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Amazon announces intimate live shows from Blondie, Katie Melua and more

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 9 May 2017

Amazon’s latest move to break into the live music market is to provide people with “the best live entertainment experience they’ve ever had”. They’re going to do this by putting on shows from artists like Texas and Katie Melua in venues smaller than those they’d normally play. So mindblowing will this be that the company has said that only its Prime members will be allowed in.

The new Prime Live Events initiative will get underway later this month with Blondie playing the 750 capacity Round Chapel in Hackney, which also happens to coincide with the 40th anniversary of their first ever UK performance. Tickets for that will cost you just £150. What a bargain.

“We are excited to be performing at the first Prime Live Event marking 40 years since our first gig in the UK”, deadpans Blondie vocalist Debbie Harry. “The Round Chapel is an intimately warm and beautiful room allowing our fans to get up close and personal”.

Amazon Tickets General Manager Geraldine Wilson adds: “We want to offer Prime members the best live entertainment experience they’ve ever had by giving them the chance to see their favourite artists perform up close and personal in iconic and intimate venues. We’re delighted to reveal our first line-up of fantastic artists performing Prime Live Events in stunning venues to audiences of less than 800”.

Yes, as well as Blondie, there are some other Prime shows already booked in. Alison Moyet will also play the Round Chapel on 12 Jun, though it’s only £95 to get in to that one. Meanwhile, Texas will play Porchester Hall in Westminster on 16 Jun and Katie Melua will play Cadogan Hall in Chelsea on 25-26 Jul. Those three shows will set you back £75 each.

Prime members unwilling or unable to attend will subsequently be able to watch the performances via Amazon’s streaming video service.

Tickets and stuff available here.