Photo: WENN
Prince has taken London by storm, arriving in the capital to play his hotly-anticipated Hit and Run shows. Now, the online world has exploded with excitement.
Last night, the Purple One performed a surprise 'open soundcheck' gig at Camden's Electric Ballroom to less than 100 people following a 'press conference' and performance at Lianne La Havas' London flat, treating the lucky few in attendance to a smattering of new tracks, classics and covers before promising to return to the venue tonight.
It was largely celebrities and music industry insiders who make it into the Ballroom for the 'press soundcheck', with the Tweets from the show making the wider world jealous with envy:
OMG Prince @eballroomcamden playing 'Play that Funky Music White Boy. Cant understand why there are 75 people in here and 2000 outside?
— Stephen Budd (@stephenbudd) February 5, 2014
Prince @EBallroomCamden tonight.... Yes. 75 souls saw this.... thanks @MusicWeek for the tip, was in bed when it came pic.twitter.com/NNgeAaW820
— Stephen Budd (@stephenbudd) February 5, 2014
THIS is literally how many people were at #Prince @EBallroomCamden 2nite. 75.... I counted them... pic.twitter.com/LvUs79T2Eo
— Stephen Budd (@stephenbudd) February 5, 2014
Prince's manager Kiran Sharma later tweeted:
Thank you again @liannelahavas and @sbmgmtduncan and family for your gracious hospitality... a night to remember pic.twitter.com/iHA1uCjW8L
— Kiran Sharma (@KIKITkiran) February 5, 2014
Great to see @MumfordAndSons at the @3RDEYEGIRL press soundcheck tonight.
— Kiran Sharma (@KIKITkiran) February 5, 2014
Now after promising to return tonight, attention turns to attempting to be one of the lucky few to attend Prince's second show at the Electric Ballroom tonight - and the hope of a bigger announcement and longer notice for the rest of the dates:
Realistically, how long do you think I'd have to stand around in Camden to get into the Prince gig tonight?
— Dan Beames (@danbeames) February 5, 2014
In hindsight I should have taken the day off today. No commute and could have queued outside electric ballroom for prince!
— Levi Jackson (@levijackson88) February 5, 2014
Gutted I missed Prince at Electric Ballroom last night. Hoping to get to see him tonight. Anyone have details of what time he's on?
— Steve Thompson (@stevemthompson) February 5, 2014
Going to Camden to queue for potentially non-existant Prince tickets or editing my fourth chapter? #phdbollox
— J. Taylor (@jtaylorhfc) February 5, 2014
Wish I was going to Prince tonight...
— Calandra Caldecott (@CalandraC) February 5, 2014
Does Prince tour exsist, or u have 2be in London right place right time? Should I go wait at ElectricBallroom 4 rest of my life jst incase?
— Caroline Read (@MissC_Read) February 5, 2014
Ending the show at 1am, Prince added "we will be here tomorrow, a bit earlier and a lot funkier," before leaving the venue as a huge queue of fans waited outside.
Prince's manager then confirmed there would be another show there tonight:
If you were there... you know :) See you tomorrow! Same place. @3RDEYEGIRL #FUNKNROLL #electricballroom #princepressconference
— Kiran Sharma (@KIKITkiran) February 5, 2014
Prince played:
Guitar
Plectrum Electrum
Funk N Roll
Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry cover)
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
I Like it There
Cause and Effect
More London shows on Prince's Hit and Run tour of London are expected to be announced shortly.
Below: 9 reasons to be VERY excited about Prince's 2014 London shows
