Southbank Centre today announces its new regular club night programme, Concrete Lates, showcasing live electronic music until 2am, for the first time in the arts centre’s history.
Concrete Lates is a new monthly late-night club night launched as Southbank Centre’s iconic music venues Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room reopen following two years of extensive restoration and redesign. Now the latest-opening regular gigs and DJ night on the South Bank, Concrete Lates will feature cutting-edge electronic music from a blend of new artists and established names, with a particular focus on female talent.
Bringing club culture to the heart of London’s South Bank, this new night will take place within the historic Queen Elizabeth Hall foyers which have been reconfigured to accommodate a 1000-capacity gigs space overlooking the River Thames. Affordable tickets will ensure Concrete Lates is accessible to audiences of every budget.
The inaugural Concrete Lates on Friday 13 April presents an evening of international techno inspired by the current Andreas Gursky retrospective at Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery. Produced in collaboration with Boiler Room and inspired by German artist Gursky’s love of the genre, visitors hear sets from rising female techno stars Pan Daijing and JASSS, and a live performance from Bristol-based duo Giant Swan. The evening also features one-off late-night entry into the Hayward Gallery (until 1am), where a newly commissioned ambient mix by Pan Daijing accompanies the artwork on display.
On Friday 27 April, acclaimed experimental composer and turntablist Shiva Feshareki, who reimagines music and sounds through warped, vinyl-only turntable manipulation, will present New Forms, an evening reimagining existing musical works by pioneering electronic composers. Joined by emerging electronic artists including Nik Void, Klara Lewis, M.E.S.H. and Simon Fisher Turner, these artists will reinterpret musical works by the electronic composers that have influenced them, allowing for alternative perspectives to emerge.
Further programming to be announced, including a special Concrete Lates as part of Robert Smith’s Meltdown festival in June.
Southbank Centre’s cultural landmarks Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room re-open to the public on Monday 9 April 2018 with a packed programme of over 100 events in the first two months alone. World class, environmentally-improved new facilities for audiences and artists will be unveiled that highlight the unique heritage features of the Brutalist buildings.
A new era for Southbank Centre’s venues sees an even greater focus on the best live music, bold programming, new artists, new commissions and artist residencies.
Bengi Unsal, Southbank Centre’s Senior Contemporary Music Programmer, said: “Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room have always been spaces for audiences to discover and enjoy music that’s cracking open the status quo. Concrete Lates brings that bang up to date, with a programme of artists who are among the most celebrated and progressive musicians working in experimental electronics today, and giving a platform to incredible and often underrepresented female talent. It’s a new night not to be missed for the curious and discerning beat-hunters out there.”
Amy Lamé, London's Night Czar said: “It is brilliant that Southbank Centre is throwing open its doors and creating a new club night which will welcome some of the most celebrated DJs and live electronic acts and – most importantly – will be accessible to all Londoners. London’s night life and culture is one of the most diverse and varied in the world, and I couldn’t be happier to support the newest addition to the capital’s clubbing scene.”
Tickets for Concrete Lates will go on sale to Southbank Centre members today, Monday 19 March and to everyone else on Wednesday 21 March. www.southbankcentre.co.uk / 0203 879 9555
Photo Credit: Boiler Room
