Sunday 12 July 2026.

Sunday 12 July 2026. SAMMY HAGAR + JAYLER live at The British Airways ARC at Olympia, West Kensington. Sammy plays the last of his three London shows at The ARC. Looks like Sammy changes the setlist by a couple of songs each night. -------- Some artist tours are certainly worth going to two or three times, like this one. A few less folks here than last night , with none of Sammy's three nights here selling out. Tickets costing over £100 in the stalls seating area may have put some off. I have another great view , just 10 rows from the stage in the stalls. JAYLER arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their 30 mins set. Again all four members are bare chested, under their 70s style threads Again the singer gets stuck into his Robert Plant type screams. SAMMY HAGAR and his all star band arrived on at stage at 8.30pm, and played for 1 hour 50 mins , which was 10 mins less than the previous night. The setlist was changed around slightly by three or four songs , and a different intro tape song was used. Sammy and the band were on fire again. Another excellent show. Intro tape song - London Calling ( The Clash) Why Can't This Be Love (Van Halen song) Top of the World (Van Halen song) Panama (Van Halen song) Best of Both Worlds ( Van Halen song) Rock Candy ( Montrose song) Bad Motor Scooter (Montrose song) 5150 (Van Halen song) Love Walks In (Van Halen song) Cabo Wabo (Van Halen song) (Sammy poured glasses of Tequila for the front row) ; (>) Mas Tequila (Sammy Hagar and the Wabos song) There's Only One Way to Rock Right Now (Van Halen song) Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love (Van Halen song) (w/o Sammy ; sung by Michael Anthony) Satch Boogie (Joe Satriani cover) (w/o Sammy) Good Enough ( Van Halen song) (the middle section included the rhythm pattern to Yes' "Owner of a Lonely Heart") Heavy Metal (Sammy on additional guitar) I Can't Drive 55 (Sammy on additional guitar ; last verse sung by Michael Anthony) Eagles Fly Encore, Thank You, Goodnight ----------------------------------- Saturday 11 July 2026. SAMMY HAGAR + JAYLER live at The British Airways ARC at Olympia, West Kensington. Sammy ( now aged 78) plays the second of his three London shows at The Arc. It's been a long time....Really looking forward to this gig as it is Sammy's first UK tour as a solo artist since I saw him in the early 1980s. For this show Sammy Hagar will be coming on stage early , and finish by 9.30pm , as the England v Norway World Cup game is a 10pm start. The Arc is a brand new hi-tec 3800 capacity venue, that I attended the opening gig there last month. The Red Rocker will be joined by his supergroup THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS BAND, including legendary guitarist Joe Satriani, fellow Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer and longtime VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony, and powerhouse drummer Kenny Aronoff. Sammy says the setlist will be celebrating his legendary 50-plus-year career. I have seen Sammy Hagar solo and with Van Halen. I saw Van Halen with Sammy in 1995 , when they supported Bon Jovi at Wembley Stadium. Sammy said in a recent interview.... It’s gonna be the same mix of songs as the North American dates – very Van Halen-heavy, because Joe can do it,” says Hagar. “I’m playing 10 Van Halen songs from my period in the band , seven or eight Sammy songs, a couple of Chickenfoot songs, a couple of Montrose songs". The shows will mark Hagar’s first full UK appearances since playing two dates with his supergroup Chickenfoot in 2012 ( I was at the Brixton Academy show ), although I did see Sammy play a couple of tracks at the Ozzy Osbourne / Black Sabbath all dayer at Villa Park , Birmingham in 2025. I saw Sammy Hagar a few times before he joined Van Halen. 1980 - two shows at Hammersmith Odeon with support from Riot. 1982 - two shows at Hammersmith Odeon with support from Grand Prix. Support comes from up and coming Brit rockers JAYLER , who recently released their debut album. ----------- It is stalls seated tonight as mainly an older male crowd. I have a perfect view , nine rows centre from the front . Everyone in the seats stands up when Sammy Hagar arrived on stage. Not sold out tonight , so.maybe 2000 folks are here. I must admit I really do like this new venue , but charging three quid for a 40g bag of crisps is a pisstake. The merch is doing well , and I spot a nice SAMMY HALEN t-shirt for £40. JAYLER arrived on stage at 6.30pm for their 30 mins set. The UK rock quartet Jayler has rapidly built a nice following by channeling the swagger, heavy riffs, and vocal style of Led Zeppelin.Formed in the Midlands, the band consists of James Bartholomew (vocals), Tyler Arrowsmith (guitar), Ed Evans (drums), and Ricky Hodgkiss (bass). Their soaring classic-rock image and raw sound have drawn comparisons to legends like Led Zeppelin, with some fans pointing out Bartholomew's uncanny resemblance to a young Robert Plant. All