Music
Review
Somerset House Summer Series returns to London
One of the undisputed highlights of the UK’s festival season is back from 5 – 15 July 2018.
Somerset House Summer Series with American Express offers music fans the chance to see both internationally renowned and critically lauded up-and-coming artists in one of the capital’s most remarkable locations – the courtyard of Somerset House.
Over the course of 11 nights of live music, Summer Series reflects the venue’s commitment to showcasing diverse and dazzling world class talent, with an incredible line-up that includes acts from the UK, the US, Australia and Norway.
This year’s Summer Series celebrates the influence that music of black origin has had on the country’s culture, with massive opening weekend parties thrown by two British DJ legends: David Rodigan and Don Letts.
Rodigan joins forces with The Outlook Orchestra to present a stellar line-up reflecting reggae throughout the years, whilst Letts brings the very best in British bass culture from carnival to grime, including DJ sets and live performances from the likes of Wiley.
You can then catch US hip hop pioneers The Roots and De La Soul as they both hit the stage for exclusive London performances as part of Summer Series.
New and emerging voices are also on the agenda, with award-winning artists such as Jorja Smith and Sigrid joining the bill too.
The opening night of will see Metronomy – one of the greatest British bands of the last 10 years – play a career-spanning set of leftfield pop and wrong-footing dance music, while the following night sees festival favourites Flight Facilities takes on ’70s soul, ’90s house and noughties electronica.
In addition to the live music line-up, Somerset House will also play host to The Influence Project – a new photographic exhibition that digs deep into the roots and influence of modern R&B, Funk, Soul and Afrobeat.
Other artists on the bill include MGMT, Laura Pergolizzi (aka LP) and Róisín Murphy – who will close this series with her fearlessly original and enthralling music on Sunday 15 July.
Here’s the line-up announcement in full:
Thu 5 Jul – Metronomy
Fri 6 Jul – Flight Facilities
Sat 7 Jul – Don Letts Presents Bass Forward Feat. Wiley, Congo Natty (Live), Norman Jay Mbe, Jazzie B (Dj Set)
Sun 8 Jul – David Rodigan & The Outlook Orchestra (Live) + Special Guests
Mon 9 Jul – MGMT
Tue 10 Jul – LP
Wed 11 Jul – Sigrid
Thu 12 Jul – The Roots
Fri 13 Jul – Jorja Smith
Sat 14 Jul – De La Soul
Sun 15 Jul – Róisín Murphy
Tickets go on sale at 10:00 on Friday 23 March. Get yours at Ticketmaster.co.uk
