Tuned In London

03/10/2024

NEWS: This Fri 7pm: A Night of Glass with Dan Whitehouse & Gustaf Ljunggren - the final night of a mini tour delayed from June - it's gonna get glassy! - & we're going to have spoken as well as sung word with poetry from award-winning Jenny Mitchell. We recommend a read of a feature in Songwriting Magazine and a watch of an upcoming Folk on Foot episode. We give more news of Raymi Willka (forever), the "Mozart andino" and announce some key upcoming dates! https://mailchi.mp/39ffa1d1ebd0/this-fri-a-night-of-glass

02/10/2024

Only a couple of days to go now: Dan Whitehouse is teaming up with Gustaf Ljunggren and bringing us his A Night of Glass songs. Have a listen to Folk on Foot's Folk Albums Chart Show presented by Matthew Bannister. Midway through (from 30'22") there is a little preview of a feature of the next programme out on Friday 11th October when Matthew and Dan go to Dan's Stourbridge glassblowing stomping ground. Dan and Gustaf's mini tour starts tonight at Midlands Arts Centre and tomorrow in Barton-upon-Humber before coming to us. More info here:

Dan Whitehouse - A Night of Glass with Gustaf Ljunggren & poet Jenny Mitchell - Tuned In London

It's almost time! Join us on YouTube from 7pm BST for this month's Chart Show, featuring music from Cara Dillon, Gnoss, Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Gryphon, The Wandering Hearts, Martin Simpson and Skerryvore.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/exZoO6RJeEo

01/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/events/1643611146396933l

Gustaf found my car! 🥇

Mission 1 accomplished - heading for rehearsals with Gustaf Ljunggren - Musik

Join us this week
Weds 2 Oct Mac Birmingham w/ Chris Cleverley
Thurs 3 Oct The Ropewalk, Barton upon Humber
Fri 4 Oct Lontoon merimieskirkko via Tuned In London w/ poet Jenny Mitchell

A Night Of Glass - special editions ✨

29/09/2024

So it's Dan Whitehouse - A Night of Glass with Gustaf Ljunggren & poet Jenny Mitchell - Tuned In London that we have coming up this Friday 4th October. "A Night of Glass?" you say... Here's a wonderful interview in which Dan unravels the intricacies of his explorations around the theme of glass.

Sitting ironically at a screen to share this with you, here's just one example of why it will be a good idea to come out and discover Dan Whitehouse's music that he has made in collaboration with Swedish musician Gustaf Ljunggren: "We all spend so much time behind screens, pulled into algorithms that distract us from our need to connect with nature. In my song The Tide, I reflect on how we are physical beings who need to flow – how being confined to a digital world jarringly contrasts with our need for real air and water."

What a shame we no longer have Black Country photograther and Rotherhithe resident Brian Griffin in our midst to invite along to this. But if you are in or near London and reading this we hope YOU will come along! Have a read of this fascinating article too and see you then.

The poetry of Jenny Mitchell will also be a highlight of the evening!

The acclaimed Black Country singer-songwriter delves into the history, art, craft, and emotional resonance of glass in his recent works...

29/09/2024

Last June we had to postpone Dan Whitehouse and Gustaf Ljunggren’s special A Night of Glass gig but it is now HAPPENING this Friday 4th October. They are on tour and for our London gig only will be joined by poet Jenny Mitchell. Thank you to At The Barrier for sharing the news:

Dan Whitehouse continues to tour his acclaimed A Night Of Glass show....news of a handful of special dates on the schedule.

27/09/2024

In exactly one week's time Dan Whitehouse is bringing his acclaimed show A Night Of Glass to London on Friday October 4th at The Finnish Church, Rotherhithe, Lontoon merimieskirkko. The performance is part of a very special collaboration with Swedish producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Gustaf Ljunggren, who is joining Dan from Copenhagen for these exclusive shows. It's the first time the pair have toured together!

As a special addition to the programme, for our gig here in Rotherhithe, they will be joined by poet Jenny Mitchell, who will open the evening with a reading of her tactile, cinematic poems.

A Night Of Glass showcases music from Dan’s three glass-themed albums—Voices From The Cones, The Glass Age, and Reflections On The Glass Age—all co-produced with Gustaf. The show combines songs inspired by Dan's connection with his son in Japan, reflections on our screen-dominated society, and the history of glassmaking in Stourbridge. Gustaf will also share music from his stunning solo album, Floreana, a track of which was played on Resonance 104.4fm's Outerglobe last night.

