The Barbican has joined forces with Spiritland to launch a new listening bar in London.
Dubbed ‘Spiritland At The Barbican’, the new partnership comes in time for the 10th anniversary of its original Coal Drops Yard site, and will offer a daily programme of artists and record collectors playing a wide variety of genres.
Situated on Level 2 of the Barbican, with lakeside views overlooking the fountains, the genres on offer range from jazz to classical, and from ambient to electronica – each designed to complement and mirror the centre’s wider cultural programming.
Nightly listening sessions will also be available, as will regular talks, tastings, supper clubs and more. One of the more regular fixtures will be the 5pm album playbacks, which see a different album played in its entirety every day; whether it be a classic album from Bach, a more modern favourite from Beck, or a lesser-known gem from an emerging artist.
“The objective of this system is to present the artistry and eloquence of the musical performance – emotional communication is the key element in music and it is this that needs to be preserved and is the enduring ambition of the kit,” Kevin Scott of Living Voice, the soundsystem company that helps bring the listening bar to life.
Paul Noble of Spiritland shared that the Lakeside Room at the Barbican “is a stunning space for us to go even deeper into the music we love – jazz, soul, contemporary classical, ambient, electronica and more on an outrageously high end soundsystem”, and Beau Vigushin, Chief Experience Officer at the Barbican, described it as “yet another exciting reason to visit the Barbican”.
“The best Barbican visits don’t stick to the plan,” Vigushin added. “There is so much to experience, that you come for one thing and leave having discovered three more.
“Our partnership with Spiritland is all about connecting two brave icons of London and creating a unique space to relax with great music, eat and drink with friends, escape the everyday and uncover something unexpected. No ticket needed – just walk right in.”
Hospitality comes from Lardo, Smoking Goat, Milroys and St. John, and there will also be a selection of seasonal signature cocktails created especially for the new project by the Spiritland bar team.
The Listening Bar will open its doors on October 20 and be open from Tuesday to Sunday every week until July 2027. It has a capacity of 100 guests, and you can visit here for more information.
