British Airways ARC Announces Opening Line-Up For New London Venue With Self Esteem Kicking Things Off

A brand-new chapter in London’s live music scene is set to begin this summer as British Airways ARC unveils its first wave of performers ahead of its official opening on 16th June.

Self Esteem @ Hammersmith Apollo

Self Esteem @ Hammersmith Apollo (Kalpesh Patel)

Located within the redeveloped Olympia London complex, the 3,800-capacity venue marks the first purpose-built space of its size to open in the capital in over a decade. Designed with a focus on both artist performance and audience experience, the venue promises cutting-edge sound and production within a wider cultural destination that blends music, dining and nightlife.

British Airways ARC

British Airways ARC (Dematerial Venues)

Leading the inaugural line-up is Self Esteem, who will perform two nights at the venue, including its opening show on 16th June. The performances follow a landmark few years for the artist, who has continued to establish herself as one of the UK’s most distinctive and compelling voices.

Joining the opening run are McFly, bringing their anthemic pop-rock catalogue to the new stage, and Zac Brown Band, whose genre-blending sound has earned them global acclaim.

Further into the year, the venue will host global R&B star Khalid, while a special collaboration with the EFG London Jazz Festival will see Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves present a tribute to jazz icon John Coltrane, marking the centenary of his birth.

The launch of British Airways ARC forms part of a wider £1.3 billion transformation of Olympia, which will also include a new theatre, hotels, restaurants and public spaces, positioning the area as a major cultural hub in the capital.

With a legacy that includes performances from artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Rod Stewart, The Cure and The Chemical Brothers, the Olympia site has long been a cornerstone of London’s live music history. The opening of British Airways ARC aims to build on that heritage while ushering in a new era for mid-sized live events in the city.

Olympia

Olympia (Courtesy Of Olympia)

Tickets for the first shows go on sale from 27th March, with pre-sales available earlier in the week.

Opening shows at British Airways ARC:

JUNE
16th – Self Esteem (Opening Night)
17th – Self Esteem
18th – McFly
25th – Zac Brown Band

OCTOBER
24th Oct – Khalid

NOVEMBER
21st Nov – Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves Celebrate John Coltrane

Self Esteem Brings Pop Mastery To Hammersmith