Gosh, it's ages since I was with the World Music Meetup! There are just so many other things usually getting in the way - well, last night was a concert of Iranian music, courtesy of Saeid Kordmafi on the santur. Don't know much about that, but I liked the YouTube clip they included on the Meetup page, so I booked - one of the free concerts at the Brunei Gallery, and pre-registering doesn't actually guarantee entry; it's first come first served. But I dutifully registered anyway - as someone said, maybe it's to gauge numbers.
The organiser said we'd meet outside the lecture hall at 6:30 SHARP - well, although I did do my best, that wasn't going to happen. Anyway, the Brunei Gallery was doing its thing of not letting people in at the stated "doors open" time, and the lobby was packed! I managed to spot the organiser, among a clump of people over the side, wearing the scarf he'd said he'd be. And we chatted as we waited - or tried to, it really was cramped. Must have been 20 minutes late that the doors opened! (They'd been having trouble with the lights, it seemed, and couldn't dim them for the concert - as the mc said, look on the bright side, it means you can read your programmes! Not that I'd seen any programmes floating about..)
Seating was unassigned, as usual, so our organiser directed us to the two back rows in the front centre section - kind of perfect, really. The front few rows were reserved, anyway. And then we got to watch the long parade of people filing in behind us - I checked my watch when I saw they were starting to turn people away; it was about 7:05. (Scheduled start time was 7.) As the mc said, apologetically, he'd love to let people in to sit on the steps and such, but it was a fire hazard! And an overflowing house it was, for this last concert in the season.
The first half was just Saeid, on his own, on the santur. Which was lovely.. but put me in mind of that time I went to a harp concert. Where all they did was play the harp. Which was also lovely, but a bit monotonous. As was Saeid, after a while, accomplished though he may be. I was glad when he injected some singing, near the end - I was just about falling asleep.
A short break, and he returned with a couple of pals, for a full two-hour concert in all! Good job the seats are comfy. Well, now there was a much better singer - with a really powerful, emotive, voice - and some much-appreciated drumming as well. Got quite catchy, in parts! I don't think I'd rush back to a concert of this music, but it was good.
Afterwards, we gathered in the lobby and were led to the student bar, just across the path - convenient, if you can find it. And drinks well priced, of course, which meant that, with little cash on me, I ended up paying the 15p card fee for purchases under £6. Oh well, it was still good value! We took tables at the back, and had a great chat (despite the interruption of someone coming through the fire door and setting off the alarm - it took them some minutes to find the off switch). This group does attract the most international crowd of any I've come across, and it's hard to beat a group including a Russian, an American, and a Syrian discussing current affairs in the Middle East - and an elderly guy, planning a tour of the 'stans! Friendly organiser, too - I was happy to join his other group, Anthony's Cultural Events and Walking Activities Group (which he advertised enthusiastically all night to anyone who would listen!).
This evening, it's back to Ireland for the weekend again, and a meeting with my birth and adoptive mothers tomorrow. We had decided on Greene's, but there's no parking and my mother can't walk any distance. So now we're going to Bowes Ryan, in the same building as the multi-storey.
On Monday, I'm back at the Wanamaker Playhouse - always a favourite - for The White Devil, a Jacobean tale. This led to some fun today, trying to book another of those evening meetings with California for that evening - my co-worker kindly obliged me by suggesting an earlier time, so I wouldn't be cutting it so fine.
On Tuesday, I got a cheap ticket to the Caine and Kane comedy show, in Brixton. However, when Funzing (courtesy of London Speaks Sessions and LDN Talks @ Night) advertised a talk on Exploring the Mind of a Psychopath, I was intrigued, cancelled the first and booked this instead. I tried a couple of Funzing codes, and EnjoyFunzing10 worked, to get me 10% off. Also, thank goodness it isn't in blasted Cafe 1001 this time! No, this one I can probably walk to.
On Wednesday, I'm with London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) to see Don Juan in Soho, with David Tennant, in Wyndham's. Just down Charing Cross Road - nice! There's another London Literary Walk that day - but I'll have to pass, I do want to see this!
