Friday 17 July 2026.

Friday 17 July 2026. DECEMBER 10 live at Shepherds Bush Empire . Simon Cowell's new boy band are playing a UK tour. This is the first of their two sold out shows at this venue. Seven months on (December 10) from their reveal on Netflix’s global series Simon Cowell: The Next Act, and newly signed to EMI Records. I saw their showcase gig at the same venue in April 2026. They are touring the UK to promote their debut 10 track EP, which includes all their singles released so far. --------- Like last time the venue is rammed full of very excitable teenage girls, and many with their mum's. Some have been waiting in queues since before lunchtime. DJ WILL MANNING did an hour of just the right tracks to get the crowd singing loudly along to,including a couple of Harry Styles. DECEMBER 10 arrived on stage at 8.30pm for their 70 mins set . They are usually seven members , but one member is taking time out , for mental health. Lots of singing and screaming throughout the show from the females. Most of the songs are acoustic guitar based , but a few tracks had electric guitar and drums. They have personal security in each corner of the pit ,along with lots of venue security . Lots of loud singing and screaming throughout the show. Most songs had a dance routine . Like last time there is a cover of ' Dancing in the Dark' , and for ' Angel' they get a female on stage to serenade . Encore included a cover of ' I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight'. The Rolling Stones new album went straight to number one in the charts today, and during the encore their manager came on to say the December 10 debut EP has gone in at number 5 in the UK , and number 3 in Ireland in the charts that came out today. Hopefully these young females will all turn into regular gig goers as they get older . Simple , catchy songs and enjoyable enough show. ------------------------------- ------------------------------- Friday 17 July 2026... 17 July 1996.....30 years ago today SEX PISTOLS live at Shepherds Bush Empire. One of the greatest gigs ever. The band were on fire for this Filthy Lucre tour indoor show. ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Thursday 16 July 2026....6pm to 10pm... NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL - press launch - Acres , 12 Acklam Road , Ladbroke Grove , London W10. Good to back at this venue that used to be Acklam Hall , then Subterania, amongst others. I saw a couple of punk gigs here in the 1979 when it was Acklam Hall . Raped with support from The Pack (Kirk Brandon on vocals) . Kleenex with support from The Raincoats. then loads of gigs in the 1990s when it was called Subterania including Killing Joke,Alanis Morissette(with Taylor Hawkins on drums), A-ha,Ice-T,Snoop Dogg and many others. I have been to most Carnivals over the past 50 years. I can remember the many times I went to The Reading Festival on the Friday, Saturday , Sunday and come back Monday morning have a quick shower , then off to Carnival on The Bank Holiday Monday. Europe's biggest street festival returns at the end of August ,and this year is celebrating its 60th anniversary . A million visitors each day are expected as usual. For the first hour here , we are all outside the as there is a mini street carnival going on . Around 50 dancers in full colourful dress are dancing to the sound system and steel band. They are being filmed for an upcoming TV documentary . At 7pm we go into the venue, which still looks pretty much the same. Maybe 300 guests are here, and very lively . There is a big screen showing carnival images from over the years. Tonight's host is Radio 1Xtra DJ Richie Brave . There are a few speeches, including Janet Evans (Kensington and Chelsea Mayor) . The steel band played a couple of tracks , then a female singer sang a couple of tracks.. For the final hour , the DJ turns the volume up to 10 and many of the carnival dancers , still in full dress , get on the floor to shake their stuff. Complimentary drinks and food included four different Hennessy cocktails , Jamaican patties, Mac n cheese and BBQ chicken wings . All guests got a goodie bag on departure that included a 20cl m bottle of Hennessy and some snacks and drinks from Jamaican food supplier Grace.

Posted 16th July 2026