More info and tickets:

Dan Whitehouse - A Night of Glass with Gustaf Ljunggren & poet Jenny Mitchell - Tuned In London

26/09/2024

On now! Tune into the Outerglobe on Resonance 104.4fm and online, till 7.30pm. Listen out for a track by Gustaf Ljunggren, whose music will also be a feature of our A Night of Glass show with Dan Whitehouse, as well as poet Jenny Mitchell on Friday 4th October. Tickets and more info here:

Dan Whitehouse - A Night of Glass with Gustaf Ljunggren & poet Jenny Mitchell - Tuned In London

24/09/2024

Yesterday the funeral and memorial service of our youngest performer, Raymi Willka Saldaña Rojas, son of Phaxsi Coca (Jeanette) and Kanti Qena (Carlos), who formed the family trio SUMAQ AYLLU - Sagrada Familia, took place, starting in the incredibly appropriate setting of Islington’s Union Chapel. With excellence (grade 8 in piano and flute, and much expertise in other instruments (ever since the early days of upturned pots and pans) he truly was a master in the making, one who loved his art, drawing deeply from the Bolivian and Peruvian roots of his ancestors. Hundreds of Londoners attended. I invite you to listen to his Head of Year’s words in the first nine minutes of this livestreamed service for him: it offers insight into all the other beautiful qualities this young man had and how many will treasure their lasting memories of him. We mourn his loss, send our deepest condolences to all his family, here in London and far away in Latin America, to his classmates, neighbours, teachers and all whose lives he touched. It was a beautiful, sad, joyful, music and tear-filled day for an adored young man who brought so much love and hope into this world. We learned of several ways his legacy will live on. This was just the beginning. Thank you Raymi.

Raymi means celebration and Willka means sun. The sun only made the briefest of showings but the celebration was there throughout, as was the love, so great.

21/09/2024

“Poland’s Tori Amos“ said two different audience members on Wednesday night as we left the Finnish Church Lontoon merimieskirkko after a truly fabulous gig given by Basia Bartz and her band, with guest Shem Fillmore on sarangi and mandolin. What amazing musicianship. Rotherhithe transformed itself for a couple of hours into the location of one of Poland’s renowned jazz clubs… Magnificent use of the grand piano as well as beautiful violin-playing were all for our enjoyment. Thank you to Basia for bringing her talent to our part of London. And the full moon shone as we left the church…

She has a lovely EP - contact me or her if you would like one: she left a few copies with us. Thank you to the Finnish Church for having us.

Next gig:

Friday 4th October Dan Whitehouse - A Night of Glass with Gustaf Ljunggren & poet Jenny Mitchell - Tuned In London (after it was cancelled in June due to illness, so, long-awaited).

18/09/2024

16/09/2024

So excited to be kicking off the Autumn season this Wednesday 18th at Lontoon merimieskirkko with the fabulous London-based musician Basia Bartz, from Poland. Many a band seeks her out for her masterful piano and violin playing (she played for us when Adam Beattie performed at Sands Films) but all this time she’s been keeping it quiet that she has a phenomenal voice, capable of soaring and exploring, and she’s written some songs we think you will love. She’ll be in full band mode with Chris Jones on drums and Ben Reed on bass, plus guest appearance by frequent collaborator Shem Fillmore on sarangi and mandolin. For more info and tickets go to:

Basia Bartz at Tuned In London

13/09/2024

NEWSLETTER: New Season! Two gigs for which we'll be at the Finnish Church Lontoon merimieskirkko featuring piano (among other instruments and voices): Wed 18th Sep Polish musician Basia Bartz + Fri 4th Oct Dan Whitehouse with Gustaf Ljunggren - Musik (the rescheduled gig) - plus we've some sad news to share in case you missed our social media posts. We congratulate Something Sleeps, share pics of Hanitra in concert and inform you of another urgent crowdfunder and the new Rotherhithe foodbank, + a top tip for this w-e https://mailchi.mp/5012a7d4126d/new-season-basia-bartz-dan-whitehouse

06/09/2024

It's been over a month since we received tragic news of the loss of life of our youngest performer, Raymi Willka, who performed with his parents in their band SUMAQ AYLLU - Sagrada Familia in June last year. Some of you will have seen this post sharing the news. As some of us are busy with the 'back to school' stuff, some literally so, we pray for them at this acutely difficult time.

There is also a crowdfunder to help Phaxsi Coca and Kanti Qena who essentially are pretty full time musicians in normal times, far from their relatives in Bolivia and Peru. London can be a difficult city to survive in at the best of times so extra financial help will help them through it to begin with.

