This is London November 2026 - Flipbook - Page 19
COOLEST SOUNDS IN TOWN FROM
THE NATIONAL JAZZ ARCHIVE
As the eyes of the jazz world turn
towards London for the London Jazz
Festival, (13 to 22 November), there is
an important (and often-overlooked)
mecca in suburban leafy Loughton,
where the National Jazz Archive offers
the most comprehensive resource on the
story of jazz in the UK – and beyond.
A precursor to the National Jazz
Archive was The British Institute of Jazz
Studies which established as a
charitable organisation in 1965. Its aim
was to offer research and education
facilities to students, researchers,
publishers, and enthusiasts through its
collection of jazz-related material.
Following the founding of the National
Jazz Archive in 1988, the Institute was
merged with the Archive in 2013.
The National Jazz Archive goes way
beyond documenting the development of
this thrilling, ever-evolving, musical
phenomenon. It is also the story of art,
fashion, cultural diversity and social
progress. The collection of written,
printed and visual material and oral
histories dates back to the 1920s. It
includes many unique items and draws
researchers and enthusiasts from around
the world. Much of this rich historical
material is available online so
enthusiasts can explore the material
from anywhere in the world.
Having long presented excellent jazz
concerts in Loughton venues, this
summer saw the launch of jazz at the
brand new, purpose-built Sadler’s Wells
East in the Olympic Park. A terrific
evening of 21st Century Miles Davis was
the inaugural concert in May, with the
audience in the informal setting of the
foyer overlooking the Olympic Stadium.
There are many more gigs in the
pipeline so take a look at the National
Jazz Archive website and be sure not to
miss one of these jazz concerts,
especially while the London Jazz Festival
is here. A great time to fill your boots
with the coolest sounds in town.
nationaljazzarchive.org.uk
The looks spanning the 1970s and
80s include a striking monochrome
ensemble worn by Freddie for an early
Queen gig at Imperial college and
featured on the cover of Queen’s debut
album in 1973, as well as the ‘Mercury
Wing’ catsuit designed by Wendy de
Smet that was worn on stage for Night At
the Opera tour, 1975-1976 and seen in
the ground-breaking video for Bohemian
Rhapsody and his signature crown and
cloak designed by Diana Moseley and
worn on the Magic Tour including for
Freddie’s last stage appearance with
Queen at Knebworth, 1986.
Freddie Mercury, Magic Tour 1986.
Photo: Denis O’Regan
V&A OPENS FREDDIE MERCURY
SPLENDID THINGS
Eight looks worn by the iconic
performer and songwriter Freddie Mercury
have gone on display at V&A South
Kensington as part of a free trail
celebrating the global superstar. Freddie
Mercury | Splendid Things marks the 80th
anniversary year of Freddie’s birth, paying
tribute to one of the world’s beloved
performers. The trail, developed with Mary
Austin, Freddie’s former fiancée, close
friend and confidante of 20 years,
celebrates Mercury’s career through
costumes and accessories worn in some
of the most memorable music videos and
pop performances of modern times.
Each of the six stops on the trail
showcase an iconic moment in
Mercury’s career from Queen’s frontman
to solo artist, with looks spotlighting his
flamboyance, charisma and the multidisciplinary creativity that helped define
his enduring legacy. Each intervention
presents some of Freddie’s most
memorable looks in dialogue with a
unique and dramatic setting in the V&A
galleries and will draw synergies with
the V&A objects on display, as well as
the architecture of the building.
Mannequins created especially for the
trail are dynamically posed to reflect
Freddie’s charismatic stage presence.
THE MUSIC OF STRANGER THINGS
Following the epic conclusion of the
Netflix global phenomenon Stranger
Things, Emmy-winning composers Kyle
Dixon and Michael Stein (of the band
S U R V I V E) are returning to the stage
for the definitive live celebration of the
entire saga. This 2026 tour offers a
complete sonic retrospective, spanning
all five seasons of the series.
To elevate the performance into a fully
immersive experience, they have
partnered with renowned visual artist
MFO (Marcel Weber). The new show
features a minimal yet striking design of
light and sculpted fog. Light takes on a
physical presence through dreamy glows
and violent, haunted movements,
blurring the line between concert and
cinema to make the Stranger Things
atmosphere a truly tangible experience.
Monday 9 November at EARTH.
T H I S I S L O N D O N M A G A Z I N E • T H I S I S L O N D O N O N L I N E • w w w. t i l . c o m • @ t h i s i s l o n d o n m a g
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