Knightsbridge
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore
SW7 2AP
020 7589 8212, bookings 020 7907 7071
Tours run daily 10.30am-4.30pm (Apr-Oct), 10.30am-3.30pm (Nov-Mar)
Tube: South Kensington
Musicals, Show tunes, Pop
Best known as Glinda in the original US production of 'Wicked', the American singer and actress Chenoweth drops in tonight for plenty of dramatic musical numbers. There's no support act, so you've got her to yourselves all evening.
World, Folk
Renowned duo Spiers and Boden and their excellent and exhilarating folk big band (there are 11 of them!) present an uproarious, brass-fuelled, funk-jazz-folk extravaganza. They're growing more popular every year, so join them tonight for a big old si...
Pop and rock, Blues, Country, Music festivals
Not under any circumstances to be confused with Cheryl Cole, US singer and songwriter Sheryl Crow brings her easygoing, upbeat strand of bluesy pop-rock to London to close the final date of Bluesfest. Though her blues chops are strong, Crow's songs are...
Vintage and oldies, Swing
As well as having released more than a hundred records since the early ’50s –he got his first break supporting Édith Piaf – octogenarian French-Armenian singer-songwriter Aznavour is the current Armenian ambassador to Switzerland. Tonight he'll be conducting...
Rock 'n' roll
The Rockney singalong duo celebrate 50 years in the business with a big gig. They'll play all the hits – 'Margate', 'Rabbit', 'Gertcha' and more – as well as tracks from their brand new album 'That's What Happens'.
Classical and opera, Things to do
Impresario Raymond Gubbay presents an all-you-can-eat menu of classical favourites: 'Nessun Dorma', 'Rule, Britannia!'; 'Land of Hope and Glory'; '1812 Overture' and many more, courtesy of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Royal Choral Society under...
Classical and opera
Soprano Hayley Westenra, clarinettist Andrea Ottensamer, pianist Joseph Moog, Central Band Of The Royal Air Force, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Crouch End Festival Chorus, perform a selection of classical works including Grieg's Piano Concerto and Tchaikovsky's...
Categories, Pop and rock
Recently 'consciously uncoupled' Chris Martin and his galaxy-conquering pop-rockers are back, playing a six-date world tour to launch their new album 'Ghost Stories'. From what we've heard it sees them go off on a (relatively) experimental R&B and electronica...
Categories, Pop and rock
The enormous success of his 'White Ladder' album in 1998 meant that throaty, head-wobbling singer-songwriter Gray was the man to blame for the early-noughties 'new acoustic movement'. That's all water under the bridge now, though – 16 years on from 'Babylon',...
Alternative rock, Indie rock
Mark Everett’s long-running alt rock project combines existential angst and melancholy with a catchy and intriguingly odd mix of alt pop, Waitsian blues, funky Beckisms and exploratory soundscaping. They’re here to play from their latest album ‘The Cautionary...
Show tunes, Pop
The award-winning musical theatre actress and singer does a 'farewell tour' – don't worry, she's only retiring. With 22 albums under her belt – the latest being last year's 'Elaine Paige and Friends' – and plenty of West End classics up her sleeve, she's...
Pop and rock, Blues, Music festivals
After recent excursions including a tour with his band The Imposters, where the set list was decided every night with a giant Wheel of Fortune, and an album with The Roots, everyone's favourite grumpy, bespectacled new wave uncle returns to his own roots...
Pop
The Barlow renaissance continues with another run of huge dates. Having taken the place of music meanie Simon Cowell at the 'X Factor' judges' table, the dapper Take That crooner returned to solo performances in 2011 and has since picked up an OBE after...
Jazz and experimental, Disco, Pop, Soul
Both a wondrous jazz guitarist – formerly axeman to Miles Davis amongst others – and a jazz fusion and disco icon in his own right, Benson loads up on smooth classics like 'Never Give Up On a Good Thing' and 'Give Me the Night'.
Things to do
For two nights only, relive the epic drama of Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator' in the stunning setting of the Royal Albert Hall with a live score. The circular structure of the venue, which opened in 1871, was based on ancient Roman amphitheatres – the setting...
Things to do
Comedian Dara O Brian hosts this event at the Royal Albert Hall to look at what lies in store for healthcare and medicine with TEDMED curator Jay Walker. The programme features provocative and inspiring talks on themes such as global medical innovation,...
