If you've ever eaten in PizzaExpress on Dean Street, you may know that there's a very special music room in the basement. Why? Because the restaurant's jazz-loving founder, Peter Boizot, opened it back in 1969 to celebrate his big love for the great combination that is music and pizza.
The club has now become one of London's favourite live music venues and this month will play host to PizzaExpress' series of new music nights, Soho Sessions.
Kicking of on Tuesday 24 July, Soho Sessions will feature several artists, all with one thing in common - talent. Frankly, this is one sure-fire place to see raw, respected live music come into its own. And tuesday's first session will be headlined by Grammy nominated musician Gregory Porter.
LA born soul-singer Porter, cut his teeth performing on Broadway before embarking on a solo career that saw his 2010 debut album Water nominated for Best Jazz Vocal at the 53rd annual Grammy awards.
Porter will be joined on the night by esteemed beatboxing artist, Shlomo, who is arguably the world's most-heard beatboxer after his 2004 collaboration with Bjork was performed at the opening ceremony of the Athens Olympic Games.
English singer/songwriter Mara Carlyle will also be taking to the stage, having first shot to prominence with her debut album The Lovely released in 2004. The album gained widespread critical and commercial acclaim, with critics praising her "unnervingly perfect vocals".
The Soho Sessions also coincides with the introduction of a brand new PizzaExpress playlist which will be featured in every restaurant across the country. The playlist will boast an eclectic mix of emerging talent and unsigned artists.
So does this sound like a night you might enjoy? Well, then AllinLondon have two pairs of tickets to give away to Tuesday's opening show.
To win them; just tell us in what year did PizzaExpress open their basement music room at their Dean Street branch.
You have until 11.59pm on Sunday 22 July to answer via Twitter www.twitter.com/allinlondoncouk, Facebook (www.facebook.com/allinlondoncouk) or the comments box below.
Good luck!
