Notting Hill Mayfest

Notting Hill Mayfest is a month-long multidiscipline arts festival.

If film is your flavour, you can watch the iconic silent film Steamboat Bill Jr, with live organ accompaniment played by Donald Mackenzie, resident organist at the Odeon Leicester Square.

Stephen Farr is one of Britain’s pre-eminent organists, and here is an excellent opportunity to see him perform at a free-entry concert on St John’s recently restored organ.

There is something for world music enthusiasts, with the India-inspired music of the London Sitar Ensemble and the Roma gypsy music of From Russia With Love.

Several high quality classical music concerts form part of the programme, including Bach’s Eb Major Cello Suite played by renowned cellist Anup Kumar Biswas, and Schubert’s Winterreise with St John’s Director of Music Tom Primrose accompanying the award-winning tenor Ben Johnson.

There is opera at the 20th Century Theatre and St Peter’s Notting Hill with up-and-coming acclaimed opera company Opera Lyrica, and theatre at the celebrated Gate Theatre.

Sudden Junction give us an evening of jazz, and Bach to Baby specialise in music for toddlers.

There are also two free lunchtime concerts a week, with many of Britain’s leading young musicians performing.

You can climb the tower at St John’s Notting Hill and look out over the surrounding area, and there will be tours of the Golborne and Portobello markets organised by the RBKC Street Trading Office – discover something new in Notting Hill.

The highlight of the festival happens on May 6th, when William Taylor gives a large screen presentation on his recent 3-month journey along the Silk Road. The evening will include spirited music, dance, art, food and wine inspired by the Silk Road.

See the official website for the full line-up of events.