Some very lucky peeps got to see Annie perform last night for the Magic FM sponsored evening.  All week last week, DJ Neil Fox gave away tickets to one of the hottest Christmas gigs in London.  Annie performed at the intimate 20th Century Theatre in Notting Hill, a venue Annie has appeared at many times.  It was where the album launch party for A Christmas Cornucopia took place a couple of months ago, and is where Annie held a benefit evening to launch The Circle.  The audience was made up of celebrities including KT Tunstall who said after the show “Just seen Annie Lennox sing in a tiny theatre. Floored. An utter legend, punk, angel, and among the most beautiful of all homosapiens.”

Those lucky peeps had an amazing evening last night and sent this report through to us, sorry no photo’s!

Magic presents Annie Lennox

We arrived at the venue in great excitement and were informed that the doors would be opening in 15 minutes. So we repaired to a nearby hostelry for some refreshment before heading back to the theatre (which you could easily walk past without noticing) and we were warmly welcomed by the people on the door.

When they took our names they told us that we had reserved seats at the front. We could not quite believe it as we made our way up the stairs of the Victorian building to find a beautiful theatre. Carrying on the friendly people theme of the evening, we were immediately offered mulled wine as we entered. There were snowflakes projected onto the walls, Christmas trees complete with ‘snow’ and candles on the stage; it all looked very festive.

As we were sipping our wine, we got chatting to Annie’s guitarist Tony Remy who was a really lovely guy, very friendly and down to earth and happy to chat to us. After some nibbles we then took our centre front row seats.

After a brief introduction from DJ Neil Fox from Magic radio, Annie entered to massive applause. She went straight into God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen and you could really feel the drums, it was a very powerful rendition. You could feel the love for her in the room as she acknowledged the appreciation before she moved onto The Holly and the Ivy, again with powerful percussion.

There were some spare seats in the second row and Annie encouraged people to sit there, saying she did not like to see empty seats.

The next song was See Amid the Winter Snow, followed by a very moving Lullay Lullay. Annie spoke about her activism and how passionate she is about, as she moved on to Universal Child, which she ended on some vocal gymnastics.

With that she departed only to be called back by a very enthusiastic audience who were on their feet by this point. Annie quickly reappeared and launched into Little Bird and got the audience clapping and dancing along. After that exercise she exhorted us all to sit down and cool down, like a schoolteacher. We obeyed her and she obliged us with an elegant rendition of Why. Annie treated us to another of her creative endings to this classic.

Sadly after just seven songs this marked the end of the performance but instead of heading backstage, Annie came towards us and hugged the entire front row. We were in utter shock.

She then took her leave to a standing ovation.