Pop, Singer-songwriter
The impossibly posh military officer turned singer-songwriter brings his acoustic guitar and self-consciously 'sensitive' lyrics (that mention of blow jobs on his second album rarely gets mentioned) to a London stage. Despite being widely slagged-off...
Classic rock, Folk, Singer-songwriter
The singer-songwriter and Laurel Canyon scenester returns to London with his band, performing his smash-hit 'Fire and Rain' and more of some of the hippy era's most beautiful songs.
Blues, Classic rock
British guitar ledge Beck drops in for his first London gig in yonks, mixing funk and jazz into the usual blues-rock melange with help from his four-piece backing band. You can bet safely on interminable wig-outs aplenty.
Stand-up, Solo shows, Big-name talent
Joan Rivers – the grande dame of stand-up – is a true living comedy legend. At 79 years old (she doesn't look it, does she? Do you think she's had some work done?), she's showing no sign of old age and her bitchy machine-gun-paced attacks on celebrity...
Big band, Mainstream jazz, Soul
Jools's guests tonight are Soft Cell man Almond and Devon soul singer Joss Stone.
Big band, Mainstream jazz, Soul
Jools's guests tonight are Soft Cell man Almond and Devon soul singer Joss Stone.
Pop, Latin music
Lock up your mothers – the veteran Latin crooner, father of Enrique and former Real Madrid reserve goalkeeper is back in town. Things could get steamy as he airs such hits such as 'To All the Girls I've Loved Before', 'Yours' (he sings it 'Jaws') and...
Pop, Music festivals, Funk
Slap-bass master Mark King leads the latest incarnation of the blue-eyed funk boys, still featuring keyboardist Mike Lindup and nowadays with King's brother Nathan on guitar. They'll be cranking out '80s hits like 'Lessons In Love' and 'Running In The...
Pop, Soul
The demulleted ’80s belter drops into London to plug his latest album, a collection of Motown covers called 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough: A Tribute to Hitsville'. He will, of course, be dropping some of his own past hits too, including 'How Am I Supposed...
5 / 5
I agee the AH is not the best for sound although its better than it used to be before the hanging baffles were installed . However nothing in london has the same atmosphere as the Albert Hall it seems to have a buzz all its own with a unique feel of closeness to the action that no concert hall i have been can match. Imho the greatest concert venue in the world dispite any accustic failings.
It was a dark Halloween night last Thursday that I found myself sat at the Albert Hall waiting for the emergence of former Led Zeppelin front-man Robert Plant. The audience were excitable in anticipation, and thankfully there was nothing gloomy about the performance. Rivalling Brain May for the best hair in rock, Plant appeared ready to have a fine time. The wonderfully gifted voice that Plant has possessed since the ‘60s was in fine form, having matured with age and showcasing rich tones that blended so well with the mix of rock, blues and African rhythms vibrating around the hall to much applause. The appearance of the Gambian musician Juldeh Camara added to the layers of high quality musicianship that the band (which featured musicians from Bristol and Liverpool) had in droves. A friend had told me that he had seen Plant play on tour with Alison Krauss last year and that he looked tired and thought that he may be finding it hard to keep up. I have to say the opposite was true here; it is possible that Plant’s decision to not make another album with Krauss after all their success (winning 5 Grammys for their album ‘Raising Sand’ as well as much acclaim)and instead pursue working on something different to keep music fresh and interesting for him seemed to be paying off. While a lot of his peers look tired and worn with their best days behind them, he looked fitter and stronger than he has in the last few years and he was flying around the stage, throwing the microphone around with ease and prowling around with an unbelievably menacing presence; and who wouldn’t feel 10 feet tall with such a remarkable voice? I could have closed my eyes and believed that the man on stage was the Plant of old not a man of pensionable age. He seems to be enjoying the aging process (‘I can travel for free now’) as well as the music more than ever. ‘This is an invigorating time for me’. Quite. The quality of the band was obviously helping to keep him on his toes and he looked to be having the time of his life, and wonderfully, so were we. With the music ranging from old blues classics to Led Zeppelin numbers (which were met with roars of approval), it all blended in together beautifully. ‘Whole Lotta Love’ , ‘What Is and What Should Never Be’ and other classics went down a storm and Plant looked like he could continue all night. Despite finishing at 10 minutes past midnight (leaving most struggling to make the last tube home) I think we would have all quite happily stayed all night for a lock in. Greedy yes, but it truly would have been heavenly. Trick or treat? Treat definitely. A really thrilling night out. Rating; 10/10
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