The most beautiful music venue in London is born. Let’s rephrase that. The most beautiful music venue in London is reborn.
We went to see Broadcast 2000 and friends a few weeks ago and were once again blown away with the gems that lie hidden in London’s side streets. What a revelation Wilton’s Music Hall is. Just stunning. Unbelievably atmospheric, comfortingly woody, acoustically perfect, there just aren’t enough adverb-adjective combinations. Apparently it’s the oldest grand music hall in the world. They’ve cleverly and respectfully managed to restore it for use while keeping much of its old paint-peeling charm. But it’s mostly still falling down and needs a lot of money to keep it going. Patrons include the Bonham Carter family, who (based on Helena-lore) seem to fit the character of the place perfectly. Old-worldly yet contemporary, slightly scary but effortlessly cool.
They don’t do food in the evenings but you can order a takeaway that will be brought to you from the Lebanese around the corner. Lamb chunks presented to you like a desert island in a houmous ocean, greek salad with (the much nicer) halloumi where the feta should be, soft round bready discs, yumlish.
We felt like king and queen of Wilton’s as we sat on our pew at the front of the balcony opposite the stage. Sitting there surrounded by twinkly fairy lights, creaking wooden floorboards and warm floaty folky music, I wanted to empty my wallet into their coffers there and then. Thank god our pew was wedged up against the balcony rail and I couldn’t get out.
Broadcast 2000 were good. They frenetically bashed away at their respective toys like kids at a creche, and were brilliant at it, but a bit too high-pitched somehow to pluck at my personal heart-strings. I fell more in love with a Spanish loop-pedal genius, Hyperpotamus (please change your name, pleeease), and Australian singer songwriter, Matt Corby. Sorry Michael, it's only temporary.
My love for Wilton's though is permanent. We'll be back.
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