Pub Profile: Ye Olde Rose and Crown
Mon 25 Feb 2019
At first glance you might question why the Ye Olde Rose and Crown is regularly voted the best pub in trendy Walthamstow.
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Five things you (probably) didn’t know about Haydn
Sat 23 Feb 2019
Joseph Haydn (above, as he might look if he were alive today…) came from humble beginnings. He was the son of a wheelwright (a person who builds or repairs wooden wheels in modern terms), and born to musically illiterate parents in Rohrau, Austria.
Read MoreThe Night Shift guide to wandering in Walthamstow
Fri 15 Feb 2019
The Night Shift guide to wandering in Walthamstow
Walthamstow – a leafy district of East London – has a fascinating cultural history.
Read MoreNew year, new venues for the Night Shift
Thu 17 Jan 2019
The Night Shift returns for 2019
In the spirit of all things new, we’re branching out to more areas of London in addition to our usual haunts.
Read MoreSeven things you (probably) didn’t know about… The Mendelssohns
Fri 1 Jun 2018
The Carpenters. The Corrs. The Magic Numbers. Put a brother and sister together and get them to write music, and it doesn’t always turn out well.
But in the early 19th century things were different, when Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn were changing the music world with their new Romantic sounds.
Read MoreThe George Tavern: Pub Profile
Wed 18 Apr 2018
The George Tavern is not your typical London local.
Located in the heart of the East End, The George provides a hub where the artistic past and present combine. Established as long ago as 1623, this legendary venue seeks to welcome those already established in the creative world as well as embracing up and coming artists and musicians.
Read MoreMozart’s naughty notes
Mon 16 Apr 2018
Mozart illustrated the score for the Rondo from his Horn Concerto No.1 with a series of insults and jokes aimed at his horn player friend, Joseph Leutgeb.
Read the naughty notes as we perform the concerto with our Principal Horn Roger Montgomery, filmed at The Night Shift earlier this month.
Read MoreThe Night Shift – A Teaser
Mon 26 Mar 2018
Never been to the Night Shift before? This should give you an idea of what to expect…
Read MoreNew – The Night Shift at Conway Hall
Fri 16 Feb 2018
Mozart’s horn concertos in the original home of freethought.
Read MoreFresh Night Shifts for 2018
Wed 10 Jan 2018
Classical music hasn’t always been about sitting silently in a concert hall, glugging down a pre-poured glass of wine in the interval and polite applause.
With The Night Shift, we take classical music back to its lively, informal roots with gigs in pubs, night clubs and other venues where you like to spend your time. Enjoy two half hour sets of classical music, played by some of the finest players in the business, without the usual rules.
Read MoreMusic for Folk
Thu 19 Oct 2017
We’re returning to Peckham’s CLF Art Café on the 24th October, but it won’t be your typical Night Shift. We caught up with clarinettist Katherine Spencer (also known as ‘Waffy’) to explain a bit about what’s in store.
Could you talk a bit about the theme behind this Night Shift?
We’re exploring folk music and the folk that it was written for, through an OAE lens, so we’re going to be playing the music on a variety of early instruments. It’s an experiment in musical diversity and not being in a box.
Read MoreThe Night Shift: back in your local boozer this Autumn
Tue 12 Sep 2017
After our mind-bending stint blending Handel, Bjork and Beyoncé on the festival circuit, we’re back with a whole raft of events to keep you entertained as the nights draw in.
Read MoreVenue profile: Kensington Palace
Wed 9 Aug 2017
Kensington Palace. It’s the official home of the Will and Kate. And Harry. And the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. And the Duke and Duchess of Kent. And Prince and Princess Michael of Kent too. God knows how they co-ordinate the washing up rota.
So what is The Night Shift doing there?
Read MoreVenue profile: Heath Street Baptist Church
Fri 21 Jul 2017
Heath Street Baptist Church (or Heath Street Baroque Church, as we’re inclined to accidentally call it in the office….) is becoming the unlikely alt-classical hub of North London.
Found half way between the bustle of Hampstead High Street and the tranquillity of Hampstead Heath, the intimate church was built in 1861 and still has regular services and community events.
Read MoreIntroducing our Night Shift summer festival
Tue 27 Jun 2017
What’s this? Three Night Shifts on three long hot summer nights?
Yes that’s right. This August we’re having a mini-Night Shift festival, with three different gigs at three different venues. Summer Night (Shifts) if you like.
Tell me more, tell me more
Read MoreThe Night Shift Monthly – back for 2017
Thu 2 Feb 2017
New gigs
Since the last Night Shift of 2016 wound down in Peckham last November, we’ve been busy brewing up a storm for the New Year.
Throughout 2017 (ok, with a bit of a summer break), we’ll be back monthly rotating between the three venues you packed out for The Night Shift last year. That’s The George Tavern in Whitechapel (where we’re Resident Orchestra), the Old Queen’s Head in Islington and the CLF Art Café at the taco-tastic Bussey Building in Peckham.
Read MoreBBC Embedded composer Matthew Kaner on his new piece for The Night Shift
Fri 21 Oct 2016
“On the baroque violin the open strings have a really warm sound.. ..with the gut strings, it’s really beautiful.” In his studio in east London, composer Matthew Kaner tells us about his experience writing for 4 baroque violins. His piece ‘Concerto for 4 baroque violins’ will be performed at our next Night Shift at the Old Queen’s Head, Islington on the 25th October.
Get more info and book tickets
Or stay in and watch the live stream
Read MorePunto in the pub
Wed 21 Sep 2016
Last time at the George Tavern, we played all sorts of fun french horn music by little-known composers.
Here’s a polacca (a type of Polish dance) by Giovanni Punto, performed by Kati Debretzeni (violin), John Crockatt (viola), Jonny Byers (cello) and Roger Montgomery (horn).
The Night Shift is back at the George – one of East London’s great music venues – on Tuesday 27 September.
Read MoreAugust set list
Wed 31 Aug 2016
August set list – here’s what you heard at the Bussey Building yesterday:
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