four members are wearing 70s type rocker clobber, and all have their chests exposed. The drummer even wears a waistcoat like John Bonham, and has a huge gong behind him, just like John Bonham.....they played a good set of songs. SAMMY HAGAR and his all star band arrived on stage at 7.30pm for their two hour set. Despite his age , Sammy is in great shape and full of energy. Sammy brings the "red rocker" Cabo Wabo party vibes to London. Sammy gives out cans of lager and Tequila shots to the crowd at the front. There is a big screen showing pre recorded images and some vintage Sammy videos. Needless to say , Joe Satriani and the all star band sound fantastic. Their fifth member on keyboards said he comes from Willesden Green. Drums and keyboards on a raised platform at the rear . The setlist was as expected full of his era of Van Halen . Versions of ' Panama' and the Montrose classic ' Bad Motor Scooter' were superb. See my Facebook page for a nice video of ' Panama'. The only downer was Sammy didn't play my fave solo track of his ' I've Done Everything For You'. An excellent rock show. Full SAMMY HAGAR setlist played tonight... Intro tape - Rock Candy (Montrose song) Why Can't This Be Love (Van Halen song) Top of the World (Van Halen song) Poundcake (Van Halen song) (First appearance on UK tour) Runaround (Van Halen song) (Best of both worlds was on the setlist - Joe started the wrong song) Summer Nights ( Van Halen song) Bad Motor Scooter (Montrose song) 5150 (Van Halen song) Love Walks In (Van Halen song) Cabo Wabo (Van Halen song) Mas Tequila (Sammy Hagar and the Wabos song) There's Only One Way to Rock Right Now (Van Halen song) Somebody Get Me a Doctor ( Van Halen song) (Micheal Anthony on vocals) Surfing With the Alien (Joe Satriani cover) Panama (Van Halen song) (Good enough was on the set list - audience request) Heavy Metal I Can't Drive 55 Eagles Fly Encore ( but they didn't actually leave the stage) Thank You, Goodnight ( dedicated to Eddie Van Halen ) -------------- I had a lovely afternoon in Windsor, before the Sammy Hagar show. From 1.15pm to 2.30pm I was at the gallery. SIMON KENNY - private view - Clarendon Fine Art , Windsor , Berkshire. Simon Kenny is and is showcasing his paintings that are inspired by light, movement , skies and the cosmos. Complimentary prosecco and bottles of Peroni . Then a stroll around the castle and the town centre. Then down to the waterfront to see the tourist boats, swans, ducks, and a walk over the bridge to Eton. The tourists still love Windsor , as they are everywhere . ------------------------------- ------------------------------- Friday 10 July 2026. SKY ARTS at 10.45pm The Roling Stones live at The Marquee Club in 1971. At the time they were promoting their new album ' Sticky Fingers'. ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Thursday 09 July 2026....6pm to 10.15pm... QUEEN ELIZABETH II CENTRE - 40th anniversary party - Westminster, London SW1. World-renowned conference, events and exhibition centre, The QEII Centre, is celebrating its 40th anniversary this month, marking five decades at the heart of London’s thriving events industry. The milestone comes as the venue reports exceptional sales growth for the third consecutive year, with revenue nearly £1 million ahead of the same period last year. Since being opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 24 June 1986, The QEII Centre has welcomed more than eight million visitors from around the world and hosted over 14,000 national and international events, securing its position as one of the foremost destinations for business events. Positioned in the historic core of Westminster with magnificent views over Westminster Abbey, The Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben, The QEII Centre was designed to host major international government conferences and meet the needs of commercial event organisers. --------- Over 200 guests up in their 5th floor entertainment space. It is all nicely decked out with a 1980s theme. There are retro gaming machines dotted around the space. The DJ is playing mainly 1980s hits . There is a four woman dance troupe in 1980s dance wear . They danced to three songs during the evening . We have a welcome speech , as the organiser said that back in the 1980s , the invites all went out by post, until the internet arrived . Lots of complimentary drinks and food including four different cocktails , prosecco, wines, beers , different food stations , including seafood , and desserts . ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------- Thursday 09 July 2026. Very sad news that BONNIE TYLER has passed away , aged 75. I saw her perform three times.. 1988 - Hammersmith Odeon . 2012 - supporting Status Quo at The 02 Arena . 2019 - London Palladium . Bonnie performed at The Shepherds Bush Empire just a few months ago , and was due to play a big home country gig in Cardiff this December. Maybe they can put on a tribute event for her on that date.

Posted 9th July 2026