Then I'm back to Ireland for Easter - on Good Friday, my (adoptive) mother and I are off to La Bohème, at the University Concert Hall.
On the 18th, back in London, and back with Funzing - London Speaks Sessions, LDN Talks @ Night, and London for a Tenner or Less, for a talk on the Science of Paranormal Activity. Unless I get a better offer, in time - it'd have to be a good one, I'm interested in this!
On the 19th, London Literary Walks is off down Brick Lane - and so am I.
On the 20th, I have my usual placeholder of free comedy in Hammersmith - courtesy of Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Greenwich, and London Live Comedy. Of course - much like Funzing - I usually end up cancelling these, when something better comes up.
Ditto the 21st - or I may go to the cinema that day. As usual, watch this space..!
On the 22nd, I'm off to see the Naked House Cleaner! Venue to be revealed just the day before.. ooh!
On the 23rd, I'm on a walk of Hampstead Village Highlights, with Walks, Talks and Treasure Hunts. Be good exercise, leading up to my own sponsored walk in September, in aid of Cats Protection.. Helen and I are going as Dick Whittington and his cat. She's the cat.
The 24th, another summery treat! The Man with the Hat is taking both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! to the Globe (ah, it's been too long..). For one night only, the Comedy Store Players will regale us with Shakespeare-inspired improv. As usual, London for Less than a Tenner standing in the yard, Let's Do London - for less! in lower gallery seats. Which is where I go - couldn't take standing for that long.
The 25th, London European Club again - it'll have been a while! They're off to an informal evening of classical music, in Peckham.
The 26th, London Literary Walks is doing the Sloane Ranger.
The 27th, Helen and I are on an Underground treasure hunt, courtesy of Walk, Talks and Treasure Hunts. TFL goodies to be won, it seems.. Then back to Ireland for the bank holiday weekend - which I'd forgotten was a bank holiday, or I'd have stayed over an extra day!
Instead, for 1 May, I've booked The Ferryman, with LDAM, at the Royal Court.
And 2 May, those same three Funzing groups have advertised a talk called Origin of Vampires: Fact or Fiction?
Showing posts with label Brunei Gallery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brunei Gallery. Show all posts
Friday, 7 April 2017
Monday, 11 May 2015
Concert: Alash
When I checked Meetup for tonight, and saw that the World Music Meetup had an evening planned listening to Siberian throat singing, I was intrigued. I checked out the band in question - Alash - and after listening to a song on their website, thought - yes, I could go for this! So I booked.
Not that you have to pay - this was another free concert at the Brunei Gallery. I basically knew how to get there - it's not that long since I was there before - but it's just as well I checked, because I had the impression I got off at Holborn, whereas it's actually Russell Square, the next stop along. Another vexing day at work saw me leave straight from the office again, and all I had time to eat was a small packet of chocolate M&Ms, on the Tube. At least I got a seat after two stops.
Upon exiting, turn left, straight ahead until you reach the other side of the square, turn right, next left, and up the stairs on your left. Easy. And in the lobby, I momentarily forgot I had to go through another set of doors, on the left. After that, down to the basement for the concert venue. We'd been told on the Meetup page that doors open at 6.30, and first come, first served - for a 6.45 start. Yeah, right! I remembered the last time, when the doors opened late and were left open all night, with people arriving the whole time.
On this occasion, the doors were indeed open when I arrived. I have no idea why the lady on the door bothers handing out tickets, but she gave me one. There was no indication, as with last time, who was in our group and who wasn't, so I just took a seat. Oh, and people didn't start to arrive in any numbers until 6.50 - the concert wasn't until 7. In the meantime, a guy in the front row took photos of the instruments on stage, using a professional-looking camera.
At about 7, the lights were dimmed and the band came on, dressed in gorgeous traditional Chinese costumes. Mind you, when the one with the best English spoke, he seemed to have a Russian accent, although they all looked kind of Chinese. Later in the concert, their manager came on, introducing himself as being from Milwaukee, but he's apparently been living in their land for 12 years. And their land is called Tuva. It's apparently a state in the Russian Federation, just north of Mongolia.
