Don’t stop the (live) music

With the reopening of clubs and concerts stalled, London hotels are creating their own live-performance scene, says Rachel Cranshaw

True freedom was originally supposed to be back by now, with Saturdays seeing the return of nightclubs and packed, sweaty concerts. Alas, there are (at least) a couple more weeks to wait, but in the meantime, some of London’s buzziest hotels, new and not-so-new, are hosting live music.

Take place-to-be the Standard in King’s Cross, which has launched Live on Ten, a series of live performances on Saturday lunchtimes at Decimo, its top-floor restaurant (12pm and 2pm with £10pp music cover charge; standardhotels.com). The shows are curated by up-and-coming musicians in residence on a monthly rotation: first up was Dominic J Marshall (of Cinematic Orchestra). His sunshine-evoking beats paired perfectly with chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’s Spanish-Mexican menu (top-drawer tortilla and tacos, meat and seafood cooked over an open fire, plus margaritas). Upcoming names include Groove Science and jazz trumpeter Mark Kavuma and his quartet.

Over in the City, party palace the Ned (thened.com) has opened its new Art Deco-style Parlour jazz and cabaret bar, with residencies from the likes of saxophonist and clarinettist Giacomo Smith and his five-piece band, and singer, songwriter and pianist Reuben James.

Established and emerging artists will take to the stage from Wednesdays to Fridays, while Saturdays will see a cabaret night featuring singers, comics and burlesque. On the food and drink menu is everything from steamed asparagus with hollandaise to whole lobster thermidor, plus creative cocktails. Could there be a better antidote to watching Netflix with Deliveroo?

And when Mondrian relaunches next month in what was the Curtain in Shoreditch (sbe.com), the hotel’s members’ club will remain, coming back bigger and better than ever before with gigs from great artists (the Curtain saw performances from Mary J Blige, Chance the Rapper and Miguel during its tenure) and rooftop DJ sets.

These new offerings join those hotels

TRAFFIC LIGHT UPDATE that were bringing music to guests and locals in the capital long before the pandemic hit, and happily have not been derailed by it. The Mandrake in Fitzrovia (themandrake.com) has reopened with live music every Thursday from 7-9pm, DJs on Friday and Saturdays from 9pm-1am, and once restrictions are fully lifted, has jam sessions inspired by those at Ronnie Scott’s planned. Acts for this year include singer Heidi Vogel, a regular of the legendary jazz club.

And it’s not just millennial-focused hotels either: also back in action (Wednesdays to Sundays from 4pm until late) is Rosewood London’s drawing room-style Scarfes Bar, which as well as ranking on lists of the world’s best bars, has long been known for live music and jazz (rosewoodhotels.com).

After lockdown, the pure joy of seeing performances from artists who have suffered financially, emotionally and more cannot be understated. Even if we are sitting down for now, we will be dancing again soon.