Sunday 12 October 2025.

Sunday 12 October 2025. RADHIKA DAS and JAHNAVI HARRISON live at Shepherds Bush Empire. London-based Kirtan star Radhika Das and San Francisco-based mantra extraordinaire Jahnavi Harrison will join forces to co headline an unforgettable evening full of mantras, chanting and a few other surprises. Is Jahnavi Harrison related to George Harrison? No, Jahnavi Harrison is not related to George Harrison by blood. However, their lives are connected because she grew up at Bhaktivedanta Manor, a property George Harrison donated to the Hare Krishna movement in 1973. Jahnavi has described feeling a debt of gratitude to him for the environment where she was raised, which was filled with devotional art, music, and spiritual practices. This should be an interesting event. In 1968, musician Donovan traveled to Rishikesh, India, with The Beatles to study Transcendental Meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. While there, Donovan taught the group a finger-picking guitar style that inspired many songs on the White Album (or The Beatles album), such as Paul McCartney's \"Blackbird\". The visit was a highly productive songwriting period for The Beatles at the now-famous Beatles Ashram. By coincidence Donovan was playing a show in Richmond , Surrey today. -------- The venue was totally rammed sold out. Not one of those free religious shows, as most have paid £40. The start was delayed due to the big queues. I would say over half the crowd were Indian females. Hardly anyone drinking alcohol so bar staff had a quiet night The show started at 8.20pm and was on for two hours 20 mins. The main two artists - male and female - are sat on the floor . They each play solo then they also are both together . They are backed by over a dozen musicians and female singers. There is a big screen showing animals etc. Multi cameras were filming the entire show Hare Krishna was mentioned a few times. It was very quiet and respectful during the spiritual talks. It got very lively for some bits as folks stood up and clapped and sang loudly along . Hands in the air giving praise, or clasped together in prayer. Mantra chants The crowd loved it all....an interesting different evening for me. ------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------ Saturday 11 October 2025. NENA live at Shepherds Bush Empire. German pop icon NENA is best known for her massive worldwide hit ' 99 Red Balloons' from the mid 1980s. In 1984 , it spent three weeks at number one in the UK charts Audiences can look forward to a live show lasting two hours, featuring hits and gems from NENA's vast repertoire spanning over four decades, all brought to life by her nine-piece band. Her current album, ‘Licht’, is an energetic pop album full of brilliance and the soundtrack for new beginnings. With every note and in every line, ‘Licht’ offers hope, lightness, and depth of heart. Whether it’s folk-inspired acoustic guitar or electronically dancing synthesizer beats, Nena returns to the UK for the first time in 15 years for two shows at London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire on October 11th and O2 Ritz Manchester on October 12th as part of her UK and European Tour. Nena has sold over 25 million records I get career. Support comes from QUEEN KWONG. Queen Kwong is an American indie rock band founded in Los Angeles, California. The band was founded by multi-instrumentalist Carré Kwong Callaway, the band's sole singer and songwriter who was discovered at age 17 by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails. --------------- Level 3 is closed tonight, but all the other levels look full. Half the crowd appear to be German . ISSA BLOCH on stage at 7.15pm for their 30 mins set. A female singer , with male on the DJ turntable backing tracks. German Europop dance sounds , that went down well with the crowd. QUEEN KWONG on stage at 8.15pm for their 30 mins set. Two females on stage , playing guitar and bass. Certainly a bit more edgy and moody than the first support , but the crowd didn't take to them at all. NENA and band on stage at 9pm and play for a full two hours. Nena is backed by nine musicians , including three backing vocals - 2 x F and 1 x M. A nice stage production as the two keyboards and drums are on five foot risers, and there is a platform in front of them that Nena sings from on a few songs, and shows images and lights at the front. Nena is aged 65 now , but still in rock chick mode with black leather bomber jacket and tight black jeans. Nena is full of energy as she dances around the stage . After 30 mins she sang a song in the stalls standing area as she walked through her adoring fans . There is a bit of stage banter in English and German , but nearly all the show was in German . ' 99 Red Balloons ' is such a perfect pop record, even when it's sung in German. Last two songs of the main set were... Leuchtturm / ( and 60 seconds snippet of Blitzkrieg Bop) 99 Luftballons / ( and 60 seconds snippet of Hey Jude) Nice simple catchy pop rock , that was enjoyable to watch. ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Friday 10 October 2025. BLOOD INCANTATION live at Shepherds Bush Empire. Blood Incantation is an American progressive death metal band from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2011. The band will be touring the UK & Europe to promote their fourth studio album' Absolute Elsewhere'. ------------- It is a near sell out crowd tonight. Maybe a 90% male crowd who are buying up all the various t-shirts merch.. Lots wearing those 80s style jean jackets, with band patches on them. SIJJIN arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 30 mins. Sijjin means a place at the bottom of hell in Islam. A trio playing a brutal blend of old-school death and thrash metal. The very gruff vocals were not my cup of tea . ORANSSI PAZUZU arrived on stage at 8.15pm for their 45 mins set. Oranssi Pazuzu is a Finnish psychedelic black metal band formed in 2007. Full tilt psych metal noise merchants , with a manic guitar player . Again the very gruff vocals were not my cup of tea. Lots of lights and strobes for all three bands tonight. BLOOD INCANTATION arrived on stage at 9.30pm for their 75 mins set. The band first play the new album in full , then a few older tracks. Pulverising fast guitar heavy riffs and headbanging from all the band members . The technical precision of the band members are top notch. Again the vocals were a bit too gruff for me, but that's death metals style. The short set seemed to baffle many of their fans, who wanted more. An enjoyable aural assault from all three bands, but the gruff vocals from all three bands , meant i dont think i made out any of the words all night. Full BLOOD INCANTATION setlist played tonight... The Stargate [Tablet I] The Stargate [Tablet II] The Stargate [Tablet III] The Message [Tablet I] The Message [Tablet II] The Message [Tablet III] The Giza Power Plant The Vth Tablet (Of Enûma Eliš) Meticulous Soul Devourment Obliquity of the Ecliptic

Posted 11th October 2025