Late at the Tate – "Off the Wall" at Tate Britain

After my recent Friday evening visit to Tate Modern, the prospect of “Off the Wall” (a series of music and spoken word performances inspired by the classic Michael Jackson album) at Tate Britain lured me back over to Pimlico. And what a surprise – one of the country’s most prestigious homes of great art was practically transformed into a night club. The place was buzzing.

Once through the main entrance foyer, in South Duveens you were confronted by the Fiona Banner “Harrier and Jaguar” – a large plane suspended upside down from the ceiling. It is here that numerous people assembled as the various “Off the wall” tracks were performed – Charlie Dark, Hennefah Armstrong, Phoebe Lovatt etc. Off to one side was a brightly lit area where “Accidental Power Cut” acoustic music was playing out.

On the other side in room 9 – where I usually admire the pre-Raphaelites - my favourites of Lady of Shallot and King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid were practically hidden by the green and red low lights emanating from the huge banks of DJ kit and speakers. This was Blacktronica – reuniting Charlie Dark with Acyde (TMI and Trading Places). The incongruous music was awesome and many people were dancing along as they happily chatted.

Passing through the Octogon bar – which was totally packed with young folk enjoying their Friday evening – I remained transfixed for a while watching Matthew Robins - a West Country acoustic band accompanying a series of romantic science fiction shadow operas. An overhead projector was used to tell a charming story about a beetle, an ant and a stick insect. Fantastic.

When we needed to give our ears a rest from all the music and comedy we strayed into the surrounding galleries which, while Tate Britain undergoes some changes were surprisingly full of relatively modern artworks. Interesting to see Singer Sergeant juxtaposed with Gertler – and interspersed with all manner of fabulous sculptures.

And then we moved on to enjoy some of the bars and restaurants in Pimlico. I am so looking forward to the next “Late at the Tate” events. Inspired.