News

Laura Marling, Grizzly Bear and Patti Smith Set To Headline The Serpentine Sessions

• 20th Apr 2010

The Serpentine Sessions looks set to repeat the huge success of its debut year with a bill that once again delivers some of the hottest indie and folk artists around.

Taking place in the beautiful surroundings of Hyde Park with headliners Grizzly Bear, Patti Smith and her band and Laura Marling on June 28, June 29 and July 1.

Unlike any other London outdoor events, these concerts have a limited capacity of just 3000 per night creating a very special series of summer shows.

Last year saw critically acclaimed artists Bon Iver, Regina Spektor and Tindersticks all headline the inaugural Serpentine Sessions, which received rave reviews across the board. Serpentine Sessions was the must see event of the summer and with this incredible line-up 2010 will be no exception.

Serpentine Sessions was established to allow concertgoers to enjoy prestigious acts in a stunning location where the focus is music. Last year Serpentine Sessions celebrated three acts on Independent labels and this year they’ve combined a hard-to-see influential and prestigious artist with two of the finest acts in music today.

Grizzly Bear will open this year’s Serpentine Sessions on June 28. Since the release of their second album Veckatimest – hailed by many critics as 2009’s finest album – the Brooklyn quartet have become the poster boys for a certain strain of ambitious, symphonic pop. Their live show combines soaring harmonies and richly atmosphere sounds to create an undeniably moving live performance. Their appearance at Serpentine Sessions will no doubt be an unforgettable show.

Headlining the second night of Serpentine Sessions on June 29 will be world-renowned punk rock poet laureate Patti Smith and her band. Ranked as one of the most influential female rock and rollers of all time, her music has been hailed as the most exciting fusion of rock and poetry since Bob Dylan’s heyday and has subsequently become an inspiration and icon to generations of female rockers. Smith recently performed an acoustic show in the beautiful setting of Union Chapel and thrived off its intimate nature receiving five star reviews across the press. Her Serpentine Session is a unique opportunity to catch this influential, multi-talented and imaginative performer with her full band in a very special setting.

The final night of these series of shows will be on July 1 and headlined by UK’s finest folk songstress Laura Marling. Her second album I Speak Because I Can has very quickly garnered a slew of five star reviews and reached Number 4 in the UK Album Charts. This album sees a coming of age, its songs imbued with a richness, ripeness and sophistication and reveals Marling as folk’s newest and brightest star. Marling is the quintessential English rose – she possesses a voice that is both pure and bright but with a distinct maturity that is evident when she performs live. Having been part of the London folk scene for some time alongside peers Mumford & Sons, Marling has created a buzz amongst many with her second album and is definitely the one to watch this year.

These concerts are a rare opportunity to see Grizzly Bear, Laura Marling and Patti Smith and her band play to an intimate crowd in the beautiful environment of Hyde Park on a midsummer’s night.

Monday 28 June – Grizzly Bear plus supports TBA
Tuesday 29 June – Patti Smith and her band (Lenny Kaye, Tony Shanahan, Jay Dee Daugherty, Jack Petruzzelli) plus supports TBA
Thursday 1 July – Laura Marling plus supports TBA

Tickets will go on sale from 9am Friday 23 April 2010