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Isa Jaward

Isa Jaward

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Ms Dynamite's contribution to London honoured with MOBO plaque

Ms Dynamite's contribution to London honoured with MOBO plaque

Congrats to Ms Dynami-tee-ee! The notable noughties R&B singer today became only the second recipient of a MOBO ‘Paving The Way’ award – thanks to her career success and charitable work with former school WAC Arts. The award involves a plaque being laid in her honour at the school. In an intimate ceremony held at the Belsize Park college, Ms Dynamite expressed her gratitude before tearing it up with a student choir to perform her smash hit ‘Dy-Na-Mi-Tee’. ‘I started here when it was in a different building a long time ago, when I was about six or seven. It was a place where we'd come and be creative,’ Ms Dynamite said of WAC Arts. ‘But it became a real saviour during my teens. At 15, I was really strong-minded – I thought I knew it all and decided I didn't want to live by my mum's rules anymore, so I left home. That was definitely one of the darkest times of my entire life.’ ‘But the minute I got to WAC, I felt understood. It's a place where you feel like you're heard. That was a really powerful, important part of growing up.” The ‘Paving The Way’ initiative from MOBO is an award for ‘trailblazers who are paving the way for future generations of talent’. Last year, Bow-born MC Wiley surprised Time Out by actually showing up on time to receive the inaugural ‘Paving The Way’ award at his former school. ollowing the unveiling of her paving stone, we caught up with Ms Dynamite about winning the award and what inspired her to make music: How does it feel to be back at your old c

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How museums are reviving London's nightlife

How museums are reviving London's nightlife

With London's nightlife taking a series of huge knocks in recent years, Londoners are heading to the city’s museums and galleries to kickstart their weekend instead. Over the past decade, ‘museum lates’ have become increasingly popular, with spaces such as the V&A, Natural History Museum and Tate galleries attracting thousands to events featuring live music, art installations and plenty of booze. This week, the Museum of London will host The Museum of Last Parties – an evening of talks, workshops and music paying homage to London’s club culture. Punters can dress up and get down to the sounds of DJs Wayne and Jack Hemingway at the Disco Apocalypse area, hang with dandies and flappers at the Candlelight Club or even take part in an old-fashioned cockney singalong. ‘You tend to get a more discerning crowd at museum events,’ says Wayne Hemingway. ‘I have a massive collection of rare and underground records. If I’m going to DJ, then I want to make sure it’s to a crowd who are open to hearing something that they may not have heard before.’ Natural History Museum As well as museums offering one-off experiences in familiar locations, perhaps their biggest asset is their ‘free to all’ philosophy. While ticket prices for other venues steadily increase, museums are extending their daily free entry after-hours, bringing more inclusive audiences of all ages and backgrounds. 'London’s nightlife is incredibly diverse – from world-class theatre and dance to clubs,’ says Lauren Parker, sen