Events

Grand Union's priority is live performance, and over the last 25 years we have toured all over the UK and to many parts of the world.

Programme 2013

We begin 2013 with a brand new touring project Trading Roots, which brings all the Grand Union Orchestra’s core musicians – leading artists from the world’s major musical traditions, all well-known in their own right – into a single ensemble. Upcoming dates in the UK and abroad are summarised below; more details will be added as the spring and summer go on.

Our other major project in this period is the immensely successful Bengal to Bethnal Green at Rich Mix, directed by Yousuf Ali Khan and showcasing the best of Bengali music and culture in London’s East End today. Taking place monthly on Sunday afternoons, the regular programme is:

  • 2.45 music workshop for families followed by refreshments
  • 4.00 a leading Bengali cultural figure talks about a topical theme
  • 4.20 concert featuring a well-known singer with Bengali and Grand Union musicians

Full details of the Spring 2012 programme can be found here.
Yousuf introduces the project here.
A short biography and some of his performances with Grand Union can be found here.

2013 dates confirmed so far

Colchester – Trading Roots

Saturday 19th January, 8.00pm

Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Essex CO1 1NF

www.colchesterartscentre.com | 020 7613 7498 | tickets £5/£2.50

London – Bengal to Bethnal Green

Sunday 10th February, 2.00pm

Rich Mix Arts Centre, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA

www.richmix.org.uk | 020 7613 7498 | Free Admission

London – Bengal to Bethnal Green

Sunday 10th March, 2.00pm

Rich Mix Arts Centre, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA

www.richmix.org.uk | 020 7613 7498 | Free Admission

Cambridge – Trading Roots

Friday 22nd March, 7.30pm

West Road Concert Hall, 11 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DP

www.westroad.org | 01233 357 851 | £12, £10 concs, £20 family ticket, £5 under 18s

London – Bengal to Bethnal Green

Sunday 14th April, 2.00pm

Rich Mix Arts Centre, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA

www.richmix.org.uk | 020 7613 7498 | Free Admission

London – Grand Union Youth Orchestra

Saturday 20th April, 7.00pm

Brady Centre, 192 – 196 Hanbury Street, London E1 5HU

www.grandunionyouth.org.uk | 020 7375 1122 | £5, £2.50 concs

London – Trading Roots

Sunday May 5th, 7.30pm

Rich Mix Arts Centre, 35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road, London E1 6LA

www.richmix.org.uk | 020 7613 7498 | £12, £10 concs, £20 family ticket

Southampton – Trading Roots

Tuesday May 7th, 7.30pm

Turner Sims Concert Hall, Salisbury Rd, Southampton, SO17 1

www.turnersims.co.uk | 023 8059 5151 | £18, £17 concs, students £9

Portugal – Talking Drums, Exchanging Voices

May 14th – 17th at Setúbal Music Festival

May 18th, 9.30pm, Fundação Oriente, Lisbon

www.festivalmusicadesetubal.com.pt | www.museudooriente.pt

London – Spirits of Cable Street

Grand Union Orchestra

Friday June 7th, 8.00pm

Wilton’s Music Hall, London E1 8JB

www.wiltons.org.uk | 020 7702 2789 | £12, £6 concs

France – Échanges de Racines

Friday June 21st, Fête de la Musique, Alès

For further information email mail@grandunion.org.uk

Birmingham – Trading Roots

Saturday 29th June, 7.30pm

Arena, mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH

www.macarts.co.uk | 0121 446 3232 | £12, £10 concs, £20 family ticket

Leeds – Trading Roots

Saturday July 6th, 7.30pm

City Varieties Music Hall, Leeds

www.saa-uk.org | 0113 244 5523 | £12, £9 concs, £20 family ticket

Major Events from 2012

Liberation and Remembrance - Grand Union Orchestra and guests

Sunday 11th November, 7.30pm

Hackney Empire Theatre, 291 Mare Street, London E8 1EJ

www.hackneyempire.co.uk | 020 8985 2424 I tickets £15/£8 concessions

Grand Union Orchestra at full strength, with Eclectic Voices, the Grand Union Youth Orchestra and other guest performers from East London. Find out more about the music here.

The Golden Highway – Grand Union Orchestra and guests

Wednesday July 18th, 7.30pm

www.hackneyempire.co.uk | 020 8985 2424

Bringing together an astonishing range of performers, this epic show portrays in music the experience, heritage and culture of migrants to the East End of London and the globalised corporate world in which we now live. Listen to the title song.

What the River Sings – Grand Union Orchestra and Youth Orchestra with Water City Festival Orchestra, Hackney Voices, Hackney Empire Community Choir

Sunday March 4th, Trinity Buoy Wharf

Spectacular show, commissioned for the BBC’s Music Nation weekend, featuring East London performers celebrating 500 years of trade and migration in a historic location. Read Tony Haynes’s last blog posting for music and some background on the Portuguese elements in the show

11.11.11 – Grand Union Orchestra and guests

Friday 11th November, Hackney Empire Theatre

The music of the liberated and the most liberated of musics – celebrating jazz and the art of improvisation on Armistice Day.

Grand Union Youth Orchestra - The Battle of Cable Street

Sunday 2nd October, Wilton’s Music Hall

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of this historic East London event.

If Paradise - Grand Union Orchestra

Sunday 25th September, 7.30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre

Revival of classic Grand Union Orchestra show, launching a new CD.

Latest Reviews

Current shows

For full details of our available shows, the latest line-up of the Grand Union Orchestra and our current Learning and Participation programme, go to press and bookings.

Grand Union main image Quote from The Scotsman

Latest news

GUO in the East End’s most atmospheric venue

Details announced of Spirits of Cable Street at Wilton’s Music Hall June 7th.

Why Europe is a good thing!

Grand Union has been awarded a substantial European Union Culture Fund grant to continue its collaborative work in Portugal and France.

Trading Roots

Grand Union launches new national touring project.

2013 programme

Dates so far confirmed for the first six months.

Bengal to Bethnal Green

New season of Grand Union’s monthly event at Rich Mix directed by Yousuf Ali Khan.

European Cultural Foundation

Dates in Portugal and France announced.

Happy New Year!

Tony Haynes celebrates the launch of Trading Roots in his composition blog.

Supported by the Arts Council England
Supported by the European Cultural Foundation
For regular updates of Gathering, Travelling – Grand Union’s ECF-funded project in collaboration with partners in Portugal and France – please click here.