There comes a time in every gig-goer’s life when you set aside childish things
– sticky floors, cider and black, mud – and start to appreciate the finer
things. Mine came, with precocious maturity, at the age of 25, when, at
Tribal Gathering, I found myself cold and tentless gazing at the
18th-century façade of Luton Hoo – not one of Robert Adam’s best, for sure,
but I bet there were beds behind it.
There’s nothing like the sight of an 18th-century pilaster to calm a mosh-pit.
Which perhaps accounts for the rise of 2007’s Hottest Rock Trend – heritage
gigs. Heritage gigs tap into that precise moment when you start to
understand the lure of gardening, but haven’t yet given up the Clash for
Classic FM. At the same time there are all these cash-strapped stately homes
going spare. It’s a marriage made in entrepreneurial heaven.
THE VODAFONE LIVE MUSIC SUMMER SERIES
Somerset House, London WC2 (www.somersethouse.org.uk/music
0870 1451120), July 12-21
Musical lineup: Mogwai (July 12), Kasabian (July 13), Bert Jansch with
Beth Orton and Bernard Butler (July 14), Lily Allen (July 16), Mika (July
17), Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (July 18), the Roots (July 19), Amy
Winehouse (July 20), Hot Chip (July 21)
Architectural lineup: Britain’s first office block, built when Britain
suddenly realised it had an Empire, but a capital city that looked like
Scunthorpe. Cue London’s Big Georgian Makeover. William Chambers was the
architect. Like any office block, you can’t pick and choose your tenants:
it’s had the Inland Revenue. Now London’s top romantic backdrop for smoochy
couples on ice skating dates.
Potential music/architecture it-all-comes-together moment: Could you
have a camper backdrop for Mika mid Grace Kelly?
Architectural detail to study during the boring bits: Fabulous
courtyard, of course, but it’s Chambers’s theatrical staircase inside that’s
the stroke of genius.
Pretentious architectural comment to annoy your friends: “Chambers?
Give me Adam any day.”
THE EDEN SESSIONS
The Eden Project, Cornwall (www.edenproject.com 01726 811972), June
20-July 22
Musical line up: Peter Gabriel (June 20), James Morrison (July 2),
Rufus Wainwright, Hot Chip (July 10), Amy Winehouse (July 17), Lily Allen,
Mark Ronson (July 18), Pet Shop Boys (July 22)
Architectural lineup: The finest moment of Nicholas Grimshaw – one of
the kings of British high-tech (that’s architecture that looks like a
Meccano set). Bug-eyed geodesic biomes made from ETFE (like architectural
bubblewrap), wrapped over an old china clay pit.
Potential music/architecture it-all-comes-together moment: Rufus,
hopefully in lederhosen, singing Tiergarten: “But to go where the
wildflowers grow and the stone gardens bloom.”
Architectural detail to study during the boring bits: Grimshaw’s
mastering of the high-tech detail.
Pretentious architectural comment to annoy your friends: “High-tech?
It’s all about the perfect nut and bolt, isn’t it?”
TOWER MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Tower of London, London EC3 (www.towermusicfestival.co.uk 0870 169687),
June 28-July 14
Musical lineup: Gipsy Kings (June 29), Bryan Ferry (July 2 and 3), Joe
Cocker (July 4), Katherine Jenkins (July 5), Seal (July 6), Elvis Costello
(July 7), Justin’s Summer Party featuring Pingu (July 8), Paul Anka (July
11), Bryn Terfel (July 12), James Morrison (July 13), Dave Stewart and his
orchestra (July 14)
Architectural lineup: Britain’s 11th-century Guantanamo Bay, a
terrifying edifice thrown up with forced labour by our new Norman masters,
and wrapped in Caen stone, 15ft thick. Guarded by cute 70-year-old men, it
all looks a bit toytown these days.
Potential music/architecture it-all-comes-together moment: Pingu
dancing with the ravens.
Architectural detail to study during the boring bits: The White Tower,
prettified for a London less threatened with pikes and arrows, but still
impressive.
Pretentious architectural comment to annoy your friends: “Were the
Normans Minimalists?”
ENGLISH HERITAGE PICNIC CONCERTS
Audley End, Suffolk, Marble Hill House, Twickenham, and Battle Abbey, East
Sussex (www.picnic concerts.com 0870 3336206), various dates in July and
August
Musical lineup: Includes Bryan Ferry (Audley End, July 14), Buena Vista
Social Club (Audley End, July 21), Jools Holland (Audley End, Aug 7), Lemar
(Marble Hill House, Aug 11), Midge Ure, T’Pau and Toyah (Battle Abbey, Aug
25)
Architectural lineup: What’ll it be? Jacobean at Audley End, refined
Palladianism at Marble Hill House or mostly faux-Gothic at Battle Abbey?
Personally I’d go with Palladianism, but some prefer a 17th-century twist
with their lite soul-jazz – so go for Audley End.
Potential music/architecture it-all-comes-together moment: It’s a
mystery why anyone would come to see Toyah. Now Midge Ure I can understand.
Imagine “Ohhhhhhh Viennaaaaaa” with Midge wreathed in dry ice amid the
battlements. Class.
Architectural detail to study during the boring bits: The marvellous
austerity of Marble Hill’s Palladianism.
Pretentious architectural comment to annoy your friends: “Were
Palladians really Minimalists?”
WOBURN LIVE
Woburn Abbey, Beds (www.woburnlive.com 0845 2256020), July 27-29
Musical lineup: Van Morrison (July 27), Classic FM Live! With Julian
Lloyd Webber (July 28), Ronnie Scott’s Big Band, Curtis Stigers (July 29)
Architectural lineup: One of the first stately homes to go all theme
park when the Earls of Bedford had cash-flow problems in the 1950s. They
thought about taking in lodgers, but plumped for lions and tigers in a
safari park instead. Well, you know where you are with big cats.
Potential music/ architecture it-all-comes-together moment: Counting
the façade’s columns to stay awake. Architectural detail to
study during the boring bits: As above.
Pretentious architectural comment to annoy your friends: “Why ANYONE
would build with Totternhoe clunch is anyone’s guess.”
THE BIG CHILL
Eastnor Castle, Herefordshire (www.bigchill.net 020-7684 2020), Aug 3-5
Musical lineup: Includes Kruder and Dorfmeister, Mika, Isaac Hayes,
Norman Jay, Mr Scruff, Kevin Rowland.
Architectural lineup: The Somers-Cocks, my dear. Bankers. Yes, that’s
right, new money. Of course, the first thing they go and do is throw up a
MONSTROSITY. Perfectly ruins the Malverns.
Potential music/ architecture it-all-comes-together moment: That old
revolutionary Kevin Rowland storming this bastion of class oppression with a
rendition of Burn it Down.
Architectural detail to study during the boring bits: If only you could
break in and see Augustus Pugin’s drawing room. Not that I’m condoning
trespass.
Pretentious architectural comment to annoy your friends: “PreVictorian
Picturesque’s coming back, you know. It’s so post-po-mo.”
