Kings Place

Noh Reimagined (29 & 30 Jun), an exciting two-day festival celebrating the ancient art of Japanese Noh theatre, returns to Kings Place with performances, talks, workshops and installations. In this podcast, we speak to composer and co-founder of Clod Ensemble, Paul Clark, about their new piece 'Snow', which is inspired by the restless spirits in Noh theatre. Sat 30 Jun kingsplace.co.uk/noh

Celebrated sarodist Soumik Datta returns to Kings Place in June as part of Songlines Encounters Festival to explore the seasons and time-cycles of North Indian music. Songlines magazine Editor-in-Chief Simon Broughton interviews Soumik about the seasons and time-cycles of North Indian music, ahead of his upcoming performance on Sun 3 Jun. 31 May - 6 Jun 2018 bit.ly/2mC4sGJ

2018 sees Mercury-nominated Dinosaur back in action with some immensely colourful, new music – full of imagination and surprise. We interviewed BBC New Generation Artist 2015-17 trumpeter Laura Jurd about Dinosaur's highly anticipated second album Wonder Trail (to be released May 2018), the experience of playing live, boundaries in music and her approach to composition.  Thu 3 May kingsplace.co.uk/dinosaur

Martin Feinstein’s acclaimed Bach Weekend returns to Kings Place as part of Time Unwrapped – the 10th edition of our award-winning Unwrapped series. In the first half, we spoke with festival director Martin Feinstein about this year’s theme: Time Changes. In the second half, actor Geoffrey McGivern joined us to discuss his involvement in Bach: The Time Traveller, a dramatic recreation of Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, on 13 April. 13–15 Apr kingsplace.co.uk/bach

This is the eighth year of Songlines Encounters Festival and the most ambitious yet. It does what it has always done – bring high-quality artists from around the world championed by Songlines magazine to play music in the superb environment of Kings Place. Songlines Editor-in-Chief Simon Broughton interviews Tuuletar, a vocal folk-hop quartet, who are performing on Fri 1 June. 31 May - 6 Jun 2018 bit.ly/2mC4sGJ

Cryptic’s Sonica Festival, sonic art for the visually minded, returns to Kings Place on a ‘unique and fascinating journey into uncharted territory’ (The Telegraph), with a weekend of genre-defying live performance and installations including 176 live snails making music for Slow Pixel, a sensorial experiment in celebration of Time Unwrapped from French visual artists Elizabeth Saint-Jalmes and Cyril Leclerc. 20–21 Apr kingsplace.co.uk/sonica

In March, we present Time & Tradition, a brand-new weekend series of concerts, storytelling and talks exploring the concept of time through traditional and contemporary folk music and ritual and seasonal customs. Highlights include Martin & Eliza Carthy, Peggy Seeger, Roy Bailey, Grace Petrie and Ewan McLennan We chat to Alan Bearman Music, artistic associate of Kings Place, to gain an insight into the aims of the Festival. In the second half, we hear some music from young folk singer Rosie Hood. 16–18 Mar kingsplace.co.uk/tt

Jewish Book returns to Kings Place! Join us for 80 inspiring talks, conversations, debates and performances with some of the world’s most interesting minds and exciting personalities. We spoke to Festival Director Lucy Silver and David Waller, author of The Reputation Game, about the upcoming Festival. 3 – 11 Mar kingsplace.co.uk/jbw

London A Cappella Festival 2018 will include a much-anticipated performance from The Beatbox Collective. Ben Eshmade chats to three members of this vocal supergroup to find out more about their passion for beatboxing – including a special live demonstration. 24 – 27 Jan kingsplace.co.uk/lacf

This autumn, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment launches a brand-new Sunday morning concert series for inquiring and curious minds. Ben Eshmade chats to the OAE's Chief Executive, Crispin Woodhead, and Professor Carlos Frenk who is part of the first concert on 22 Oct. kingsplace.co.uk/bachcantatas

Following the enormous success of the London Podcast Festival in 2016, we’re excited to launch a spin-off series of themed mini-festivals. This year, London Podcast Festival presents... focuses on Wrestling! Festival programmers Zoë Jeyes and Frazer Mclean share their enthusiasm for this popular form of 'sports entertainment' in a conversation with Ben Eshmade. Sat 9 Sep, Kings Place kingsplace.co.uk/wrestling

The contemporary composer, teacher, pianist, accordionist and music publisher Howard Skempton celebrates his 70th birthday at Kings Place this October. Joined by conductor David Wordsworth, he chats to Helen Wallace about his diverse body of work and plans for the future. Fri 13 Oct kingsplace.co.uk/HowardSkempton

