Tuesday 16 June 2026

Tuesday 16 June 2026....opening night gig for this new venue... SELF ESTEEM live at The Arc , Olympia, West Kensington, London. AEG Presents has revealed the first wave of artists performing at London’s most anticipated new venue, British Airways ARC. The 3,800-capacity state-of-the-art, purpose-built live music and events venue is located above the existing west exhibition hall in Olympia, a site steeped in musical history. The first wave of artists performing at British Airways ARC includes Self Esteem on two nights, including the June 16, 2026 opening night, followed by McFly on June 18. Sammy Hagar and Joan Jett play separate shows there in July. Van Morrison and The Damned are also booked in. I saw some big names play here in the late 1970s , including Status Quo ,Thin Lizzy , Bad Company and six shows by Rod Stewart (1976 to 1978). Self Esteem has just finished a theatre stint in The West End. Pop star and actress Rebecca Lucy Taylor (aka Self Esteem) and screen legend Phil Daniels starred in the 50th-anniversary revival of David Hare's play Teeth 'n' Smiles.The production enjoyed a 12-week run at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End, which finished on 06 June 2026. Self Esteem has released three albums ,with the last two reaching 11 and 5 in the UK charts. ------------ This was the long awaited opening night gig for this new venue. The exhibition halls are open as usual for their events , so i did wonder where the new venue would be. We go up escalator / lift and it looks like the venue and a couple of the restaurants have been built on top of the Olympia. The venue is very full , but not sold out as their website was still selling tickets on the day. I was expecting a bit of razzle dazzle or red carpet tonight ,but it's pretty much low-key , like a normal gig. Inside it reminds me mostly of Indigo at The O2 Arena complex. There is a long bar at the back of the stalls , and those self serve lager/cider machines. The stalls standing are tiered at the back , and the sound quality is perfect . Lovely plush seats upstairs. £8.50 for a pint of decent lager/cider or £8.30 for that Carlsberg stuff. JOSHUA IDEHEN arrived on stage at 7.30pm for his 30 mins set. He was backed by a DJ playing the backing tracks, for his lively set. SELF ESTEEM arrived on stage at 8.30pm for her 80 mins set . Her backing musicians were a drummer and percussionist. Self Esteem was joined by seven female dancers/ backing singers. The first couple of tracks the eight of them were dressed as nuns. Lots of great dance routines, and they sounded great when all sang as a choir. A big screen showing pre-recorded images. In the middle of the show a couple of inflatables appeared along with a giant disco ball. It was a visually arresting, confessional experience that perfectly balanced theatre and gig energy. A really good show. Full SELF ESTEEM setlist played tonight... I Do and I Don't Care Mother Lies ( with Nadine Shah) 69 You Forever Logic, Bitch! Prioritise Pleasure Fucking Wizardry The Curse In Plain Sight (with Moonchild Sanelly) What Now The 345 Cheers to Me If Not Now, It’s Soon The Deep Blue Okay Encore: I Do This All the Time Focus Is Power then 10pm to 12pm was the aftershow in the venues VIP bar. Around 60 or 70 folks here . A couple of Self Esteems dancers turned up. It is a proper gig aftershow ( i.e. free booze). For most bands it is a pay bar these days. Complimentary Nyetimber English Sparkling Wines , different cocktails, spirits n mixers , wines and beers. ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Monday 15 June 2026. ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS live at The Royal Albert Hall. His band will include Charlie Sexton on guitar. The support act will be CHRIS DIFFORD from Squeeze. I have seen both Elvis Costello and Squeeze around 20 times each. The first time for both was back in 1978. His UK tour also includes.... Thursday 18 June at Hampton Court Palace. Saturday 20 June at Shepherds Bush Empire. Both Elvis Costello and Chris Difford are now aged 71. ------------- The venue looks full with the middle aged older folks. They can afford the expensive tickets. Gallery standing up in the gods is £60, seats downstairs and seats in boxes are £160 and £140 each. CHRIS DIFFORD arrived on stage at 7.30pm for his 45 mins set. Just the two musicians on stage. Chris on vocals and acoustic guitar. With Melvyn Duffy (electric guitar & pedal steel). Chris did a great set , that included several Squeeze gems , that was mixed in with some hilarious stage chat. He was a perfect support act for Elvis Costello , as the crowd sang the words to all the Squeeze hits The crowd gave him a full standing ovation at the end. Full CHRIS DIFFORD setlist played tonight... Take Me I'm Yours (Squeeze song) Deptford Up the Junction (Squeeze song) Lamas Fayre Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) (Squeeze song) Freddie and the Dreamers Is That Love (Squeeze song) Cowboys Are My Weakness Labelled With Love (Squeeze song) Tempted (Squeeze song) Cool for Cats (Squeeze song) ELVIS COSTELLO & THE IMPOSTERS arrived on stage at 8.45pm for their 2 hours 5 mins set. Elvis is wearing some gold shoes. Nice to see Charlie Sexton on guitar , and other musicians include long time chums from The Attractions , Steve Nieve on keyboards and Pete Thomas on drums. A perfect setlist that had all his best known songs on it. Elvis mixes the setlist around a bit each night . It was a great show. Full ELVIS COSTELLO setlist played tonight... This Year's Girl / You Can't Do That (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Mystery Dance ( Elvis Costello & The Attraction cover) Watching the Detectives ( Elvis Costello song ) Little Triggers (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Watch Your Step (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Look Out For the Leaver Man (Solo acoustic, early song with elements of Accidents Will Happen) Opportunity ( Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Lovers Walk (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Everyday I Write the Book ( Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Almost Blue / All or Nothing at All ( Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Who Will the Next Fool Be (Charlie Rich cover) A Good Year for the Roses (George Jones cover) Lovable (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Alison ( Elvis Costello song) Honey, Are You Straight or Are You Blind? (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down (Sam & Dave cover) High Fidelity (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Wonder Woman ( Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint cover) Radio Radio (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Less Than Zero (Elvis Costello song) Shipbuilding (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Oliver's Army (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) Clubland (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea (Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) (with band introductions and solos) Pump It Up ( Elvis Costello & The Attractions cover) (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Brinsley Schwarz cover) Outro Song Tape - Donald Where's Your Troosers (Andy Stewart song)

Posted 16th June 2026