Preview: Barokksolistene: The Alehouse Sessions
Assembly Rooms: Monday 30/11/26 at 7pm (music begins at 7.30pm)
Music. Joy. Madness. Founded by the Norwegian violinist Bjarte Eike in 2005, Barokksolistene (a fluid, flexible collective of musicians, singers, and dancers) delivers all these things in plentiful quantities. In 1642 king-killer and all-round killjoy Oliver Cromwell shut down the theatres, leaving professional musicians, dancers, and their audiences out in the cold with nowhere to go to entertain and be entertained. Apart from the taverns … these gatherings quickly became so popular that some of the taverns evolved into so-called ‘musick-houses’, thus becoming the first public concert halls in the history of Western music.
The Alehouse Sessions, created by Eike, recreates a rowdy, raucous evening in a 17th century tavern, with music, song, dance, and optional brawling. Audience participation is enthusiastically encouraged (but not in the brawling). It sold out the Usher Hall in the 2024 Edinburgh International Festival, and now it’s coming to the refined 18th century surroundings of the Assembly Rooms in George Street. From Playford to shanties, and Purcell to folk songs, come and let your hair down with some 17th century style baroque n’ roll!
Tickets from: https://cultureedinburgh.com/events/alehouse-sessions
Image credit: Barroksolistene
