Over 100 free events coming to the Square Mile | City of London Festival 2015 | 22 June-10 July

As part of the City of London Festival 2015 over 100 free events will form part of the summer Festival programme. To fully enjoy every corner of the City, there is a huge selection of music, circus, dance, street theatre, talks, tours and more at locations such as The Gherkin, Canary Wharf, Broadgate, The Grange, Devonshire Square, New Street Square and the Royal Exchange. Giving a break to city workers, tourists, families and passers-by these festival treats will keep the city entertained from morning to night.

  

City of London Festival launches 2015 free programme including jazz at Sky Garden

www.colf.org  22 June- 10 July - © Robin Bell Photography

Highlights this year include:

·        Devonshire Square calls itself ‘different as usual’ and the Festival’s presence there will embody just that. Relax on the terrace and marvel at some unusual and intriguing shows inspired by the cultures of the East India Company, including Midday Mantra (23 June, 12.30pm).

Series Sponsored by Devonshire Square

·        The Gherkin will host a series of music performances including the New Covent Garden Dance Orchestra, recreating the music of the 30s, 40s and 50s, giving the perfect opportunity to enjoy the style and elegance of the period with foxtrots, quicksteps and cha chas (10 July, 12.30pm), as well as flamenco combined with different styles from Nuevos Aires (26 June, 12.30pm) and much more.

Series Sponsored by 30 St Mary Axe

·        Lunchtime Live in Paternoster Square promises to liven up the city’s lunch hour. Entertainment includes Singapore Sounds in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the country’s independence (24 June/26 June, 1.00pm), comedy from Just the Tonic (30 June/9 July, 1.00pm) and some Swing, Salsa, Tango to invigorate the lunch break (29 June/2 July/8 July, 1.00pm).

Sponsored by BNY Mellon

·        Jazz at The Royal Exchange - a series of free festival jazz events with some of the finest young jazz vocalists to cool down the hot summer evenings with some laid-back soulful tunes  (6-10 July), artists include Emily Dankworth, Jess Radcliffe and Jonathan Carr.

Series Sponsored by The Royal Exchange

·        Jazz with a View – at the top of 20 Fenchurch Street, the Sky Garden will host two special lunchtime performances with the BBC Big Band trio and special guests Bruce Adams and Peter King (24 & 26 June, 12.00-2.00pm).

Sponsored by 20 Fenchurch Street Limited Partnership

·        Canary Wharf lunchtime treats include a performance by Tantz, a heavy modern klezmer band that perform high-energy Bulgarian music (8 July, 12.30pm) and Dende a nine-piece band with deep melodic horn harmonies and Afro-Latin percussions section playing upbeat tropical party music (10 July, 12.30pm).

Series Sponsored by Canary Wharf

·        New Street Square will include everything from a genuine strong woman to tightrope acts, and even a performance entitled The Most Dangerous Cup of Tea in the World, derived by Tit for Tat, who have concocted a recipe born from one belief: tea only tastes good if you nearly die making it – expect juggling, high-flying acrobatics, crazy contraptions and general silliness (25 June, 2.30pm).

Series Sponsored by Land Securities at New Street Square

·        The newly regenerated Broadgate is hosting daring circus, toe-tapping live music, street theatre and aerial acrobatics. Enjoy a thrilling lunch break with Chimeras, a circus company who join together circus, theatre and Argentinian dance to push cultural boundaries to new heights (Broadgate Circle, 23 June, 12.30pm, or Max Calaf Sevé who tests gravity primarily using a trampoline (Finsbury Avenue Square, 29 June, 12.30pm).

Series Sponsored by Broadgate City of London

·        Gresham College has provided public lectures in the City since 1597, and throughout the Festival it will host a series of talks including Singapore at 50, given by Lord Oxburgh looking at some of the people and innovative policies that have shaped this thriving country (13 July, 6.00pm) and The History of Street Performance, which delves into some of the more intricate history of the performance genre and explores its origins (9 July, 6.00pm).

In partnership with Gresham College

·        Hampstead Heath Family Day – Hampstead Heath Bandstand and Green will be transformed into an extravaganza of performances, workshops, street theatre and participatory events from all around the globe. Featuring samba drummers, gospel choirs, hip-hop dancers, brass bands and even a carnival headdress workshop (28 June, 11.00am – 6.00pm).

·        Street Guitars will once again be dotted around the city in brightly coloured upturned boats waiting for people to enjoy a quiet play, show off their top rock gurn or to watch other stars-in-the-making perform.

·        Children’s Parade: 1000 children will bring the theme ‘Myths and Legends’ to life with timeless fables and characters, created using tons of the City's recyclable waste, culminating in a dazzling performance on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral at 1.50pm (July 10, 12.45pm).

·        This year sees the first ever Wren Choral Marathon consisting of a day of 17 different choral performances in 17 of Wren’s magnificent City churches (Saturday 27 June, 8am-midnight).

Supported by The Rushworth Foundation and the City of London Festival Wren Circle.

·        The City Beerfest returns for a third year to the Guildhall Yard with another barrel of the best British beers and ales. Enjoy a variety of musical acts on stage throughout the day, including We Banjo 3, Omar Puente Sextet, Malphino and The Kansas Smitty’s House Band (8 July, 12.30pm-9.00pm).

Sponsored by Gensler. In partnership with City Music Foundation and the Worshipful Company of Brewers

·        West End star Scott Garnham will perform an hour of cabaret at The Grange St Paul’s Hotel (10 July, 6.00pm). Garnham is a soloist in the Festival’s How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

·        Take a guided tour of the iconic Bank of England, and try to lift a genuine gold bar in its fascinating museum (4 July, 11 July, 9.30am-5.00pm)

·        The Festival Service is one of our annual Festival celebrations held in one of the best loved and most iconic buildings in the UK, St Paul’s Cathedral (28 June, 11.00am)