Southbank Centre has built a reputation for holding New Year’s Eve Parties like no other, and this year offers a choice of two unique parties on the same central London site.
With the fabulous Gabby Young and Other Animals taking centrestage this year, Royal Festival Hall will once again transform into what
surely must be London’s biggest and best house party with a unique
mix of live music, cabaret, silent disco, beat boxing and even a
ceilidh taking over every corner of the iconic riverside venue, while
Guilty Pleasures take over the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Ticket holders to both parties gain exclusive access to the Festival
Terrace, just along the river from the London Eye, giving party-goers the best view of London’s spectacular fireworks.
Gabby Young and Other Animals at the Royal Festival Hall:
Following on from New Year’s Eve parties thrown by the Super Furry
Animals, the rather fabulous Gabby Young and Other Animals will be
leading this year’s celebrations with a theatrical and flamboyant set on the Clore Ballroom of the Royal Festival Hall. Young’s avant-garde fusion of globally influenced folk combines Balkan brass, jazz and swing to deliver performances that have wowed audiences from Glastonbury to Secret Garden Party.
The fun continues in the ballroom with Eliza Carthy's Motown Ceilidh,
which features classical Motown songs presented in ceilidh band style led by the irrepressible fiddle player and singer, the Trans-Siberian Marching Band, described by Time Out as “the Sex Pistols of Balkan Brass”, and comedy and card tricks from Piff The Magic Dragon, the man in a dragon suit who does not do children’s parties. Other acts performing throughout the building include 15-piece band The Destroyers, cacophonous sound and dramatic live visuals from Revere, and dark cinematic folk from Jess Bryant, with burning fiddle tunes from the Urban Folk Quartet.
If that isn’t enough there will be poetry readings in the Saison Poetry
Library and hip-hop from Bellatrix, founder of girl beatboxing band The Boxettes, who performs with rapper and poet Dizraeli, and the 8-headed ska, hip hop and dub monster from Bristol that is Babyhead. For those wanting to dance in the early hours amped up, crowd-rocking music will be provided by DJ Moneyshot, who has supported the likes of DJ Yoda.
Meanwhile, in the Queen Elizabeth Hall the all-singing, all-dancing, muchlauded pop parade that is Guilty Pleasures high-kicks its way into 2012 with an unashamedly glorious mix of pop, power ballads and disco stompers.
At midnight the celebrations head outside (weather permitting), with
exclusive access to Southbank Centre’s Festival Terrace, the best spot in London to see the fireworks and enjoy the breath taking views away from the crowds, before the party continues to the early hours.
Find out more info/Tickets at Southbank Centre
Published on 15 December 2011 by Wayne Feltham