London Piano Festival (5-8 Oct) returns to Kings Place with an underlying Russian theme. Ben Eshmade chats to the acclaimed pianists Ilya Itin and Nelson Goerner about their exciting solo recitals. kingsplace.co.uk/lpf

The acclaimed Eden Stell Guitar Duo return to Kings Place this summer to launch their new album Cançons i danses - the first guitar CD dedicated to the work of the Catalan composer Federico Mompou (1893–1987). Part of the IGF Guitar Summit 2017. 20 - 22 Jul kingsplace.co.uk/IGFGS

Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose return to Kings Place this summer with a new production of Poulenc and Cocteau’s astonishing La voix humaine – a raw and intimate one-woman opera. 2, 10 & 16 Jul and 6 & 20 Aug kingsplace.co.uk/OperaUpClose

This summer, members of The Stax Music Academy travel from Memphis to the London stage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Stax/Volt European Tour. Find out how the Academy has inspired and changed the lives of many young people living in one of the most economically depressed zip codes in the United States. Sat 15 Jul, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/StaxMusic

This June, Kings Place launches The Politics Festival – a weekend of pro-politics talks, debates, discussions and plenty of politics-related entertainment. The Festival's producer Zoë Jeyes talks to journalists and political commentators Steve Richards and Ian Birrell about some of the big topics and speakers featured this year. 23 – 25 June kingsplace.co.uk/tpf

Poet in the City's Chief Executive Isobel Colchester chats to Ben Eshmade about the exciting programme of this year's Poetry & Lyrics Festival (9-10 June). In the second half, versatile vocalist Elaine Mitchener talks about her Cagean happening on 10 June. Sat 10 June, 6.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/JohnCage

Ben Eshmade chats to Giuliano Modarelli and Al MacSween, founders of the international music collective Kefaya. They perform at this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (1–3 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef This is the second episode in our #SonglinesEncounters podcast series.

The fourth episode in our 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' podcast series features Jerusalem-born singer Mor Karbasi. She talks about her diverse cultural influences and the liberating joy of singing. Sat 6 May, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/MorKarbasi

Simon Broughton, Editor-in-Chief of Songlines Magazine, chats to Bollywood Brass Band member Kay Charlton and South Indian violinist Jyotsna Srikanth, who perform at this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (1–3 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef This is the first episode in our #SonglinesEncounters podcast series.

The third episode in our 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' podcast series features writer and comedian Amy Annette who celebrates the Kings Place premiere of her comedy talk show 'What Women Want' with special guests Jessie Cave, Lolly Adefope and Tom Allen. They’ll be talking misconceptions, misadventures, misogyny, and mystique (the feminine one). Mon 24 Apr, 7.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/WhatWomenWant

In the second episode of Kings Place's exciting 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' series, composer and robotic artist Sarah Angliss talks about her much-anticipated debut album as well as the human and non-human performers who will join the launch gig. Thu 20 Apr, 8.15pm kingsplace.co.uk/SarahAngliss

Martin Feinstein’s acclaimed Bach Weekend returns to Kings Place with its unique combination of informality and outstanding performances. The line-up includes Swedish lutenist Jakob Lindberg and other renowned musicians and ensembles. 7–9 Apr kingsplace.co.uk/bach

The first episode in Kings Place’s brand-new Strong Women, Strong Voices podcast series features Brighton-based folk musicians Kristin McClement and Emma Gatrill who perform live on International Women’s Day. Wed 8 Mar, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/IWD

The new Beyond Cello division of the London Cello Society presents an exciting day of classes, concerts and an evening cabaret featuring stars from the world of ‘alternative cello’ including Shirley Smart and others. Part of the year-long Cello Unwrapped series at Kings Place. Sun 12 Mar kingsplace.co.uk/BeyondCello

Two exciting Kings Place debuts mark the centenary of the Russian Revolution: acclaimed pianist Alexander Karpeyev plays music of the Russian Silver Age on 13 Feb (kingsplace.co.uk/FinalFlowering). The Hermes Experiment present a programme of musical responses to the Russian Revolution including new pieces by contemporary composers on 16 Feb (kingsplace.co.uk/HermesExperiment).