I was expecting this to be interesting. I was not expecting it to be this good. It's fantastic! Their throaty singing is otherworldly, surreal. Accompanied by a large drum, it's quite hypnotic. Standing ovation absolutely deserved. I'm now dying to buy some of their stuff - it was chaotic outside afterwards, when they were selling cds. Reluctant to buy from the States, though, with the different formatting. Something to think about..
On the way home, I got a message that was posted to the event page - someone saying what they were wearing and where they were sitting. Excellent idea - I might do that myself next time, if I have trouble finding them!
Tomorrow, Meetup is all about films. Why is it, though, that they tend to miss the best ones? Me, I'm taking myself off to see The Beat Beneath My Feet, about a teenage boy who discovers that the reclusive next door neighbour is actually a rock god, supposed to be dead. He agrees to keep his secret in return for guitar lessons. Showing for one night only in Clapham Picturehouse.
Not that you have to pay - this was another free concert at the Brunei Gallery. I basically knew how to get there - it's not that long since I was there before - but it's just as well I checked, because I had the impression I got off at Holborn, whereas it's actually Russell Square, the next stop along. Another vexing day at work saw me leave straight from the office again, and all I had time to eat was a small packet of chocolate M&Ms, on the Tube. At least I got a seat after two stops.
Upon exiting, turn left, straight ahead until you reach the other side of the square, turn right, next left, and up the stairs on your left. Easy. And in the lobby, I momentarily forgot I had to go through another set of doors, on the left. After that, down to the basement for the concert venue. We'd been told on the Meetup page that doors open at 6.30, and first come, first served - for a 6.45 start. Yeah, right! I remembered the last time, when the doors opened late and were left open all night, with people arriving the whole time.
On this occasion, the doors were indeed open when I arrived. I have no idea why the lady on the door bothers handing out tickets, but she gave me one. There was no indication, as with last time, who was in our group and who wasn't, so I just took a seat. Oh, and people didn't start to arrive in any numbers until 6.50 - the concert wasn't until 7. In the meantime, a guy in the front row took photos of the instruments on stage, using a professional-looking camera.
At about 7, the lights were dimmed and the band came on, dressed in gorgeous traditional Chinese costumes. Mind you, when the one with the best English spoke, he seemed to have a Russian accent, although they all looked kind of Chinese. Later in the concert, their manager came on, introducing himself as being from Milwaukee, but he's apparently been living in their land for 12 years. And their land is called Tuva. It's apparently a state in the Russian Federation, just north of Mongolia.
I was expecting this to be interesting. I was not expecting it to be this good. It's fantastic! Their throaty singing is otherworldly, surreal. Accompanied by a large drum, it's quite hypnotic. Standing ovation absolutely deserved. I'm now dying to buy some of their stuff - it was chaotic outside afterwards, when they were selling cds. Reluctant to buy from the States, though, with the different formatting. Something to think about..
On the way home, I got a message that was posted to the event page - someone saying what they were wearing and where they were sitting. Excellent idea - I might do that myself next time, if I have trouble finding them!
Tomorrow, Meetup is all about films. Why is it, though, that they tend to miss the best ones? Me, I'm taking myself off to see The Beat Beneath My Feet, about a teenage boy who discovers that the reclusive next door neighbour is actually a rock god, supposed to be dead. He agrees to keep his secret in return for guitar lessons. Showing for one night only in Clapham Picturehouse.
Thursday, 30 April 2015
Senegalese Music With an Open Heart
Well, I finally made it to a meeting of the World Music Meetup! Tonight, they were headed to a concert by Senegalese group Minnjiaraby, of whom I'd never heard - but I looked them up on YouTube and was sufficiently impressed to book myself a place. Plus, it was free. And it only takes about half as long to get to Russell Square as to Dalston, where last night's event took place.
