Tag: London arts

Drum TAO’s debut of The Dream: must-see fusion of tradition and spectacle

Posted: 15/01/2025

Brace yourselves, London—the internationally acclaimed Japanese drumming powerhouse, Drum TAO, is finally making its grand entrance into the West End, and trust us, this is not your standard night out at the theatre. Their jaw-dropping production, The Dream, is set to crash onto the stage of the iconic Peacock Theatre at Sadler’s Wells from Tuesday 11 to Saturday 15 March 2025. After smashing it across Japan, Singapore, and Europe, they’ve decided it’s about time London got in on the action—and really, we couldn’t agree more. What makes The Dream such a show-stopper, you ask? Oh, just a cheeky combo of mind-blowing taiko drumming, intricate choreography, and enough high-energy athleticism to make even elite athletes feel lazy. Add to that contemporary costumes and a visual spectacle to rival anything Vegas can throw at you, and you’re in for a wild ride. This isn’t just a performance; it’s an all-encompassing experience that will make your jaw hit the floor—a few times. Originating from Oita, Japan, and going strong since their 1993 debut, Drum TAO is all about pairing the traditional with a contemporary twist. Their weapons of choice? Massive Wadaiko drums (basically, the heartbeat of Japanese percussion) paired with hauntingly beautiful melodies from instruments like the Shinobue (a lightweight flute), Koto (a dreamy harp), and Syamisen (a guitar-like masterpiece). Combine that with their intense physicality and modern musical interpretations, and it’s no wonder they’ve racked up millions of YouTube views, sold-out runs Off-Broadway, and legions of fans across the globe. Ten million spectators worldwide can’t be wrong,… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON, MUSIC

Tags: Japanese drums, London arts, London music, Sadler's Wells, Tao

Amazing Flamenco in London; you must see ¡VIVA!

by James Banham

Updated: 22/07/2024

With six bailaores (dancers) gracing the stage, ¡VIVA! pays homage to freedom while defying traditional gender norms of flamenco.

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, DANCE, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: FLamenco, Flamenco dance London, Flamenco London, London arts, London dance, Sadler's Wells, Sadler's Wells dance, Sadlers Wells London

See Saint Bartholomew by Bernardo Cavallino at National Gallery

by James Banham

Posted: 12/04/2023

Bernardo Cavallino’s Saint Bartholomew is an awe-inspiring Baroque masterpiece that will be on display in The National Gallery this April 2023. This painting, acquired at a Sotheby’s auction in New York and costing $3.9 million, is the only life-size work of the artist to be in a public collection. Cavallino, dubbed ‘the Poussin of Naples’ for his poetic handling of his subjects, was one of the leading Neapolitan artists of the first half of the 17th-century. No doubt influenced by Jusepe de Ribera’s naturalism as well as by Anthony van Dyck and Peter Paul Rubens, Cavallino was renowned for his small, sensitive paintings. His style is characterised by harmonious colours and virtuoso brushwork with stylised compositions. At 178.8 x 127 cm, Saint Bartholomew has been described as one of Cavallino’s best works – indeed it can be said to represent the full glory and emotionality of the Neapolitan Baroque school led by Caravaggio at its height. With its exhibition in Room 32 alongside other masterpieces from Italian Baroque artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi and Orazio Gentileschi, visitors can appreciate how vital a part this painting plays in telling the story of 17th century Italian art. The gallery already has another work by Cavallino – Christ driving Traders from Temple – but it does not have such a grand scale nor show off with quite so much emotional power as Saint Bartholomew does. 30 years after we last saw it go on public display (at Metropolitan Museum in New York), let us rejoice now that we… Read More

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

Tags: Art London, London art blog, London arts, national gallery, Saint Bart, Saint Bartholomew