Latest news with #surprisegig
BBC News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Stornoway play for passengers after Eurostar breaks down
A band played a surprise gig for Eurostar passengers to lighten a stressful situation after their train broke down for more than eight indie folk band Stornoway were on board the 07:52 BST Brussels to London train on Sunday, which came to a stop about two hours into its journey somewhere outside Guînes, rising temperatures and no power, working toilets, or air conditioning, the band decided to take up their instruments and play a show outside the train to pick up flagging has apologised for the breakdown and said it was carrying out a full investigation. Oli Steadman, a multi-instrumentalist in the band, told the BBC: "We were just on our way home and then suddenly there was an emergency stop."I turned to Tom, our trumpet player next to me, and he said 'I think we're going to be here for a long time'. "He somehow knew it was not going to end well."Steadman said emotions were starting to run high and the passengers were eventually allowed to get out of the train onto the sidings. The band missed a day in the recording studio because of the delay, but Steadman "felt much, much worse for the others", which included passengers who were "very young and very frail". "All of them were baffled by the lack of clarity from Eurostar," he added."Not once in the 11-hour journey did we have any official announcement... we just had a rumour mill from drivers to the buffet car." Eventually the band picked up their instruments and played a setlist that included The Only Way Is Up by Yazz, opening with the new lyrics "We've been broken down for six hours long / Being on Eurostar, sure ain't no fun".Steadman said: "What really helped on top of the music was a chaffinch and a couple of chiffchaffs in the beech wood that we happened to be stopped next to who chimed in."The sense that we were out in nature really helped plug people back into that sense that we're part of something bigger."We can all get along even in difficult circumstances, and it was a good thing we weren't stopped in a concrete jungle just outside of central Brussels." The replacement train eventually arrived at St Pancras at 19:20 BST. Eurostar said it would be offering compensation. Stornoway formed in 2005 and had their first radio play on BBC Radio Oxford the following released their debut album Beachcomber's Windowsill in more albums followed before a six-year hiatus and 2023's comeback album Dig The Mountain!They celebrate their 21st anniversary with a gig at the Royal Albert Hall in March next year. You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
'We drink the same water': Lorde listening party a love letter to Auckland
By Sigrid Yiakmis , Social Media Journalist Lorde performed a surprise, exclusive gig in the YMCA bathroom. Photo: Instagram / Screenshot Following her chaotically-joyful pop-up in Washington Square Park in New York and surprise crashing of a Sydney nightclub on Tuesday, rumours were swirling on Wednesday - would Lorde cross the ditch to anoint the Auckland fans who had controversially been left out of the initial Ultrasound tour dates? The image and WhatsApp link that Lorde posted to her Instagram stories on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Screengrab Around 1pm on Wednesday when Lorde shared a not-so-cryptic Story to Instagram suggesting an appearance in Auckland, 'Lorde Reddit' and 'Lorde Twitter' were frenzied with speculation around possible locations. Lorde's summer playground Cheltenham Beach, nightlife hub K Rd and Britomart were on the shortlist. Soon after, fans who were signed up to Lorde's text newsletter - an intimate communication channel she initiated for the Virgin album roll-out - received a text: "Auckland I wanna play you something.. Meet me in the city tonight? Message me if you're keen". Around 3:30PM, fans started to convene in Britomart to await further instruction. A few chosen ones received a follow up text: "Okkkk see you and a +1 tonight *X-ray emoji* Meet me at 8:00. Send me your names and bring id. Location to follow in a bit x x x x". Multiple texts were sent with different times to arrive at the location, with the first starting at 8pm. Those who didn't receive a text were quick to dismiss them as fake, in disbelief that some could miss out on the event. It was rumoured there were only 40 invites sent. Around 7:20PM the location was sent to those who were invited - the YMCA on the corner of Pitt St and Vincent St. Fans eagerly wait for entry into the mysterious event. Photo: RNZ / Sigrid Yiakmis I was lucky enough to claim a friend's plus 1 and headed up the hill to meet a small line forming outside the YMCA. Within half an hour the line grew to a large crowd of "invite receivers", "plus ones" and "no invites and no plus ones". As it settled in that some would be missing out on whatever was about to happen, the invites became extremely coveted. Girls began silent auctions for tickets, writing "$100", "$150" on their phones in big text and holding it up to their foreheads - hoping to catch the eye of someone who was willing to trade in their once in a lifetime experience for cash. "Big fan" Mitch, who was waiting in line early on, said his friend Sam was "very generous" for giving him his plus one. Kat, who was in the first 8:00pm group to witness the mysterious event, said that her plus one Caitlin would be naming her firstborn after her. Caitlin and Kat were in the first group to witness the mysterious event at 8:00pm. Photo: RNZ / Sigrid Yiakmis