Patti Smith, Cadogan Hall

A prolific singer, writer and visual artist, Patti Smith  is the stuff of legend. And on 5 February, the immortal goddess of punk rock and poetry will descend upon Cadogan Hall for an 'Evening of Words and Music '. 

Smith burst onto New York City’s punk scene with her 1975 debut album Horses. It wasn’t long before she was gigging at  Manhattan's original home of hard-core rock  CBGB’ s, and living at the Chelsea Hotel with Beat Generation writers like William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg (who once chatted her up because he thought she was a boy). 

Her CV (ten albums, five books) is adorned with accolades. Smith is a Commander of the Ordre des arts et des Lettres; in 2010, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; that same year, she won the National Book Award for her memoir Just Kids. Rolling Stone has included her on its list of the 100 greatest artists and TIME magazine counted her among the 100 most influential people in the world. 

For all that, Smith has only ever had one hit single—Because the Night, a stomping paean to love and desire she wrote with Bruce Springsteen. But we think that probably suits her just fine: Patti Smith is first and foremost a poet, intent on fleshing out the meat of life. Even when her material is rich in cliche, as with 1988 single People have the power, it’s not easy listening. The great thing about Smith is that she shows that cliche is not only necessary, but complex. 

Smith will be joined by band-mate, best buddy and long-term collaborator Tony Shanahan as well as Jackson Smith (who is married to Meg White, The White Stripes’ drummer). 

Ticket price: £40

Address & map:  5 Sloane Terrace, London SW1X 9DQ   ‎

Nearest Tube: Sloane Square