Fran Hardcastle writes about Exhibition Road Music Day, Saturday 23rd June, 11am – 9.30pm, South Kensington.
Music Day is a free one day music festival, taking place around the cultural quarter of Exhibition Road in South Kensington. The festival is organised by the Exhibition Road Cultural Group, whose partners include the Natural History Museum, Science Museum, V&A, and l’Institut Français amongst others.
I started my involvement with the Music Day festival a few years ago, when working at the Royal College of Music. But this year I have been invited to programme a stage in Kensington Gardens, in collaboration with the partners of the Exhibition Road Cultural Group. We’ve given the programming a global taste with a London community spirit. We have a morning of interactive family workshops and performances, from a Kazoo collective to Kathak Dancing.
I have also managed to sneak in a little jazz! Nigerian British guitarist, Femi Temowo, opens the afternoon’s performances with his blend of jazz soaked in Yoruba traditions from his album Orin Meta. Heidi Vogel brings a flavour of Brazil with music from her album Lagrimas de um Passaro. A collaboration with the Bureau Export has brought three French acts. Chanson from London based French artist, Anne B, Latin Congolese band Grupo Lokito then will bring their vibrant music to the stage. Platinum-selling, French Afro-Soul artist, IMANY, headlines the evening and we round off music in the park with an explosion of Ska/Latin fusion from Ska Cubano.
Performances also take place throughout the day in the V&A, Science Museum, Royal Geographical Society, Ismaili Centre & Natural History Museum. Highlights include a spoken word music collaboration between Booker Prize winning author DBC Pierre and folk musicians from Bellowhead and Seth Lakeman band that takes place in the Atrium of the Natural History Museum’s Darwin Centre.
The entire event is free. Bring a picnic, your family, friends and hopefully some sunshine to Kensington Gardens.There is also shelter.
For more information go to www.exhibitionroad.com
For stage location, see map.
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Well done – but not quite the first!
The precursor of this event was “Fête de la Musique” – a regular event in France and held in London for the first time on 21st June 2005. The main event was a F-IRE Collective stage and it was a great sunny day – and a good time had by all listening to some great jazz.
Looks like tis will be agreat event too – must try and get there!
Hi Peter,
The festival is still based around Fête de la Musique, as it has always been, although it's not on 21st June itself and it still keeps it's original name of Music Day from the first festival in 2005, which I remember attending and enjoying the F-IRE programme very much!
Fran