I still had to leave straight from work - the concert was to start at 7, and we were to meet at 6.30 outside. Anyway, it's a direct Tube from Earl's Court to Russell Square, although it was packed and I had to stand the whole way. I'd gone to the very back of the train to get more space, which turned out to be handy, as that end was where the station exit was (pure coincidence, it's ages since I'd been here). A lift took us to the street, and Google Maps had shown me that the way to the Brunei Gallery was easy - turn left, walk to the end, then a slight right and down the pedestrianised alley.
Practically the whole way there, you're reminded that you're in the vicinity of the School of Oriental and African Studies, whose signs are everywhere. This, it seems, is one of the semi-autonomous schools of the University of London. New to me - I've never studied here. Did have an unsuccessful job interview once with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, also apparently a constituent college. Anyhoo, the Brunei Gallery is also part of the university, it seems - which is handy, as there are a couple of direction signs to reassure you you're going the right way.
The organiser had said she'd meet us at the foot of the steps, and be wearing all red. And have blonde hair, Well, there was no-one of that description waiting expectantly at the foot of the steps leading into the building. It was already 6.35 when I got there, so after a moment I decided I'd better go in. There was quite an impressive lobby, with a plaque commemorating its opening by the Sultan of Brunei - which somewhat explains the name, I guess.
After a confused moment, I spotted the sign pointing downstairs for the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, where the concert was to happen. Most people in the lobby seemed to be there for other purposes, but I followed another few people downstairs. Where the space was filled with people, milling about - they weren't letting them in yet. As I neared the bottom of the stairs, it occurred to me that these might have been the stairs the organiser had meant - and sure enough, there was a woman of that description standing nearby, with a knot of people around her.
Just as well she gave us that description, because I wouldn't have recognised her from her profile photo! Very much blonder hair - and frankly, she looks a lot older than her photo. Anyway, after introducing myself, I moved around a bit, and was duly greeted by someone who called me by my name. (I'd forgotten to remove my name badge!) We had a nice chat, until the doors were finally opened - they hadn't found all the musicians yet, but figured we might as well be seated while we were waiting!
The organiser said something convoluted about us having the central rows, which left me completely confused about where to go, so I plumped for somewhere in the middle. Which turned out to be fine. Legroom good too - this is a nice theatre. I chatted to another group member as we waited - this does seem quite a friendly group. And the musicians duly got themselves in order, and started - not too late.
The organiser had warned us that we might not be admitted if the theatre was full. No chance really - although it was quite full, it didn't fill completely. Actually, people came and went all through the concert. The door was left open, which was unfortunate, as where I was sitting, I got a constant draught from it.
The first piece, a traditional Senegalese song, was lovely. After that though, I thought that, while it was ok, it was a bit samey - every song sounding a bit the same. I'd have left early, if there hadn't been some people outside me. However, things really livened up in the second half, with Wouty a particular highlight. A couple two rows ahead of me recorded the whole thing on their phone, and a guy in the row in front of me carried on a distractingly animated conversation by sign language with his pal, sitting over by the wall because he arrived too late to get a central seat. The lead singer insisted we all get up and dance for the last one, and we obliged. A good night, all told - although I didn't feel compelled to buy one of their cds, on sale outside after.
I'd completely forgotten that mention had been made on the Meetup page of going to the pub after - and indeed, nobody seemed to be gathering as I left. I was hungry, but needed to shop for food - luckily, there was a Tesco Express right across from the station. I got a seat on the way back, and was comfortably sitting at home when a message was posted on the page, asking whether anyone at all had gone to the pub! Oh dear.. I guess I mightn't have been the only one to forget.
Well, I'm back to Ireland tomorrow for the long weekend - and taking an extra day, for the sake of cheaper flights! So I won't be back in London until Tuesday night, and my next night out is Wednesday. Now, when I started looking for something to do that night, Meetup didn't have anything that appealed - which led me to the horror that is the Time Out search. After literally hours of searching, I came up with something last night, but didn't book it because it wasn't selling out. And then today, something was finally advertised on Meetup that took my fancy: an evening of storytelling, with the Crick Crack Club. So I joined, and booked for that.. definitely different, this Meetup stuff!
