Free London Listings

Following last year’s successful St George’s Day concert on Trafalgar Square celebrating ‘Contemporary music-English roots,’ this year’s event has the theme ‘Rhythm of London’.  

The concert is a presented in two halves with British music legend Joe Brown headlining at around 5pm.  

The first half includes performances by young musicians and groups from schools in London, plus the winners of the 2009 ‘Busking Underground’ competition.

Performers in this section include Rhythms of the City Samba Band, Sir John Cass All Stars, Tyler Rix (Saxophone), Ark Schools’ Scholarship Choir, Croydon Young Musicians Ceilidh Band, Jonathan Chan (violin) and Hounslow Wind Band.

Also playing will be the winners of the 2009 ‘Busking Underground’ competition: Jamie West, Christopher Read and duo Kieron Brunt and Patrick Milne.

The second half begins with a celebration of Music Hall, an important part of London’s musical heritage. Some of its best loved songs will presented by performers from the Royal Academy of Music and the Players’ Theatre.

Song sheets will be provided and audience participation is warmly welcomed on numbers such as Down at the Old Bull and Bush; If it wasn’t for the houses in between; Let’s go down the Strand, Berlington Bertie from Bow and I live in Trafalgar Square, plus some of the great songs of Marie Lloyd,

Headlining the show in the second half is Joe Brown, who grew up in London’s East End. Joe is one of the real British greats, a hugely popular artist regularly playing to sell out theatres across the UK. He recently celebrated 50 years in the business and last year received both an MBE and a Mojo Lifetime Achievement Award.

With his five piece multi-instrumental band, featuring Pete Brown, Phil Capaldi, Roland Jones and Mike Nichols, Joe Brown’s unique blend of rock and roots music is guaranteed to deliver a terrific finale.

Programme times (approx)

1pm – 3pm Schools performances

3.05pm - 3.45pm: Winners, 'Busking Underground'

3.45pm – 4.45pm: Music Hall

5.00pm - 6.00pm: Joe Brown and his Band

Plus regular performances throughout the day of ‘St George and the Dragon’ street theatre show