Official Exhibition tickets went on sale this morning.

The exhibition opens in October, and showcases an extensive collection of memorabilia from the King of Pop’s extraordinary career, including his famous sequinned glove, and an original Jackson 5 contract.

Michael Jackson: The Official Exhibition chronicles Michael Jackson’s rise to fame, and his superstar career, and ends with the shows he had planned at The O2 before his untimely death.

Demand for tickets is expected to be high – so make sure you book your tickets now.

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4 Sep

London Clubs: Not To Be Missed This Autumn

Posted by Jenny in Clubs, London, Pubs & Bars 1 Comment

Pass the parcel at Oh My God! I Miss You, photo by Barry Newman

The Bank Holiday may seem like a distant memory, but London’s nightlife is showing no signs of slowing down. So brace yourselves, there’s a lot coming up over the next few weeks, here are our favourites:

The Big Chill Mini Festival – the festival season is nearly finished but from the 11-13 September you can recapture the tented, unwashed festival spirit at The Big Chill House and The Big Chill Bar.

Matter 1st Birthday Weekend – matter is a whole year old on the weekend of 18-19 September. Carl Cox, Eddy Temple Morris, Tom Middleton and Pendulum will all be joining in the celebrations.

Oh My God! I Miss You – Speaking of birthdays, Oh My God! I Miss You are launching a monthly birthday party from 2 October. All the fun of a birthday (cake, burlesque, pass the parcel) without getting a year older – hoorah!

Smirnoff Be There – Smirnoff continue their quest to find the most original new club night with four new events this autumn, kicking off with retro-Hawaiian night Rock a Hula at Bloomsbury Bowling on 18 September. If it’s anything like the last one, we’re there!

Silent Disco – Try clubbing in the historical setting of the Old Royal Naval College as Silent Disco moves in for a one-off night under the stars on 12 September.

SS Atlantica – The nautical look is in don’t you know, and our friends at The Blitz Party have come up with a brand new theme night. Step aboard the SS Atlantica for a glamorous evening of 1930s jazz, cabaret and general promenading on 12 September.

Sunday Social – Don’t waste away watching soap omnibuses on Sundays, head to The Old Queen’s Head where you can indulge in apple-bobbing, face-painting, board games and other fun from 3pm at their weekly Sunday Social.

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24 Aug

Visit London Asks: What’s Your Best Notting Hill Carnival Memory?

Posted by Zoe J. Griffiths in Special Events 3 Comments

Notting Hill Carnival. Image courtesy of Britain on View's Jon Spaull

Last week we gave in to our animal instincts and asked who was your favourite four-legged London friend. Thanks to everyone who commented.

Today, we’re looking ahead to the weekend, and London’s big street party: the Notting Hill Carnival.

The biggest festival of its kind in Europe, the Notting Hill Carnival has some impressive stats:

  • 20 miles of costumes
  • 40 static sound systems
  • 100s of caribbean food stalls
  • 40,000 volunteers
  • 1 million revellers

We want to know, what’s your best Notting Hill Carnival memory?

Is there a particular costume that sticks in your mind? A tune that will always remind you of a stunning summer’s day in West London? A moment when you met and partied with a fellow reveller? Something truly crazy that sums up the spirit of London’s best carnival?

Let us know!

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18 Aug

A Jazzy Picnic Summer’s Eve on London’s Hampstead Heath

Posted by Jo Aspin in Music, Open Spaces 1 Comment

Jools Holland at Kenwood House

On Saturday we packed a picnic and ventured off to listen to some live music courtesy of Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, in the glorious setting of Hampstead Heath’s Kenwood House.

We came upon the scene from behind the magnificent 17th century villa just as Jools was striking up his first few chords on the piano. And what a scene it was. The huge brightly lit stage looked spectacular, surrounded by the beautiful lakeside setting, with no less than 21 musicians jamming on stage.

Kenwood House Picnic Concerts really are one of London’s summer must-dos, like the Open Air Theatre at Regent’s Park or a trip to the crazy Notting Hill Carnival.

Highlights included guest singer Ruby Turner belting out some soulful tunes, an effortless performance from ska legend Rico Rodriguez,  Gilson Lavis on the drums, and some seriously bad middle aged dancing in the aisles!

A little tip for future Kenwood Picnic Concert goers; allow a lot of time to get there as Kenwood House is not that near to a tube station.

There’s still a chance to snap up tickets to the grand finale Last Night Of The Proms starring Alfie Boe next Saturday. Snap up your tickets now.

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7 Aug

Start Making Music

Posted by Claire Doble in Arts, Attractions, Kids, Music, Special Events 1 Comment

David Byrne with his Playing the Building installation. Photo: Jonathan Birch

Ever fancied playing a musical instrument the size of a house? How about one the size of Camden’s Roundhouse? Well, now you can.

From tomorrow a new installation created by musical maverick David Byrne, Playing the Building, will be open to the public to play with.  It’s yet another example of participatory events happening in London this summer.

Byrne, probably best known as the Talking Heads frontman, showed off his creation today in a press preview. The instrument looks like musical version of a Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory machine – an old pump organ sprouting with coloured wires that are attached to the building’s rather beautiful Victorian poles and girders.

In keeping with the steampunk aesthetic, it’s entirely mechanical, with Byrne noting the instrument could as easily have been produced 150 years ago as today. It produces sounds using a system of air pressure and sonar magnets to tap, whistle and vibrate through the Roundhouse’s  pillars and posts. The result is a range of flute-like whistles and xylophone-style pings.

“You can’t play Bach on it,” Byrne notes, but that’s not the idea. People are encouraged to wander through the space, have a tinkle, experiment and enjoy the ambience of the building and the sounds produced.

The Roundhouse is hosting several jam sessions and events where you can play your own music along with the building – book tickets and find out more from the Roundhouse website.

It only costs a fiver to enter, unless you go on Mondays when it’s “pay what you can”. If you do go, please tell us about your experience by commenting on this post.

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7 Aug

F1 Rocks The Met Bar

Posted by Jo & Jamie from the Met Bar in Pubs & Bars No Comments

Black eyed peasIf you have been following our weekly blog, you will already know that it’s not unusual for us to be leaving the Met Bar as the birds are chorusing dawn, high above Park Lane. BUT on Tuesday this week, with the doors closed for only one hour, we arrived, (albeit bleary eyed and in shook) at 5am to set up for a launch event of  ‘F1 Rocks’; a new collaboration between Formula One and Universal Music.

Not usually one to be excited by sport (!) even Jamie got a little caught up in the moment as a Formula One racing car pulled up outside the main hotel reception (personally, it was the leather jumpsuit for me – Jo), and once the wheels arrived on the tarmac it was the green light for a very hectic morning!

Music Execs from Universal were flying through the bar confirming which journalists were attending whilst the most enormous stage and plasma screens were being erected, ready for Bernie Ecclestone’s grand entrance. Then it was ready (with the smoked salmon bagels & mini sausages), set (cue thundering engine noises), go!

For those who missed the newspapers this week, the first F1 Rocks kicks off at the Singaporean Grand Prix in September featuring a fierce line-up of Met Bar loyalists; Beyonce, N.E.R.D and Black Eyed Peas.  

Now all we need to do is get that pop-up Met Bar over to Singapore, which naturally we would need to supervise…

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