From Hyde Park to Kew Gardens, Hampton Court to Crystal Palace, there’s a summer outing to suit all musical tastes, with tickets still up for grabs.
At Kew The Music in West London’s beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens, you can bring your own picnic along to enjoy a line up that ranges from the pop music heights of ‘Grace Kelly’ star MIKA, Ronan Keating, and JLS, to the hits of singer songwriter Passenger, a soulful night with Beverley Knight, and indie music from Richard Ashcroft.
Running from July 8 until July 14 there’s even an Evening in Conversation with Monty Don for gardening fans.
Further south in Henry VIII’s former palace at Hampton Court there’s a festival of music running from 11-21 June with headliners Tom Jones, Nile Rodgers and Chic, Jack Savoretti, Sam Ryder, Bjorn Again, Sheryl Crow, Deacon Blue, Paloma Faith and Jessie J.
The gigs take place in the historic outdoor surroundings of the palace’s Base Court with just 3,000 seats a night it means you get up close to your musical heroes.
The South Facing Festival has lined up the likes of Jess Glynne, Yussuf Dayes, Damian Marley, Grace Jones, Roisin Murphy, De La Soul, and Future Islands playing a string of dates from July 26 to August 10 in the Crystal Palace Bowl.
It revives a musical tradition stretching back for more than 150 years at a venue that’s echoed to the works of Handel, brass bands, Bob Marley and Pink Floyd.
Another iconic London park known for its musical tradition is North London’s Finsbury Park which this summer – between July 5-13 – hosts gigs by The Wolf Tones, Michael Bibi, Hozier and the three day Wireless Festival headlined by Nicky Minaj and Doja Cat.
Over in Gunnersbury Park Fisher, Tom Grennan, Peggy Gou, Korn and PJ Harvey perform in the idyllic surroundings of the Ealing park between August 9-18.
Victoria Park in East London hosts the annual outing of the All Points East and Field Day festivals. Each music-packed day features a full curated line-up with headliners this year including Loyle Carner, LCD Soundsystem, Kaytranada, Mitski, and The Postal Service/Death Cab For Cutie, running over two huge weekends from August 16-25.
And if that makes you want to sit down, over in Battersea Park there’s a long weekend of picnic concerts ranging from classical, to West End musicals, and jazz taking place in the elegant Thames-side surroundings.
Battersea Park in Concert only debuted last year but it’s back from August 24-26 starting with Proms in the Park, hosted by Classic FM presenter Myleene Klass, starring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra who will play the timeless melodies of Bach, Mozart and Tchaikovsky and evocative movie scores from John Williams with a spectacular fireworks finale.
There’s also A Night at the Musicals featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and a throng of special guests performing music from the likes of Chicago, Rent, Six, The Greatest Showman, and Grease, backed by the 40-strong London Concert Chorus.
Finally all that jazz with Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra performs music made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, and Chaka Khan, also featuring the London African Gospel Choir who will bring their joyous interpretation of Paul Simon’s Graceland album with a full live band.
You can pre-book gourmet picnics or eat street food from KERB stall holders while Kids Tipiland will keep younger concertgoers happy with activities and games for children.
Perhaps the biggest summer shows run in Hyde Park where the annual BST festival includes huge headliners, SZA, Shania Twain, Kings of Leon, Andrea Bocelli, Stray Kids, Robbie Williams, Kylie and Stevie Nicks.
Myleene Klass once again teams up with The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and kicks off the concert series on June 28 with All Things Orchestral. The concerts run in the Central London park until July 14.
https://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/24269084.outdoor-london-concerts-parks-palaces-summer-2024/
