Acclaimed singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus and Charlatans frontman Tim Burgess will play exclusive streamed sessions in June as part of the Royal Albert Home series.
The shows are to raise funds for the Royal Albert Hall, which has been closed since 17 March and – like all arts venues across the UK – is in financial crisis as a result of the pandemic.
Since closing, the venue’s online gigs – featuring the likes of Rufus Wainwright, KT Tunstall, Richard Thompson and Ayanna Witter-Johnson – have been streamed more than a million times, inspiring donations totalling £50,000. Tim Burgess will perform on Thu 4 Jun (7:30pm) and Lucy Dacus on Wed 17 Jun (8:30pm). Other upcoming events include sets from Imogen Heap (29 May, 8pm) and Kaiser Chiefs (30 May, 8pm).
Lucy Noble, Artistic Director of the Royal Albert Hall, said: “When we started working on this series, we wrote a list of 10 names we wanted to be involved, and both Lucy and Tim were on there. Tim has been one of the most popular and important figures on the UK music scene for three decades – which has included two unforgettable shows at the Hall with The Charlatans – while Lucy has quickly established herself as one of the most distinctive, exciting singer-songwriters and live performers on the planet. We’re delighted that they’ve both agreed to be part of Royal Albert Home, and we can’t wait to bring these shows to you."
Tim Burgess has toured the world as frontman of The Charlatans, with the band’s two Hall shows including an emotional tribute concert for their late drummer, Jon Brookes in 2013. He released his fifth solo album, I Love the New Sky, last month on Bella Union. During lockdown, Time has been uniting music lovers with #TimsTwitterListeningParty, in which people all around the world listen to an album at the same time and share their experiences. He’s also been learning the guitar, and will be showcasing his new skills as part of Royal Albert Home.
Following the release of her widely-acclaimed sophomore album Historian (Matador), and the collaborative boygenius EP with Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus spent last year rolling out a festive mix of original and cover songs tied to various holidays – including Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Bruce Springsteen’s birthday. This captivating body of work showcases her status as both a knockout cover artist and one of the pre-eminent young songwriter voices of today.
To watch the shows free, or to donate, go to: www.royalalberthall.com/RAHome. More gigs will be announced soon.
