THAMES TUNNEL SHAFT • SECRET CONCERT • BOTANICAL COCKTAILS • VIETNAMESE BÁNH MÌ
Join DEBUT, creators of Airbnb's No.1 Music Experience, for their intimate and fun Secret Concert at Brunel Museum’s awe-inspiring Thames Tunnel Shaft with botanical cocktails by Midnight Apothecary
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One of London’s best kept secrets, DEBUT at Brunel Museum offers magnetic performances, time to chat to your favourite musicians and the chance to discover Brunel Museum’s historic Grade II* listed Thames Tunnel Shaft.
Launched in 2017, DEBUT have hosted over 100 sold out shows, showcasing 200+ top level musicians through our intimate and fun Secret Concerts.
Crowned as Airbnb’s No.1 Music Experience and with 400 ★★★★★ reviews, it's an experience unlike any other.
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“The night will start, unintuitively, on the roof of the Brunel Museum. This is where Midnight Apothecary have set up their charming fairylit urban garden, complete with salvaged garden furniture, firepits, and thriving vegetable and herb patches, and where you can start the proceedings off with one or two of their botanical cocktails. If you're feeling peckish, you can mollify your appetite with some homemade Vietnamese for courtesy of Lò Viêt.
When the doors to the tunnel open, you can descend into the vast space and grab a seat at the bottom. You'll be just a few feet from the performers, who'll put on one of their energetic, and spine-tinglingly good shows, thanks in no small part to the magnificent acoustics of the cathedral-like space. And thanks in the much larger part to the fact that they're all brilliantly accomplished musicians, too. When the show's over, you can chat to the players, and grab another cocktail from the roof garden.”
— The Nudge (The Definitive Insiders’ Guide to London)
It’s the perfect date night, way for lone rangers to meet new people, or excuse to bring together friends and family for a celebration.
TIMINGS
6:30 PM - Botanical cocktails with Midnight Apothecary
7:00 PM - Tunnel Shaft doors open (candlelit cabaret seating)
7:20 PM - Concert Part I
8:00 PM - Interval
8:30 PM - Concert Part II
9:15 PM - Bar re-opens till 10PM (in the summer)🍸 Botanical cocktails by award-winning Midnight Apothecary
🍜 Delicious Vietnamese Bánh mì by Lò Việt
🔥 Rooftop fire-pit (weather permitting)
🕯 Candlelit cabaret seating
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Part I (34’)
Lizzie introduction 4’
Habanera - Carmen by Bizet - Meriel & Sam 3’
Honoré D’Ambruys: Le doux silence de nos bois 4’ - Flutes & Frets
Die Lotosblume by Schumann - Meriel & Sam 2’
Poor wandering one - The Pirates of Penzance by Gilbert & Sullivan 4’ - Lizzie & Sam
Flutes & Frets additional piece (5 mins)
Violin Aria from The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach - Meriel & Sam 3.5
Ombra mai fu from Xerxes by Handel - Lizzie, Flutes & Frets 4’
Nicola Matteis: Diverse bizzarrie sopra la Vecchia Sarabanda o Viaccona 5’ - Flutes and Frets
Interval 30’
Part II (31.5’)
(It's not easy) Bein' Green by Joe Raposo (from Sesame Street - Audra McDonald arrangement) - Meriel & Sam 3’
Astor Piazzolla: Invierno Porteno 6’ - Flutes & Frets
Belle nuit from The Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach — Lizzie, Meriel & Sam 3’
Some tapas, ole! - Piano improvisation 4’ - Sam
Astor Piazzolla: Invierno Porteno 6’ - Flutes & Frets
Sea Fever by Ireland - Meriel & Sam 2.5’
Trad: Wild Mountain Thyme 3’ - Flutes & Frets
Dog days are over by Florence + The Machine - Sam & Meriel 4’
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Design My Night Reviews
“Incredible experience! The setting, programming and overall energy of the event was beautiful. There's something for everyone and the artists give their all. Would a hundred percent recommend.” ★★★★★
“A fabulous and special evening. My husband said it was one of his favorite date nights yet! DEBUT’s event was intimate, friendly, eclectic and educational. Would love to return.” ★★★★★
“It was a truly fantastic event! The evening began with whisky hot toddies, which went down extremely well on a wet and windy night. The space was perfect for the occasion - large enough to not be cramped, but small enough to create an intimate atmosphere with great acoustics. The candles/fairy lights/seating arrangements made for a lovely cosy evening, and blankets were even provided to make sure everyone was warm enough. The performances themselves were exceptional. We'll definitely be back!” ★★★★★
“First-class performances in a stunning, intimate setting. Loved the casual banter with the performers, too. Highly recommended!” ★★★★★
“Brilliant! The musicians and programme were incredible - from Handel to Toy Story, flutes, lutes, impeccable singing and piano improvisation that is mind-blowing. So lucky to be able to experience music of such high quality in these amazing surroundings. Highly recommend getting tickets.” ★★★★★
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Since launching in 2018 we’ve welcomed guests of all ages from around the world to our Secret Concerts, garnering over 400 ★★★★★ reviews.
Read our Latest Reviews
“Energetic & spine-tinglingly good shows” — The Nudge, The Definitive Insiders' Guide to London
Since our launch we’ve showcased over 200 top-level musicians, from rising talent to fully fledged stars. Every month we invite different guest musicians to join us and share their favourite music as well as fun behind-the-scenes insights. Each programme is curated by DEBUT to be diverse and engaging, bringing together music from across the ages from much loved classics and forgotten gems right up to the present day.
Meriel Cunningham mezzo-soprano
Flutes & Frets - Beth Stone & Danny Murphy
Lizzie Holmes soprano, host & founder
Sam Peña resident piano improviser
“Energetic & spine-tinglingly good shows”