1 hour ago ‘Two more broomsticks please!’ Was Robin Blades the greatest percussionist ever?

He played china mugs, bells, rattles and car horns for everyone from Alfred Hitchcock to Benjamin Britten – and once got Laurence Olivier to bang a broomstick. We go behind the scenes of a Radio 3 celebrationSaturday night and the Britten Studio at Snape Maltings is filling up with 300 chattering punters. We are about to record a show that will go out “as live” on BBC Radio 3. This is a one-shot wonder: for one night only, in this drama-documentary, we are exploring the work of percussionist James Blades. Our setup neatly combines the most stressful elements of a live show, plus the key aspect of audience participation which we have – obviously – no proper chance to rehearse. Nerves are fraying. How did it get to this? And who is James Blades anyway?Born in 1901, Blades was one of the great percussionists of the 20th century, whose life spanned the century itself – he died in May 1999. His blazing talent combined with a startling capacity for hard work took him to the top of his pro...

Politics

4 d. ago Londoners reminisce about 'forgotten city' with aspect they dearly miss

Londoners reminisce about 'forgotten city' with aspect they dearly miss  MyLondon

Politics

4 d. ago Londoners mourn key aspect of 'forgotten city' that they miss dearly

Buildings that once housed bustling communities or shops with lines out of the door, are now holding other businesses or remain completely untouched

Politics

1 week ago Women behind the lens: ‘I envisioned these slaves whose lives were exchanged for indigo’

Stacey Gillian Abe’s Indigogo project explores how the dye was used in the slave trade – and how those enslaved people lost their identitiesIn 2018, I ended a 10-year relationship and it left me broken. I became quiet and irritable; I craved isolation and found myself putting up emotional barriers to avoid having to talk to anyone about it. It felt like I’d never recover.Taking long walks has always been one of the ways I’ve dealt with my emotional and mental state. On one of these walks around my home city, Kampala in Uganda, I discovered an abandoned warehouse. The building was in the heart of the city, among offices and factories, but seemed isolated and forgotten. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Man City's forgotten man sees selection hopes crushed despite Pep Guardiola's 'joy'

Manchester City travel to Championship side Swansea City in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup and Pep Guardiola has addressed the possibility of starting Kalvin Phillips

Politics

2 w. ago Man City forgotten forward knows how to change Pep Guardiola plans

Omar Marmoush hit a high point at Manchester City the last time Bournemouth were in town but now he faces a battle to play.

Events