Preview: Kings Place Festival 2011

Lindsey
By Lindsey Last edited 151 months ago
Preview: Kings Place Festival 2011

Get ready for 100 events over four days with lots of family friendly and free performances combined with world class classical concerts, jazz, folk, comedy and spoken word gigs plus a bit of participative dance and some brilliant puppets at the fourth Kings Place Festival. It's a wonderfully diverse and packed programme.

Thursday 8 September starts with a triple bill from Oxford Philomusica going head to head with an afternoon of Trad Jazz, whilst there's an opportunity to meet Guardian journalists if you prefer words to music. In the evening it's folk or 20th century classical music, or the wonderful Ayanna Witter-Johnson, her cello and some friends.

Friday 9 September brings puppets to life with Mozart, and five festival events from the very special Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Three of our favourite funny people spoil us with comedy: John Hegley, Adam Buxon and Ardal O'Hanlon while Gameboys make dance music.

Saturday 10 September opens with Children's Corner and amazing piano recitals. The foyer goes acapella and there are Russian cello concerts and a showcase of jazz talent from Edition Records through the afternoon. Poet in the City curates an afternoon of spoken word around the theme 'Grace Under Pressure' and you can have a go on a a giant touch-sensitive dance floor, which gives you the chance to compose music with your body. The night's a choice between Janacek, foot stomping folk and an array of young talent from the Royal Academy of Music.

Sunday 11 September presents Puffin books and a tots concert for families, Indian classical dance in the foyer, lots of pianos, Super Sunday Jazz, more acapella singing and an evening with the Brodsky Quartet or Robert Mitchell.

Plus throughout the festival there will be a food hall to feed you and special wine and whisky tastings, butchery lessons and cupcake decorating activities.

Kings Place Festival runs 8-11 September at 90 York Way, N1 9AG. Concerts are all £4.50, many events are free and Kings Place will be free to get into and wander around over the 4 days.

Last Updated 30 August 2011