I wasn’t sure what attracted me most to this event – the idea of a music gig deep underground in a secret tunnel shaft by the Thames, the opportunity to see Sheffield’s Renegade Brass Band or a viewing of the new Renegade Jeep.
So we ventured out to Rotherhithe – marvelling at how easy it is to reach these days on the East London line and walked the two minutes to the Museum. After a quick look at the Café and display areas in the museum we admired the shiny new Jeeps on the forecourt. Then we put our lives in the hands of the security folk. Or was that health and safety folk?
We climbed over a small wall using metal footsteps. Then bent low down where we practically crawled through a hole in another wall. Into darkness. The soft lights revealed we were on a high platform on the top of a rickety scaffolding with metal stairs descending down into the darkness. But the pretty fairy lights made it all right. So glad I didn’t wear heels.
At the base of the stairs we looked up to see that we were in a rather basic tunnel shaft – even the vast white voile curtains couldn’t screen the ceiling. Looking up at the domed ceiling – and the bare bricks and pipework – we felt glad not to be claustrophobic types. It was chilly down there so we grabbed a glass of wine.
The Renegade Brass Band was wonderful. Sort of Eminem goes to a mining village. The musicians are all rather young and funky – even some of the instruments had been jazzed up (loved the black and white tuba). There are eight players on various wind instruments including saxophones and trumpets, two percussionists a scratch DJ and MC. Sort of jazz funk hip-hop. But really good. And most of the small audience were dancing along with wild abandon. What a fun evening.
Further details:
http://www.brunel-museum.org.uk/history/the-thames-tunnel/
Find tour times when you can visit the tunnel shaft
http://www.renegadebrassband.com/ Find when the band will next be playing
http://www.jeep.co.uk/renegade/ Take a look at that Jeep Renegade small SUV.
