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
Music festivals, Blues, roots and country, Pop and rock
The raw, powerful voice of this Californian singer-songwriter brings to mind one Janis Joplin, which is no bad thing. Her performance at this year's Bluesfest will no doubt include material from her 2012 album 'Bang Bang Boom Boom', but we'd be very surprised...
Music festivals, Blues, roots and country, Pop and rock, Jazz and experimental
US soul-jazz singer Porter has had critics, fans and musicians raving thanks to his stunning Grammy-nominated debut 'Water', but he's the real deal live too. He returns to London to perform at Bluesfest once again, playing from his third album, 'Liquid...
Music festivals, Pop and rock, Country, Blues
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...
Things to do, Classical and opera
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...
Pop, Show tunes
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...
Music festivals, Pop and rock, Blues
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 and rock
Recently tipped by none other than David Cameron, the Söderberg sisters return to London to ply their charming, lushly harmonised, narrative alt folk, with a set that'll likely lean on their new album 'Stay Gold'. Keep an eye out in the audience for Dave...
Country, Singer-songwriter, Folk
US singer-songwriter best known for his melancholic, countrified musings on 'These Days' - first written by Browne but brought to people's attention by Nico (she of The Velvet Underground collaboration fame), who recorded the first version of the song....
Pop and rock
Tim Booth leads his band of merry Mancs through post-baggy anthems 'Sit Down', 'She's a Star' and the like, as well as stuff from their new record 'La Petite Mort'.
Classic rock, Singer-songwriter, Folk
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.
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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