Bastille’s “&” at Turner Contemporary:
When a stadium-sized chorus meets a white-cube gallery
Imagine walking into a quiet, white-walled gallery in Margate, the smell of sea air just outside, and then hearing Dan Smith’s voice turn the room into a cinematic stage. That’s exactly what happens when Bastille’s latest project, the album “&” (Ampersand), collides with contemporary art at Turner Contemporary. A moment where storytelling and visual art don’t simply coexist, they amplify one another. (NME, ARTE)
What is “&” (Ampersand)? — Bastille’s contemporary collection of story songs
Bastille’s “&” is described by the band and critics as a collection of story songs. Vignettes that pull characters and moments from history, mythology, and the imagination into pop-synth arrangements and cinematic production. The project was released in parts, with the full body of work arriving on October 25, 2024, and the band framed the album as an exploration of surprising lives and overlooked figures told through song. Critics noted its ambition: part-concept album, part-collaborative storytelling. (Bastille, XS Noize | Independent Music News)
The record folds in collaborations, familial voices, and diverse production touches. And the physical release carries artwork created by Theo Hersey and Dan Smith, printed letterpress with a booklet that renders each track visually. That tactile art-meets-music approach makes “&” feel like a natural partner for a contemporary art space. (Bastille)
Turner Contemporary, Margate. Where Bastille met contemporary art (the what & the how)
In an elegant bridging of disciplines, Bastille performed material from “&” inside Turner Contemporary as part of the Sounds Like Art series. Filmed and presented in-gallery, with the band performing amid or alongside works on display. The film and performance (available through Arte Concert and other outlets) places contemporary music directly into the museum context, letting songs and sculptures, installations and seascapes talk to one another. (ARTE, YouTube)
Turner Contemporary itself is a lighthouse for contemporary art on the English coast. It’s a space that makes a point of connecting art, community, and place. For Bastille, whose album celebrates narrative and place-based stories, Margate’s gallery was an ideal stage.
5 ways Bastille & Turner Contemporary make contemporary art feel alive (quick list)
Context-shifting — Songs performed in a gallery refract meaning: lyrics meet sculpture and change tone. (ARTE)
Cross-pollination — Visual artists and musicians borrow each other’s audiences, widening access to contemporary art.
Tactile storytelling — The album’s printed booklet and artwork turn songs into artifacts that complement gallery objects. (Bastille)
Local-to-global — A Margate venue makes a global band’s stories feel rooted and local, connecting community with international art-making. (ARTE)
Curated listening — A performance among artworks encourages slow, attentive listening — the kind of experience museums cultivate. (YouTube)
Why this matters: music as contemporary art activism and empathy
There’s a tendency to see music and contemporary art as separate ecosystems. One commercial and immediate, the other slow and contemplative. Bastille’s “&” and the Turner Contemporary collaboration complicate that split. When a band stages songs inside a museum, the audience is invited to slow down, to read lyrics as you might read a placard, and to see music as a form of narrative sculpture. It’s a move that makes both fields more accessible and ethical: Bastille’s reach meets the museum’s community focus, and the result is culturally generous rather than extractive. Reviews have called the album inventive and emotionally resonant, and the museum performance underscores the project’s storytelling intent. (DIY, XS Noize | Independent Music News)
A museum exhibition that talks back. Contemporary art on display during Bastille’s performance
Turner Contemporary has hosted several exhibitions that speak to ecological themes and place-based materiality. For example, Anya Gallaccio’s work has used local, ephemeral materials to highlight sustainability and transience. Dan Smith himself has spoken about being particularly interested in artists like Gallaccio and Antony Gormley when performing in the museum context, showing that the connection was intentional and artistically curious. That curiosity helps explain why Bastille’s songs, rooted in lives and place, felt at home inside Turner Contemporary. (The Times, ARTE)
FAQ — quick answers for readers who want the essentials
Q: When was “&” released and what is it about?
A: The full “&” project was released in parts, with the album arriving in October 2024; it’s framed as a series of story songs inspired by historical, mythological, and personal figures. (NME, XS Noize | Independent Music News)
Q: Did Bastille actually perform inside Turner Contemporary?
A: Yes — Bastille’s performance in the Sounds Like Art series at Turner Contemporary was filmed and distributed via Arte Concert and related platforms. (ARTE, YouTube)
Q: Where can I watch the Turner Contemporary performance?
A: Arte Concert has published the filmed performance, and there are video postings (including on YouTube/Arte-hosted channels) of the Turner Contemporary edition. (YouTube, ARTE)
Q: Is the album connected to any visual artists?
A: The album packaging includes artwork by Theo Hersey and Dan Smith; during the Turner Contemporary performance Dan Smith also referenced an interest in artists like Anya Gallaccio and Antony Gormley. (Bastille, ARTE)
Q: I love both music and contemporary art — what should I do next?
A: Look for events where galleries host live music or film; check museum calendars (Turner Contemporary posts events on their website) and watch the Sounds Like Art episodes for more cross-disciplinary inspiration. (ARTE)
How to experience “&” through a contemporary-art lens (practical tips for visitors & fans)
Listen once, then listen again in a gallery: hearing the songs in a quiet or visual space reveals new lyrics and textures. (ARTE)
Bring the booklet: the ampersand physical release has visual accompaniments that enrich the stories. (Bastille)
Read about the artworks on display: knowing a bit about the artists in the museum will add layers to the music. (The Times)
One question for you: Which story-song would you like to see turned into a gallery installation?
Would you prefer a narrative installation (actors/voiceovers), a visual/kinetic sculpture, or a mixed-media piece that plays the song alongside found objects? Tell us! We’d love to share the best ideas on Studio117.
Final thoughts & the cultural take. Bastille, contemporary art, and ethical cultural exchange
Bastille’s “&” is more than an album release: it’s an invitation to listen differently. Performed inside Turner Contemporary, those invitations become communal; the gallery context reframes songs as artifacts worth studying, and the band’s evident curiosity about contemporary artists makes the collaboration feel like an exchange rather than a stunt. For culture-lovers interested in immersive experiences, this is the kind of cross-disciplinary project that rewards slow attention and fosters meaningful local-global connections. (DIY, ARTE)