Maddy and Anika, two fans who didn't receive an invite, stood in line hopeful that they were able to get in - "We'll find a way! You only live once." They had already been to Albert Park and Britomart to find Lorde before the location was revealed. At 8pm, the first group were ushered in with strict security. Around half an hour later, they were escorted out the side door of the YMCA, appearing bewildered and elated. Some of the crew from the event came out into the YMCA lobby to debrief - one of those was Terrence O'Connor - a photographer, creative director and digital strategist who is a friend and collaborator of some the world's biggest stars right now - Charli XCX, HAIM, and Benito "Benny Drama" Skinner. It was clear that this was not going to be an off the cuff appearance by Lorde, but one that, like Washington Square Park, has been meticulously crafted by industry masterminds for maximum virality and content extraction. A message sent to Lorde fans in a WhatsApp group on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Screengrab Then it was time for my group. We were escorted into the building, handing over our phones and any recording devices. We were led down a stairwell into a pitch black toilet cubicle. There were a couple of small cameras mounted on the walls. We chattered for a bit, wondering what was about to happen and adjusting our bodies to the small, dark space until one of the toilet doors swung open and Lorde stepped out into the darkness - "hi" she said, in her unmistakable cool register. "I knew Lorde was gonna come out of the toilet!" one of the group laughed. Fans screamed and clapped, and Lorde found her place in the centre of the crowd in the bathroom cubicle. She thanked us for coming and expressed how special it was that she was about to share some of her new album with us. She pulled a lighter out of her pocket and sparked it, throwing shadows on her face and indicating to those behind the scenes to hit play on her single 'What Was That'. She sang and danced to the music amongst the crowd. The speaker was hidden behind one of the toilet doors and the sub-bass rattled the room. One of her team crouched above one of the toilet cubicles filming on his iPhone. Speaking inbetween songs in intimate moments, she acknowledged the importance of performing to the hometown fans, the ones who have been there since Pure Heroine 12 years ago. "We drink the same water, we swim at the same beaches." It felt like an apology for the fumbled tour announcement, and a promise. Fans lucky enough to attend left with a paper-towel with album artwork and the tracklist (the first instance fans have had to view the complete album). Photo: Sigrid Yiakmis She pulled out a lighting case from one of the toilet cubicles and stood on it to create an impromptu stage. She played three more songs, all triggered by the spark of her lighter - still the only light in the room. She played her upcoming single, 'Man Of The Year', another unreleased single titled 'Current Affairs', 'Ribs' and a fourth single from Virgin, 'Broken Glass'. Deeper into the performance the toilet cubicle transformed into a tiny toilet nightclub with subtle use of laser and haze. By the end of the set, the walls were wet with sweat. After 20 minutes she left the room to prep for the next group to come through. On exit from the toilet we were given a paper-towel from the bathroom dispenser with album artwork and the tracklist (the first instance fans have had to view the complete album). Each paper-towel is numbered out of 96 and signed by Lorde. She revealed during one of the quiet moments that the 'Royals' music video was partly filmed in that bathroom. Many fans will have been left disappointed by not experiencing it, but for those who did pass through, Wednesday's event felt like Lorde's love letter to Auckland. While our proximity to the world means we won't always get the biggest thing, sometimes we get something that is smaller, modest and intangibly special instead. Lorde is nominated for Single Of The Year for Charli XCX's 'girl, so confusing featuring Lorde' at this year's Aotearoa Music Awards. The awards are streaming live from 6pm this Thursday on
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
'We drink the same water': Lorde listening party a loveletter to Auckland
By Sigrid Yiakmis , Social Media Journalist Lorde performed a surprise, exclusive gig in the YMCA bathroom. Photo: Instagram / Screenshot Following her chaotically-joyful pop-up in Washington Square Park in New York and surprise crashing of a Sydney nightclub on Tuesday, rumours were swirling on Wednesday - would Lorde cross the ditch to anoint the Auckland fans who had controversially been left out of the initial Ultrasound tour dates? The image and WhatsApp link that Lorde posted to her Instagram stories on Wednesday afternoon. Photo: Screengrab Around 1pm on Wednesday when Lorde shared a not-so-cryptic Story to Instagram suggesting an appearance in Auckland, 'Lorde Reddit' and 'Lorde Twitter' were frenzied with speculation around possible locations. Lorde's summer playground Cheltenham Beach, nightlife hub K Rd and Britomart were on the shortlist. Soon after, fans who were signed up to Lorde's text newsletter - an intimate communication channel she initiated for the Virgin album roll-out - received a text: "Auckland I wanna play you something.. Meet me in the city tonight? Message me if you're keen". Around 3:30PM, fans started to convene in Britomart to await further instruction. A few chosen ones received a follow up text: "Okkkk see you and a +1 tonight *X-ray emoji* Meet