Six Guys. Five Different Countries. One Sound. And, they’re back. Online jazz sensations Accent have quickly established themselves as one of the must-see acts on the scene. They return to the London A Cappella Festival 2017 after popular demand. Sat 28 Jan, 6.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/Accent2017

Cloudmakers Trio (Jim Hart, Michael Janisch & Dave Smith) are joined by special guests, Austrian-born guitarist Hannes Riepler and French-based alto saxophonist Antonin Tri Hoang, in what will surely result in their strongest program of original, genre-twisting music to date. Fri 13 January, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/CloudmakersTrio

Prog-popster The Anchoress (aka Catherine AD) celebrates the vinyl release of her debut album 'Confessions Of A Romance Novelist' with a special one-off live show at Kings Place. Sat 17 Dec, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/Anchoress

Drawing the first year of the exciting Mozart’s Piano series to a close, Aurora Orchestra is joined by two recent winners of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition – Lara Melda and Martin James Bartlett – for a concert celebrating the exuberance, playfulness and imagination of Mozart’s childhood. Fri 16 Dec, 7.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/MozartsPiano

Following the recent success of their debut album ShadowLines, FLUX premiere a brand-new work: In Other Words. Combining music with dance, it explores our personal search for identity. FLUX leave audiences in awe of their multi-instrumental talents and combined virtuosity. With shades of Indie, Folk, Western and Indian Classical, their music take the listener on a cinematic journey. Fri 4 Nov, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/InOtherWords

A strong sense of national character pervades French music throughout the ages. Lully, Charpentier, Couperin and Rameau are some of the composers who contributed to a rich period in France’s musical development. Curated by French Baroque specialist Eamonn Dougan, this series allows us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the musical opulence of the grand siècle of the French Baroque. 24–26 Nov kingsplace.co.uk/FrenchBaroque

British vocalist Maggie Nicols, French bassist Joëlle Léandre and Swiss pianist Irène Schweizer formed Les Diaboliques in the early 90s – this is a rare opportunity to experience the artistry and intuitive chemistry of a seminal European ensemble. kingsplace.co.uk/ljf

The English Chamber Orchestra, under its Charitable Trust’s new artistic director Lawrence Power, launches an exciting new season at Kings Place this autumn, featuring Christian Zacharias, Nicolas Altstaedt, Vilde Frang, Mark Padmore and Alison Balsom. kingsplace.co.uk/ECO

Folk singer Nancy Kerr curates a series of events this December (1–3) exploring dialogues that spring from our environment and our relationships with, and within it, through literature, music and song. She met up with author Rob Cowen (Common Ground) to discuss their upcoming concert, their personal relationships with nature and edgelands between urban and rural landscapes. kingsplace.co.uk/nancykerr

The Swedish orchestra O/Modernt fuses Vivaldi with rock music, including Metallica, Muse and Pink Floyd as part of Kings Place’s Baroque Unwrapped series. Conductor / violinist Hugo Ticciati returns in 2017 for an inspiring concert with Kian Soltani and vocal ensemble VOCES8 as well as a special cross-cultural collaboration between O/Modernt, Matthew Barley, Sukhwinder Singh & Soumik Datta as part of the brand-new Cello Unwrapped series. Fri 31 Mar 2017, 7.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/VOCES8ensemble Fri 20 Oct 2017, 7.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/IndianInflections

Shlomo is a world record-breaking beatboxer who makes all kinds of music using just his mouth and a mic. Join this sonic superhero and become one of his sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises and cool music, whether you’re aged 1 or 101! Sun 30 Oct, 10.30am & 12.30pm | Sun 18 Dec, 10.30am  kingsplace.co.uk/BeatboxingAdventure

The UK’s greatest (and only) improvising opera company is back at Kings Place with no score, no story and no safety net. What they perform is up to you! Thu 13 Oct, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/ImproperaReturns      

For musicians from Mozart to the great virtuosi of the 19th century, travel was a way of life. As part of Aurora's monumental five-year project, French pianist Cédric Tiberghien joins the orchestra for a programme that brings to life the wealth of music and tales inspired by the Mozart families' Grand Tours. Sat 17 Sep, 7.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/MozartsPiano

Kings Place welcomes the first-ever London Piano Festival: a brand-new celebration of the piano curated by star pianists Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen. Events range from Classical concerts to Contemporary Jazz, with Spoken Word and Family events too, featuring the acclaimed pianists Alfred Brendel, Kathryn Stott, Stephen Kovacevich, Martin Roscoe, Noriko Ogawa and Julian Joseph. 7–9 Oct kingsplace.co.uk/lpf

Kings Place’s seasonal feast of art and music features classical concerts, jazz and folk gigs, fun family events, comedy nights, inspiring talks, boat trips on the canal and much more for as little as £6.50 a ticket – with many events completely free. 9-11 Sep kingsplace.co.uk/festival

