Monday 18 November 2024.

Monday 18 November 2024. DONS (age 40) , is a Latvian singer and songwriter. He is one of the most popular singers in Latvia, having won the Latvian Music Recording Awards' Top Radio Hit award eight times for most played song.He represented Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 with "Hollow". ------------- The Latvian community in London is not as big as the Polish one so levels 2 and 3 are closed tonight, and maybe only 500 tix max have been sold. Lots of attractive Latvian women in the crowd. Two of whom would throw their bras on stage later to Dons. Nice tracks by the likes of AC/DC , Queen, The Police , Depeche Mode, Blur, The Killers etc over the house PA as the warm up. DONS and band arrived on stage at 8.30pm and played for 1 hour 40 mins....Dons himself has a fully shaved bald head. Keyboard and guitar soft pop rock that the crowd loved, but nearly all in Latvian , but it ticked along ok. He played his big track 'Hollow' . ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------- Sunday 17 November 2024. BASTILLE live at Shepherds Bush Empire. This show sold out in advance. I have seen them a couple of times before . One was a very interesting event in July 2016. US Ambassador's Independence Day Party - Winfield House, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1. Winfield House is a mansion set in 12 acres of grounds in Regent's Park, the second largest private garden in central London, after that of Buckingham Palace. They are playing a UK and European Tour. Their first studio album, Bad Blood, was released in March 2013 and entered the UK Albums Chart at number one and included the hit single "Pompeii" which peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. Bastille released the album in the US later that year. Their second studio album, Wild Word, was released in September 2016 and was followed by Doom Days, Bastille's third studio album, in June 2019. In February 2022, Bastille released their fourth studio album, Give Me the Future. Their fifth studio album, "&", was released in October 2024 They have sold over 10 million records worldwide. Their biggest hit Pompeii' , has sold over a million copies . Three of their five albums have been No 1 in the UK. ----------- The show is fully sold out , but there must be at least 100 folks on the massive guest list. Scottish support act KERR MERCER arrived on stage at 7.50pm for his piano based 35 mins set BASTILLE arrived on stage at 8.45pm and played for 1 hour 45 mins. A huge backdrop of the cover of their new album. Around 100 candles are placed around the front of stage. There are 10 musicians on stage, including a string section. The show has a semi-acoustic feel as band members are all seated. The strings sound great when in full flow. Lots of chat between the songs. A polite crowd , that sat and listened in their seats Highlights of their piano based pop included 'Pompeii' and final track of the night 'Blue Sky & The Painter' , which was a full band rock out. Their is a film crew filming all the show. An enjoyable enough show.

Posted 18th November 2024