The Alehouse Sessions

BEANBAG CONCERT SERIES

Step inside the world of 17th-century London, as Usher Hall gets catapulted through time and re-invented as a public drinking house.

This is not your standard concert. Unwind on a beanbag with a drink in hand while the award-winning Barokksolistene’s The Alehouse Sessions catapults you back in time to a jam session. Encounter dance, improvisation and storytelling as Usher Hall turns into a London pub straight out of the 1680s.

Folk music, classical music and ballads abound, making light (and dark) of Oliver Cromwell's puritanical mission to stop the music. The award-winning ensemble Barokksolistene are experts at reinventing the feeling of losing yourself in an English tavern.

Boasting a line-up of virtuosic instrumentalists and vocalists, Barokksolistene promises a joyful night of folk songs, sea shanties and overtures. You'll know some of the tunes already, while others will have you toe-tapping and humming along in no time. The group – whose tagline is 'it’s just old pop music' – will have you wondering why you haven’t been listening to this music all along.

The Warm Up: The Alehouse Sessions

Musical Director Bjarte Eike discusses the history and influences that went into creating the Alehouse Sessions. Reflecting on the sense of fun and improvisation on stage. Bjarte notes how important it is that the audience feels they are engaging with the performers, just like they would have back in 17th century London taverns.