I still had to leave straight from work - the concert was to start at 7, and we were to meet at 6.30 outside. Anyway, it's a direct Tube from Earl's Court to Russell Square, although it was packed and I had to stand the whole way. I'd gone to the very back of the train to get more space, which turned out to be handy, as that end was where the station exit was (pure coincidence, it's ages since I'd been here). A lift took us to the street, and Google Maps had shown me that the way to the Brunei Gallery was easy - turn left, walk to the end, then a slight right and down the pedestrianised alley.
Practically the whole way there, you're reminded that you're in the vicinity of the School of Oriental and African Studies, whose signs are everywhere. This, it seems, is one of the semi-autonomous schools of the University of London. New to me - I've never studied here. Did have an unsuccessful job interview once with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, also apparently a constituent college. Anyhoo, the Brunei Gallery is also part of the university, it seems - which is handy, as there are a couple of direction signs to reassure you you're going the right way.
The organiser had said she'd meet us at the foot of the steps, and be wearing all red. And have blonde hair, Well, there was no-one of that description waiting expectantly at the foot of the steps leading into the building. It was already 6.35 when I got there, so after a moment I decided I'd better go in. There was quite an impressive lobby, with a plaque commemorating its opening by the Sultan of Brunei - which somewhat explains the name, I guess.
After a confused moment, I spotted the sign pointing downstairs for the Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, where the concert was to happen. Most people in the lobby seemed to be there for other purposes, but I followed another few people downstairs. Where the space was filled with people, milling about - they weren't letting them in yet. As I neared the bottom of the stairs, it occurred to me that these might have been the stairs the organiser had meant - and sure enough, there was a woman of that description standing nearby, with a knot of people around her.
Just as well she gave us that description, because I wouldn't have recognised her from her profile photo! Very much blonder hair - and frankly, she looks a lot older than her photo. Anyway, after introducing myself, I moved around a bit, and was duly greeted by someone who called me by my name. (I'd forgotten to remove my name badge!) We had a nice chat, until the doors were finally opened - they hadn't found all the musicians yet, but figured we might as well be seated while we were waiting!
The organiser said something convoluted about us having the central rows, which left me completely confused about where to go, so I plumped for somewhere in the middle. Which turned out to be fine. Legroom good too - this is a nice theatre. I chatted to another group member as we waited - this does seem quite a friendly group. And the musicians duly got themselves in order, and started - not too late.
The organiser had warned us that we might not be admitted if the theatre was full. No chance really - although it was quite full, it didn't fill completely. Actually, people came and went all through the concert. The door was left open, which was unfortunate, as where I was sitting, I got a constant draught from it.
The first piece, a traditional Senegalese song, was lovely. After that though, I thought that, while it was ok, it was a bit samey - every song sounding a bit the same. I'd have left early, if there hadn't been some people outside me. However, things really livened up in the second half, with Wouty a particular highlight. A couple two rows ahead of me recorded the whole thing on their phone, and a guy in the row in front of me carried on a distractingly animated conversation by sign language with his pal, sitting over by the wall because he arrived too late to get a central seat. The lead singer insisted we all get up and dance for the last one, and we obliged. A good night, all told - although I didn't feel compelled to buy one of their cds, on sale outside after.
I'd completely forgotten that mention had been made on the Meetup page of going to the pub after - and indeed, nobody seemed to be gathering as I left. I was hungry, but needed to shop for food - luckily, there was a Tesco Express right across from the station. I got a seat on the way back, and was comfortably sitting at home when a message was posted on the page, asking whether anyone at all had gone to the pub! Oh dear.. I guess I mightn't have been the only one to forget.
Well, I'm back to Ireland tomorrow for the long weekend - and taking an extra day, for the sake of cheaper flights! So I won't be back in London until Tuesday night, and my next night out is Wednesday. Now, when I started looking for something to do that night, Meetup didn't have anything that appealed - which led me to the horror that is the Time Out search. After literally hours of searching, I came up with something last night, but didn't book it because it wasn't selling out. And then today, something was finally advertised on Meetup that took my fancy: an evening of storytelling, with the Crick Crack Club. So I joined, and booked for that.. definitely different, this Meetup stuff!
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