Though I realise that it is a bastion of everything wrong with the middle classes and British patriotism, this year's proms season features lots and lots of work by a man named Shostakovich, a Soviet composer, the centenary of whose birth is this year. I know very little about him, except that his music is used in the Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut, but my classical music loving friend informs me that he is absolutely fascinating, mixing quite experimental stuff with classical music in the Romantic tradition.

Proms are only £5 for standing tickets, cheaper than most gigs in London. If i can find out which the really interesting works are, anyone fancy trying some out with me?