What's worth attending this week

Windmill Brixton · Music · SW2

Museum of the Home · Talk · E2

World Heart Beat · Music · SW11

Olcay Bayir Book Now Home / Events / Olcay Bayir About the Performance Olcay’s music draws on the modal richness and poetic depth of Anatolian traditions, while embracing the cosmopolitan influences of London. Rather than recreating folklore, Bayir reshapes it — weaving traditional repertoire with her own compositions that explore exile, womanhood, memory and belonging. Her voice, both powerful and intimate, is central to her artistic identity. Olcay brings to the stage a performance that is vocally centred, emotionally charged, and culturally grounded — offering audiences a refined yet powerful encounter with contemporary Anatolian-rooted music. About the Artist London-based British-Kurdish singer-songwriter Olcay Bayir is recognised as one of the distinctive voices emerging from the UK’s global music scene. Described as “the queen of Anatolian song” (Heaven Magazine, NL) and praised by The Guardian for her compelling vocal presence, Bayir creates a contemporary sound rooted in her Kurdish-Alevi heritage. Her music draws on the modal richness and poetic depth of Anatolian traditions, while embracing the cosmopolitan influences of London. Rather than recreating folklore, Bayir reshapes it — weaving traditional repertoire with her own compositions that explore exile, womanhood, memory and belonging. Her voice, both powerful and intimate, is central to her artistic identity. Her debut album Neva | Harmony (World Music Network, 2014) led to a Songlines Music Awards – Best Newcomer nomination (2015). With Rüya | Dream (ARC Music, 2019), she moved further into original songwriting. Her latest release, Tu Gulî (ARC Music, 2024), reached #3 on the World Music Charts Europe, #4 on the Balkan World Music Charts, and #8 on the Transglobal World Music Chart, and was listed among the Top 10 Albums of 2024 by World Music Charts Europe. The album has been widely praised for balancing tradition and contemporary expression with emotional depth. Olcay Bayir – Voice Cenk Sanlioglu – Guitar Ofer Peled-Kaval – Clarinet Sat 17 Oct 2026 Contemporary Folk Book Now Ticket Prices £16-20 Times Doors: 6:30 pm Stage: 7:30 pm Venue World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens, 3 Ponton Road, London SW11 7BD Directions Accessibility: World Heart Beat Embassy Gardens is a fully accessible venue. If you have any questions or special requirements, please email [email protected]

Union Chapel · Music · N1

Ezra Furman returns to the UK for a short run of “solo” shows, including a night at London’s Union Chapel, a venue she sold out two nights in a row last time out in 2024. Ezra Furman is a boundary-breaking artist whose fearless creativity and emotional honesty have made her one of the most compelling voices in modern music. Blending punk energy, heartfelt lyricism and genre-defying innovation, Furman’s work is both deeply personal and universally resonant. Last year saw the release of her 10th album Goodbye Small Head. “If I were a music journalist, I would call it an orchestral emo prog-rock record sprinkled with samples. Thank goodness I’m not a music journalist!” explains Ezra. “I think of this music as cinematic and intense. A friend of mine said it sounded like 'the coolest movie soundtrack of 1997,' and I’m quite pleased with that description.” The albums she’s released over the past decade demonstrate both her extraordinary talent and artistic evolution. Perpetual Motion People (2015) is a vibrant, genre-hopping explosion of wit and melody, while Transangelic Exodus (2018) pushed boundaries with its dystopian storytelling and atmospheric soundscapes, exploring themes of love, defiance, and identity. Twelve Nudes (2019) delivered raw, punk-fueled catharsis, channeling anger and resilience into fiery anthems. All of Us Flames (2022), is a cinematic and deeply moving exploration of queer liberation, weaving intimate storytelling with grand, sweeping arrangements. She also found time to record the soundtrack for the Netflix smash hit TV series Sex Education. Ezra Furman’s music is a testament to the power of individuality and authenticity, marking her as a truly unique voice in modern music. Make your dinner reservation to eat at our Margins Cafe before the show! You must have a general admission ticket for the show to gain entry for dinner. Doors will open for early dinner ticket holders at 18:00. The Margins Cafe serves delicious, freshly prepared food at gigs and events. All profits go towards The Margins Project, based here at the Chapel which works with people who face issues of homelessness and crisis. Book Your Dinner Reservation HERE More Information: For Accessibility, please click here. The venue is seating only. All seats are unreserved and are taken on a first come first serve basis. Please arrive early before event door times if you have preferred seats. Due to the nature of our venue, please be prepared to queue for entry. The venue is fully accessible, with use of ramps and the upstairs bar is accessible with use of a platform lift. Please email [email protected] with any specific accessibility requirements, that we should be aware of, as soon as you purchase your ticket as requests are dealt with on a first come, first serve basis. The bar is located on the first floor of the venue and will be open from the stated door time and remain open after the show. Alcohol consumption will be limited to the bar area only, it is not permitted to take alcohol to the main chapel space. An array of soft drinks and snacks will also be available and are permitted in the main space - please note the Union Chapel bar and kiosk accept card payment only. Strictly no food or drink may be brought from outside into the venue. Water bottles must be emptied before entering the venue, with refilling stations available inside. Seats for Margin's Cafe Early Dinners can be reserved via the links above. Margin's Cafe accepts both cash and card. If you have any queries about Margins Cafe, please contact [email protected]

Southwark Playhouse · Theatre · SE1

Format: Theatre Production; Hugo Six, in association with Thomas Hopkins, present

Southwark Playhouse · Theatre · SE1

Format: Theatre Production; Hugo Six, in association with Thomas Hopkins, present

Southwark Playhouse · Theatre · SE1

Format: Theatre Production; Hugo Six, in association with Thomas Hopkins, present