Patty Griffin at the Union Chapel

Patty Griffin 
Josephine Oniyama 
Union Chapel, 25 July 2013

The Union Chapel really has to be one of the most beautiful venues in London. On a hot summer night, it is beautifully cool and as the sun sets through the stunning stained glass windows it really is something quite magical. Into this otherworldly atmosphere a beautiful girl in towering high heels and red head scarf totters on stage and straps on an acoustic guitar.

David Bowie Is... exhibition

I went to the excellent David Bowie Is exhibition at the V&A yesterday and, given that Bowie is pretty unlikely to tour again, it really was the next best thing and I highly recommend it.

Simone Dinnerstein and Tift Merritt at the Purcell Room

Simone Dinnerstein & Tift Merritt
Purcell Room, 1 July 2013

If you follow this blog at all you'll know that I am a huge fan of singer-songwriter Tift Merritt. For me she is easily the equal of far more lauded artists such as Ryan Adams and Neko Case yet seems to remain largely unknown. She's already put out five superb country and folk inspired albums and earlier this year she released something entirely unexpected but equally wonderful: a collaboration with classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein that explored the connections between their very different musical backgrounds.