BSO After Dark: not your typical concert
What happens when you mix orchestral soundtracks, spoken word poetry, atmospheric lighting, and a room full of curious people ready to feel something?
You get BSO After Dark, a one-night-only immersive concert designed to hit differently, with mixtape energy, late-night thoughts, and music that takes you somewhere else entirely.
Enjoy an evening built around the idea of journeys, not just across galaxies and imaginary worlds, but inward too. An ensemble from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will perform music you might recognise from film and contemporary classical artists, including Hans Zimmer, Max Richter, Arvo Pärt, and ‘Bundle of Joy’ from ‘Inside Out’.
Joining the orchestra is Baby Panna, a Portsmouth-based spoken word artist known for blending poetic lyricism with jazz-inspired flow. This concert marks his first time performing alongside musicians from Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and it’s exactly the kind of unexpected collaboration this concert is all about. His words, layered over live ensemble sound, create something intimate and expansive at the same time.
One of the most exciting things about BSO After Dark is that it’s been shaped by the Turner Sims Assistant Producers, young creatives aged 18-25 who are helping design the future of live music.
Izzy, a University of Southampton music student and Assistant Producer, explains: “I want audiences to have a really immersive experience… time to de-stress and exist outside of daily pressures for a couple of hours. I hope it broadens their curiosity and inspires them to explore more music.”
Carley Divish, another Assistant Producer shared what drives her:
“My favourite part of producing events is hearing people say they never thought they would understand this type of music, or never would have come to something like this. I love seeing people’s world expand.”
This concert exists because young creatives believe classical music can be more open, more emotional, and more connected to how we experience the world now.
Before the concert, step into The Vibe Lounge in the Turner Sims foyer from 6.30pm, with a live DJ set from DJ Jack Pudding. It’s free, it’s relaxed, and it’s the perfect way to shift out of your day and into the atmosphere of the night.
So… is this concert for you?
Yes! Especially if you:
- Love film soundtracks
- Are into poetry, spoken word, or storytelling
- Want to experience something immersive and different
- Are curious about orchestral music but don’t know where to start
- Need a break from constant notifications and noise
- Want to feel something real, live, and shared
You don’t need to know anything about classical music. Just bring your ears, your imagination and your curiosity.
