With a trademark double-kick on the bass drum, Tony Allen celebrated his 70th birthday — and 50 years of Nigerian independence — with a star-studded line-up
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The great Nigerian bandleader Fela Kuti gave voice to Africa’s oppressed, stood up to the dictatorship and married all 27 of his backing dancers. With the hit musical about his extraordinary life on its way to London, Simon Broughton explores his legend... more
Live music, be it opera or rock festivals, is proving more popular than ever — and is offering a desperately needed financial lifeline. London remains the heartbeat of the industry. ... more
From Kylie Minogue and masterpieces of Impressionism to an invasion of Chinese dance companies, the next 12 months will be a treat for London's arts lovers.... more
Damon Albarn and his prestigious backing band seemed right at home in the old East End, taking over an atmospheric sports hall normally used for boxing, says David Smyth.... more
Debuts from both Damon Albarn's The Good, the Bad and the Queen and The View make good listening, plus there's an indispensible Latin-Arabian compilation.... more
As The Good, The Bad And The Queen took to the stage for the BBC Electric Proms, cultures did not clash. The project instead turned out to be a straightforward Damon Albarn vehicle.... more
In the first of what it hopes will be an annual festival to complement the classical Proms, the BBC's Electric Proms aims to persuade a wide cross-section of contemporary musicians to try something a bit different.... more
The release of a haunting new track by Damon Albarn proves to be perfect timing and the world's leading rapper has ditched that silly retirement idea and recorded a new album.... more
A double bill of old school soul, Fela Kuti's former drummer leads his own band and country-tinged ballads from Matt Ward. David Smyth picks out the best of this weekend's gigs.... more
Comedy preview: Most of London's comedy clubs shut up shop during August, when the Edinburgh Festival prompts the exodus of the capital's comics up North. Filling the void is a number of diverting gigs throughout August as part of the Portobello Film Festival.... more
Afternoon:
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