The crowdfunder has hit its 'target' amount already but I know some of you will want to support them too, and it is still open for contributions: https://gofund.me/1ea30b21

Thank you!

04/08/2024

It is with the utmost sadness and profound sense of loss that we are letting you know that the youngest member of the SUMAQ AYLLU - Sagrada Familia family band and the youngest performer we’ve had in our programme has departed this world.

What Phaxsi Coca (Jeanette), Kanti Qena (Carlos) and their 14 year old master-in-the-making Raymi Willka have been giving to London and all around the UK is profound, ancient music from the mountains of the Andes, connecting the souls of their listeners to their native roots. In June last year, at City Hope Church, they performed a stunning concert for Midsummer. Raymi performed solo in that concert as well as with his parents as a trio as well as being joined by guest Kieffer from their bigger ensemble Lokandes.

Just one week before my family of three were super happy to find their family of three seated in the row behind us (see the last picture) at a Musiko Musika concert in Hammersmith. We feel their loss acutely and invite you to join us in sending love and condolences at this most difficult of times. Here is a message from them. Please join them and us this afternoon in whatever way you can, wherever you are, in prayers, love, gratitude and music:

“Today Sunday, August 4th in the afternoon (Europe time), one week after the departure of the spirit of our beloved son RAYMI WILLKA, we ask you to join us from your spaces to honor, pray, sing, play instruments in his memory and connect to through distance but united by the sweetness and legacy he left.

Sunday 4th Aug from 2pm (Netherland's time)to forward / From 1 pm UK”

11/07/2024

Here's our 80th newsletter and a reminder for TONIGHT 7pm: Hanitra from Madagascar will be performing as a duo at Lontoon merimieskirkko, the Finnish Church, Rotherhithe, music from 7pm.

Also other news from the Rotherhithe and Bermondsey Choral Society, Mint Street Music Festival and Lokandes as well as pics from our recent Time and Talents gig with Something Sleeps, as well as a little homage to Sands Films pillar Neale Brown who we sent to eternal rest yesterday - https://mailchi.mp/b5786b005deb/reminder-hanitra-tonight

10/07/2024

Our musicians Hanitra and Jean-Marc have arrived in London (from Reunion Island via Brittany and Paris, with a breakdown and a delayed train - luckily they came with time to spare!) and we were happy to show them Lontoon merimieskirkko, the Finnish Church where they play tomorrow, Thursday 11th July. We went back to the MayflowerPub too.

Here’s an example of the stunning sounds they produce together - gorgeous original songs steeped in the traditional rhythms of Madagascar: https://bit.ly/2KSglH3

More info here: Hanitra at Tuned In London Music from 7pm.

08/07/2024

All the rain in recent days makes us all the more thankful that we had the right weather for what was our first outdoor gig ten days ago with Something Sleeps, under the leafy wisteria canopy at Time and Talents here in Rotherhithe: dream folk in a dreamy setting.

We heard beautifully penned and performed songs, with one traditional song from the north of Tenerife. Magpies rattling and planes turning did not detract from the gorgeousness of the moment. A big thank you to Fiona Fey, Rey Day and Josh Considine for bringing their artistry to us.

A big thank you too to the Rotherhithe Community Kitchen for the delicious curry they served in the interval. (Two days later we heard the kitchen is the recipient of the Special Recognition Award from the High Sheriff of Greater London: congratulations to them - we were glad to be the first event they were catering for!)

Our current season closes this Thursday for an UNMISSABLE gig with Hanitra for which we’re back at the Finnish Church, Lontoon merimieskirkko:

Hanitra at Tuned In London

28/06/2024

We’ll be under a leafy wisteria canopy today at Time and Talents. There are still a few fronds in bloom. So many people have bought tickets that I’ve borrowed extra ones from St Mary’s Church. No fossil fuel has been burned in the operation 🙂

If you don't know the venue, it is a short walk from Rotherhithe Station and an even shorter walk from Rotherhithe Tunnel bus stop on the 381 and C10 routes and not far from Southwark Park. It is up a little driveway on the edge of a little park, off the road where Rupack St and St Marychurch Street meet. Or the other side of the small park across the road from St Mary's Church where we have sometimes held concerts. These pics might help. The roof of the venue can be seen in the background of the last picture.

Anyone paying on the door should bring cash (or pay online on site).

We are running a cash bar and will serve curry in the interval.

Something Sleeps at Tuned In London

Music will start at 7pm.