London Folk Magazine and News
Metaverse Home for UK Folk
How a back street Kings Cross music pub is set to showcase the UK´s acoustic scene to the virtual world
London venue The Harrison is about to break new ground by becoming the first permanent acoustic live music venue in the Metaverse.
When the pandemic forced the much-loved Harrison to close its doors to gig goers, owner Paul Michelmore started exploring the possibility of filming and streaming high quality music concerts from his empty venue. Assisted by Director of Photography Simon Minett (and many others) he created a bespoke professional film studio in the tiny venue and started beaming the London folk scene to the world.
This attracted the attention of Decentraland, who are keen music fans. Described as the “first ever virtual world owned by its users”, Decentraland is an evolving online world where visitors can create, explore and trade. It has been making news around the world as its user numbers rise exponentially and its crypto currency MANA takes off. Widely referred to as "the future", many huge companies such as Sotherbies have invested in building art galleries, offices and casinos in the space.
At the end of 2021 The Harrison was invited to host one of the 5 stages at Decentraland´s Metaverse Festival event. The 4-day event attracted hundreds of thousands of virtual visitors from around the globe, and The Harrison´s stage received great praise for its authentic acoustic programming. Artists who have already played for The Harrison in Decentraland include Dizraeli, Nick Hart, The Turbans, Ben Walker & Kirsty Merryn, Marcus Bonfanti, Djanan Turan, Amadis and the Ambassadors, Lea Mondo, MG Boulter, Flats and Sharps, Dan Korn, Leonie Evans, Adam Beattie, Honeyfeet Duo, Mikey Kenny, Young Waters, Shama Rahman, ICHI, Dana Immanuel, Alabaster d´Plume.
Decentraland have now offered to spread the great music coming from The Harrison to the online world by creating a new virtual venue, “The Harrison London Underground”, which will be located on the main square of Decentraland’s Festival District. The Harrison London Underground will open its doors mid-February and will broadcast three specially recorded new shows each week. All performed and shot live in The Harrison Basement music venue.
Each hour-long filmed concert will have a live audience of just 20 people. There will be two shows filmed a night, at 7pm and 9pm. Paul from The Harrison is sharing the booking of these shows with Rory Carlile of New Roots Promotions and Joe Buirski of Fire in the Mountain. Star acts booked so far include one of folk music´s most important women - Peggy Seeger, who will perform along with her son Calum MacColl.
The shows presented by New Roots will be free, although pre-booking is required via their WeGotTickets page. Upcoming shows are planned with Michele Stodart, 3 Cane Whale, Magic Lantern, Our Man in the Field, Ma Polaine, Moostak Duo, Smith & Brewer, Louis Brennan, Gabriel Moreno & the Quivering Poets, Counter’s Creek, Paul Mosley (trio), Balladeste, Kitchman / Schmidt, Jow, John Draun & Marco Farris, Hannah Nicholson Quartet. More shows to be announced.
The Fire in the Mountain shows will also be free and will be surprise acts - you won´t know who will be playing but you will know that you are in for an hour of the highest quality acoustic music in an intimate and unique setting!
Information about all of the shows, including booking links, will be posted on the Folk & Honey website here.