me at 8:00. Send me your names and bring id. Location to follow in a bit x x x x". Multiple texts were sent with different times to arrive at the location, with the first starting at 8pm. Those who didn't receive a text were quick to dismiss them as fake, in disbelief that some could miss out on the event. It was rumoured there were only 40 invites sent. Around 7:20PM the location was sent to those who were invited - the YMCA on the corner of Pitt St and Vincent St. Fans eagerly wait for entry into the mysterious event. Photo: RNZ / Sigrid Yiakmis I was lucky enough to claim a friend's plus 1 and headed up the hill to meet a small line forming outside the YMCA. Within half an hour the line grew to a large crowd of "invite receivers", "plus ones" and "no invites and no plus ones". As it settled in that some would be missing out on whatever was about to happen, the invites became extremely coveted. Girls began silent auctions for tickets, writing "$100", "$150" on their phones in big text and holding it up to their foreheads - hoping to catch the eye of someone who was willing to trade in their once in a lifetime experience for cash. "Big fan" Mitch, who was waiting in line early on, said his friend Sam was "very generous" for giving him his plus one. Kat, who was in the first 8:00pm group to witness the mysterious event, said that her plus one Caitlin would be naming her firstborn after her. Caitlin and Kat were in the first group to witness the mysterious event at 8:00pm. Photo: RNZ / Sigrid Yiakmis Maddy and Anika, two fans who didn't receive an invite, stood in line hopeful that they were able to get in - "We'll find a way! You only live once." They had already been to Albert Park and Britomart to find Lorde before the location was revealed. At 8pm, the first group were ushered in with strict security. Around half an hour later, they were escorted out the side door of the YMCA, appearing bewildered and elated. Some of the crew from the event came out into the YMCA lobby to debrief - one of those was Terrence O'Connor - a photographer, creative director and digital strategist who is a friend and collaborator of some the world's biggest stars right now - Charli XCX, HAIM, and Benito "Benny Drama" Skinner. It was clear that this was not going to be an off the cuff appearance by Lorde, but one that, like Washington Square Park, has been meticulously crafted by industry masterminds for maximum virality and content extraction. Then it was time for my group. We were escorted into the building, handing over our phones and any recording devices. We were led down a stairwell into a pitch black toilet cubicle. There were a couple of small cameras mounted on the walls. We chattered for a bit, wondering what was about to happen and adjusting our bodies to the small, dark space until one of the toilet doors swung open and Lorde stepped out into the darkness - "hi" she said, in her unmistakable cool register. "I knew Lorde was gonna come out of the toilet!" one of the group laughed. Fans screamed and clapped, and Lorde found her place in the centre of the crowd in the bathroom cubicle. She thanked us for coming and expressed how special it was that she was about to share some of her new album with us. She pulled a lighter out of her pocket and sparked it, throwing shadows on her face and indicating to those behind the scenes to hit play on her single 'What Was That'. She sang and danced to the music amongst the crowd. The speaker was hidden behind one of the toilet doors and the sub-bass rattled the room. One of her team crouched above one of the toilet cubicles filming on his iPhone. Speaking inbetween songs in intimate moments, she acknowledged the importance of performing to the hometown fans, the ones who have been there since Pure Heroine 12 years ago. "We drink the same water, we swim at the same beaches." It felt like an apology for the fumbled tour announcement, and a promise. Fans lucky enough to attend left with a paper-towel with album artwork and the tracklist (the first instance fans have had to view the complete album). Photo: Sigrid Yiakmis She pulled out a lighting case from one of the toilet cubicles and stood on it to create an impromptu stage. She played three more songs, all triggered by the spark of her lighter - still the only light in the room. She played her upcoming single, 'Man Of The Year', another unreleased single titled 'Current Affairs', 'Ribs' and a fourth single from Virgin, 'Broken Glass'. Deeper into the performance the toilet cubicle transformed into a tiny toilet nightclub with subtle use of laser and haze. By the end of the set, the walls were wet with sweat. After 20 minutes she left the room to prep for the next group to come through. On exit from the toilet we were given a paper-towel from the bathroom dispenser with album artwork and the tracklist (the first instance fans have had to view the complete album). Each paper-towel is numbered out of 96 and signed by Lorde. She revealed during one of the quiet moments that the 'Royals' music video was partly filmed in that bathroom. Many fans will have been left disappointed by not experiencing it, but for those who did pass through, Wednesday's event felt like Lorde's love letter to Auckland. While our proximity to the world means we won't always get the biggest thing, sometimes we get something that is smaller, modest and intangibly special instead. Lorde is nominated for Single Of The Year for Charli XCX's 'girl, so confusing featuring Lorde' at this year's the Aotearoa Music Awards. The awards are streaming live from 6pm this Thursday on [ RNZ] .
