Whether it lies in the historic architecture, the remarkable acoustics or a sense of reverence among the audience, there is something quite sacred about concerts held in churches. Across London, centuries-old spaces have increasingly become stages for contemporary music.
The Union Chapel in Islington has been leading the way since the 1990s – initially as a way of raising funds – and has since become a world-renowned venue with artists including Björk, Noel Gallagher, Jarvis Cocker and James Blake taking to its stage. More intimate churches have since joined the movement, such as St John in Hackney and St Mathias in Stoke Newington, welcoming indie singers-songwriters and electronic artists. Now, the concept of bringing contemporary music into religious settings is about to reach a new scale, as St Paul’s Cathedral and fabric team up for a curated programme of live music running until 2030.
The two London landmarks have already collaborated on sold-out performances by Australian singer RY X in 2023 and Patti Smith in 2024. The new partnership will build on those events, bringing Fabric’s history of championing electronic and underground music into one of the capital’s most iconic spaces.
“Fabric has always been about bringing people together through music and creating experiences that stay with people”, says Cameron Leslie, co-founder of Fabric. “It’s an extraordinary and unexpected coming together of two very different parts of London, and we’re looking forward to building on the success of the events we’ve already held and creating something genuinely special and befitting of this incredible space.”
Sandra Lynes Timbrell, Director of Visitor Engagement at St Paul’s Cathedral, says: “We hope the partnership will introduce new visitors to the Cathedral, encouraging people to discover and engage with this historic building in new and exciting ways”.
A centuries-old place of worship, St Paul’s Cathedral offers a particularly striking contrast to fabric’s home in a former meat-processing warehouse in Farringdon. The first event will take place on 29 October, with a performance by The Cinematic Orchestra and guests from the group’s past, present and future, including Patrick Watson.
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