Bars and Clubs
Tamarai – Officially the best late night bar in the UK
After being crowned the “Best Late Night Bar in London & South” at the Theme Bar & Restaurant Awards 2008, Tamarai has now been awarded the Best Late Night Bar in the UK at the National Finals at Battersea, London. In a glittering ceremony, Tamarai, a concept created and operated by Old World Hospitality, competed with the best in the business including Scratch, Belfast (Northern Ireland), Snafu, Aberdeen (Scotland) and Boutique, Leeds (The North).
Bureau – By invitation only
Opening in July 2008 is a private members club set to rival some of London’s most elite establishments. Set in London’s West End, Bureau is located on the oldest club site in Soho – hidden away under Kingly Court.
The defining festival experience
Original, unique, independent – The Big Chill Festival will celebrate multi-media music, entertainment, literature, arts and comedy at a magical summer weekend in one of the most idyllic settings in the UK. The festival sees a unique combination of The Mighty Boosh, Leonard Cohen, Thievery Corporation, Hot 8 Brass Band, Orchestra Baobab, Bill Bailey, Cornelius, African Head Charge and Trentemøller Live among the many performers at the beautiful Eastnor Castle site.
Stellar line-up for UK’s biggest guitar show
This week Now Play It will be at the much-anticipated London International Music Show that takes place at the London ExCeL Centre, running from Thursday 12th June, through the 13th, 14th and finishing on Sunday 15th. At the Now Play It stand (F101) you can take a minute from the busy pace of the show, chill out on our sumptuous leather couches and watch, interact - and if you've picked up a new guitar - play along to a range of NPI content.
80’s group B52s announce European tour
It’s party time as the B-52s first European Tour in over 10 years prepares for lift off. The B-52s bring their eagerly awaited Funplex European Tour to the UK in July. Fresh from a triumphant 13 city sold out US tour and currently wowing audiences and media Stateside on the True Colors Festival bill, original members Kate Pierson, Fred Schneider, Keith Strickland and Cindy Wilson are taking their current album ‘Funplex’ to the stage and producing a riotous performance of full-throttle electro rock dance pop.
Sparkadia head back to the UK for live dates
Sparkadia will coming back to the UK this summer to play as many festivals as possible plus multiple clubnights. The band’s last single “Too Much To Do” was B listed at Radio 2, as well as receiving plays from Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music. They will be releasing a new single ‘Morning Light’ on July 7th 2008 through Ark Recordings as a free download on their MySpace site, followed by their debut album “Postcards” on July 14th.
Narnia garden strikes gold at the NEC
To celebrate the release of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Walt Disney has brought to life the magic of Narnia in a special Prince Caspian garden at this year’s BBC Gardeners World Live.
Martin Amis leads debate on religion and literature
Leading author Martin Amis is to lead a public debate on literature and religion at The University of Manchester on Tuesday July 1. Speakers at the event - including Professor Amis - will take part in a frank discussion of literature's interplay with religion, and how writers draw on and react against it. Taking place in the University's Whitworth Hall at 6.30pm, the debate will feature noted literary critic James Wood and leading theologian Professor Graham Ward.
Regent Street Festival - A great British experience
This years Regent Street Festival will take place on Sunday 7 September 2008 from 12 noon till 8pm. For anyone thinking of taking a trip to London in September this would be a perfect day out before the summer ends.
Creamfields gets creative
With a decade of festivals under their belt, the ringmasters at Creamfields have announced 2 days of 10th anniversary celebrations on top of a world class line up that includes Kasabian, Fatboy Slim, Ian Brown, Paul van Dyk and Tiesto.
'Footlights' takes centre stage at National Galleries of Scotland
The show must go on, and this August the National Gallery of Scotland will see the curtain go up on a special display. Footlights will examine how artists have captured the fleeting nature of theatrical performances over the centuries.
Goo Goo Dolls announce July tour and 02 Wireless Festival appearance
Goo Goo Dolls are returning to the UK in July for a headline tour as well as making an appearance at the O2 Wireless Festival in London’s Hyde Park. The band will also be releasing a brand new single through iTunes on 7th July 2008.
Robin Gibb to perform Windsor Racecourse concert
Robin Gibb will perform all the famous Bee Gees number one hits in his first solo performance in the UK for 10 years, including the hits ‘Massachusetts’, ‘Jive Talking’ and ‘Stayin Alive’ and many more. The concert will take place on Sunday July 13. Robin’s trademark ethereal voice was the key identity to the Bee Gees sound and made an indelible mark on five decades of popular music, selling over 200 million records with over 60 hit singles.
Bon Jovi to appear at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena
Tickets have topped in excess of 30,000 to see one of the world’s biggest rock bands bring their Lost Highway tour to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry this month. Bon Jovi will be belting out hits such as You Give Love A Bad Name and Livin’ on a Prayer at the £113 million venue on Tuesday, June 24.
Edinburgh goes all out for comedy this festival season
Details have been announced of the inaugural Edinburgh Comedy Festival, a ‘festival-within-a-festival’ that will provide a home for the best in comedy - by the Fringe institutions, Assembly, Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Underbelly. Featuring 253 shows across 55 different stages over 27 days (30th July – 25th August), the first year’s programme brings together some of the world’s biggest acts alongside some of the most promising emerging and unknown talent from across the spectrum of sketch, improvisation, poetry, musical and comic theatre.