Antonio Forcione, known as the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar’, looks back on his thirty-year career, whilst giving plenty of invaluable advice on how to be a more creative guitar player, with live demonstrations and performances of his own compositions. He will run a course and give a concert with support from Will McNicol as part of the IGF Guitar Summit 2016 (21–24 Jul) at Kings Place. 21–22 Jul kingsplace.co.uk/AntonioForcione

Steve Abbott, lead singer of the band UK Decay in 1979–1983, gives a breakdown of 'Tenderness and Rage', the finale event of Poetry & Lyrics Festival (10–11 Jun) which celebrates the poetry of punk with musicians who birthed the movement and transformed the landscape of lyrics with their blistering new approach. Join The Adverts’ TV Smith, Pauline Murray of Penetration and Crass’ Penny Rimbaud to explore Punk’s lyrical heart (with live acoustic performances). Steve Lamacq hosts. Sat 11 Jun, 9.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/TendernessRage

Simon Broughton, Editor-in-Chief of Songlines Magazine, chats to Bex Burch and Dan Nicholls of dynamic quintet Vula Viel, who perform at this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (2–4 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef2016

Violinist Krysia Osostowicz and pianist Daniel Tong discuss their Beethoven cycle with a difference. They invited ten composers to write short companion pieces, one to go with each of Beethoven’s ten sonatas for violin and piano, creating a dialogue with Beethoven, a conversation between past and present. Chaired by Helen Wallace and joined by two of the composers, David Matthews and Elspeth Brooke, Krysia and Dan delve into the fascinating world of Beethoven's sonatas, all the while encouraging us to not be intimidated by his greatness... 14 & 15 May; 15 – 17 Oct | Tickets from £9.50 kingsplace.co.uk/beethovenplus

Nominated for BBC R2 Folk Awards 2015 in the Best Album category, TINCIAN is the second release by 9Bach, the Welsh group formed by Lisa Jen and Martin Hoyland. It’s an atmospheric, emotional record that reflects their home environment of Gerlan, North Wales. Lisa and Martin joined us to discuss the story behind 9Bach's unique sound and being nominated for 'Best Album' at this year's BBC R2 Folk Awards. 9Bach: 'TINCIAN' + support from Twelfth DaySaturday 18 April, 8pm | Kings Place | Tickets £12.50kingsplace.co.uk/9Bach

Chris T-T ('One of the great underground artists of our time' Jon Snow; 'Genius, a modern-day William Blake' Sunday Times) and Gill Sandell ('This is gorgeous!' Bob Harris; 'A beautiful sounding record' Cerys Matthews) launch their first album as a duo, 'Walk Away, Walk Away'. The album is an atmospheric collection of noir songs from across pop, rock and folk traditions and generations, themed around travel and absence; separation and journey; ancient pathways and empty freeways, covering artists from Willie Nelson and Joni Mitchell to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Voice Of The Beehive. 20 February, 8pm | Kings PlaceTickets £12.50www.kingsplace.co.uk/walkaway

Tuukka Haapaniemi from Finland's Club For Five, talks to Kings Place about what a cappella is all about. With soulful grooves, world-class vocals and exquisite harmonies, Club For Five has won the hearts of audiences and acclaim of critics making them a phenomenon on the world stage. They perform at this year's London A Cappella Festival. London A Cappella Festival28 - 31 Jan | Kings Placewww.kingsplace.co.uk/LACF2015

Forged in the fires of the two World Wars, Sir Andrzej Panufnik’s compositional output is inextricably linked with the major social and political events of the 20th century. Born in Warsaw at the onset of the First World War, he lived through the German occupation of the city in the Second World War and participated in musical resistance activities with the composer Lutosławski. Over the course of the conflict, Panufnik lost many of his closest relatives and saw his compositions consumed by the fires of the Warsaw Uprising. Initially fêted by the socialist government, he was unwilling to compose the suitably ‘patriotic’ music demanded of him by the regime and was forced to make a dramatic escape to Britain in 1954. This Centenary Celebration will present chamber works spanning his life – from his piano trio (1934), reconstructed after the war, to his three string quartets (written between 1976 and 1990) to be performed by the Brodsky Quartet, ‘Artists in Residence’ at Kings Place. The programmes will include complementary pieces by his daughter Roxanna including the London Première of a new quartet especially written for the Brodsky Quartet. The Celebration will culminate with a 1930s Warsaw Cabaret evening, led by Jacqui Dankworth and Charlie Wood. Panufnik 100: A Family Celebration30 November 2014 | Kings PlaceTickets from £6.50kingsplace.co.uk/panufnik100