It’s a warm and dusky midweek evening in Central London, the kind where everything feels just that bit dreamier. Concert goers eagerly line up along The Strand, being ushered through the decadent arches of Somerset House. Here to see the six-time Grammy award-winning St. Vincent. An art-rock pioneer whose expansive work consistently forges immersive narratives and defies boundaries.

This July, Somerset House, in partnership with American Express, put on their well-loved Summer Series. Armed with a formidable and eclectic line up Somerset House are hosting eleven nights of music. Audiences and performers are enveloped within the picturesque neoclassical setting of the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Courtyard.

With this year being the site's 25th anniversary, the space has never felt more alive. The Somerset House Summer Series has brought together familiar faces and newcomers alike in a setting that is intimate and surreal in equal measures.

Last night, St. Vincent made the courtyard her own. Opening the evening were the charismatic and vibrant New York based art punk band Gustaf, who set the scene remarkably with their jagged rhythms and rocker stage presence.

As the sun began to set, St. Vincent emerged. Cool, poised, and as theatrical as ever, she brings to the stage an electricity that cannot be replicated. Her presence and performance were full to the brim with an ethereal energy that was polished while remaining wholeheartedly raw. The set was a carefully constructed journey through her eclectic discography, balancing fan favourites such as Los Ageless and Fast Disco with the more visceral and gritty sounds of All Born Screaming, her seventh studio album released last year.

With the backing of a tight, yet high energy band, St Vincent’s live performance was a transcendental experience, characterised by bold vocals and innovative sound layering. In an environment such as this, the singer's glam rock mystique soared to sublime new heights.

Somerset House deserves credit for curating not just a concert, but a cultural experience. It’s the kind of night that reminds you of the power live music holds to transform a space into something sacred. With four nights left and acts like The Snuts, FLO and The Paper Kites still to come, ASBO urges you to claim your spot in the courtyard.