In the past, history was presented to us as a settled story: a pile of dates to memorise, a handful of “great men” to admire, a heritage of statues and plaques to defend from “erasure”. In the 21st century, this focus has come under greater scrutiny, as wider and more nuanced studies of the past look beyond the limits of male experience. In this lecture for the Royal Historical Society, Sathnam Sanghera takes this further, drawing on his work on the British Empire and his experience of writing history for a broad public. He explores what history is not: not fixed, not a balance sheet of “good” and “bad”, and definitely not the same thing as national heritage, nostalgic pride or self-lacerating shame. Tickets on sale Oct 3, 2026.

Through the extraordinary life of George Michael, prize‑winning author Sathnam Sanghera explores music, identity, politics, and what one of our most loved pop stars can tell us about modern Britain. Blending personal reflection with sharp cultural insight, Sanghera paints a portrait that spans immigration, homophobia, fame, creative genius, tabloid obsession, addiction and the devotion of fans. A decade after George Michael’s death, this conversation asks why his story continues to resonate so powerfully and why public love for him has only grown.  ‘Whether he’s writing autobiography or fiction, Sathnam Sanghera is busy carving out his own literary niche.’ Jonathan Coe

Join Sathnam Sanghera in conversation with novelist Emma Forrest, author of Father Figure, to discuss his new book, Tonight the Music Seems So Loud. A kaleidoscopic exploration of immigration, homophobia, fame and the culture of the 80s and 90s, it examines George Michael’s creative and musical genius through the lenses of tabloid scrutiny, addiction, obsessive fans and shame. Together, they explore why the love for George Michael has only grown in the years since his tragic death on Christmas Day 2016. There will be a book signing after this event.The world’s longest-running Literature Festival returns with conversations that challenge, entertain and inspire. Members On Sale – from 27 Aug, 10am. 18 – 30’s Members On Sale – from 2 Sept, 10am. General On Sale – from 3 Sept, 10am

George Michael: musician, icon and writer of arguably one of the greatest love songs of the 20th century. But alongside the magic of the music, his life led him through one of the most turbulent periods of recent British history. In his expansive and joyful new book Tonight the Music Seems So Loud, bestselling journalist and broadcaster Sathnam Sanghera returns to the Birmingham Literature Festival to guide us beyond the unmistakable beat of the 80’s dancefloor into the life and times of this most bold and beloved artist. A story of radical invention, sexuality and songs we can still sing every lyric from… In conversation with journalist and broadcaster, Pete Paphides. Tickets: £10/£8 (concs). 

A decade after his death George Michael is loved more than ever. Tonight the Music Seems So Loud, Sathnam Sanghera’s brilliantly original portrait of this groundbreaking artist, also serves as an enthralling account of a strange and turbulent period of British history. The bestselling Empireland author and Times columnist returns to Henley with his poignant and joyful exploration of the connection between music and politics, what secrecy and global fame can do to the soul and much more besides. Sathnam will be interviewed by Nick Heyward.

Our much-loved Civilised Sundays at Jikoni have long brought together brilliant cultural leaders for lively conversation over abundant food. This September, we are reviving that convivial spirit for a special one-off Monday evening, welcoming back our friend, bestselling author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera. Sathnam will be joined by another friend of Jikoni – the inimitable Ash Atalla, award-winning comedy producer behind The Office, The IT Crowd, People Just Do Nothing and Stath Lets Flats. Together they will discuss Sathnam’s new book, Tonight the Music Seems So Loud, an exploration of the life, music and cultural legacy of George Michael, and undoubtedly wander into questions of identity, belonging, creativity and British culture along the way. Monday 7 September, arrivals from 6.30pm at Jikoni Marylebone. Tickets are £85 and include a welcome drink and a specially curated menu that nods to Sathnam’s Panjabi roots, accompanied by the conversation, an audience Q&A and book signing.

Sathnam Sanghera returns to LitFest in 2026 to talk about his new book, Tonight the Music Seems so Loud: The Meaning of George Michael, an in-depth portrait of one of Britain’s best-loved musicians, a songwriter whose talent was perhaps only fully acknowledged after his death. Guiding us through George Michael’s complex personal story – his music, life and legacy – Sanghera explores issues of fame, sexuality, identity, immigration and belonging. Tonight the Music Seems so Loud captures one of Britain’s greatest artists in all his glory. Sanghera is an award-winning author and journalist, whose books include Empireland, Stolen History, The Boy with the Topknot and Marriage Material. Sathnam Sanghera will be in conversation with writer and interviewer Rebecca Fletcher.

The bestselling author of Empireland and Empireworld is back with an extraordinary new book…about George Michael! He wrote one of the biggest hits of our age in “about an hour” in his childhood bedroom. He would go on to collaborate with some of the greatest musicians of all time​. He was a pop star who bleached his hair blonde, wore tiny shorts whilst critiquing his own image mercilessly. He lived through the AIDS crisis and one of the most homophobic periods of British history, yet when he finally came out, did so boldly and unapologetically.

Ten years after his death, George Michael is still everywhere: the annual success of ‘Last Christmas’, new covers of his songs, and endless memes on social media. Sathnam’s new book Tonight the Music Seems So Loud is at once a kaleidoscopic portrait of one of Britain’s most beloved musicians and an account of a turbulent period of British history. His unconventional and enthralling book explores the connection between music and politics, examines what secrecy does to the soul, and explores how fame rots the sense of self. It also joyfully celebrates one of Britain’s greatest artists in all his glory.

Sathnam will be in conversation with writer and broadcaster Nick Acheson.

In his unconventional and enthralling new book, lifelong George Michael super fan Sathnam Sanghera offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of one of Britain’s most beloved musicians and an account of a strange and turbulent period of British history, exploring the connection between music and politics, exposes what secrecy does to the soul, and reveals how fame rots the sense of self.

‘This affecting exploration of the troubled genius’s impact is packed with anecdote, sharp analysis and social context’ – The Guardian

‘A nerdy, passionate, extraordinary book‘ – The Spectator

He wrote Careless Whisper at seventeen. He sued his record label and nearly won. He came out not with a whisper but a roar. He fed the homeless anonymously for years. He died on Christmas Day, and the world felt quieter for it. Ten years on, George Michael is still everywhere — and we still haven’t fully understood why.

Join us at Walthamstow Trades Hall for an unmissable evening with Sathnam Sanghera — bestselling author of Empireland and The Boy With The Topknot — as we celebrates the publication of his brilliant new book. Tonight The Music Seems So Loud is not an ordinary pop biography. It’s a kaleidoscopic portrait of one of Britain’s most beloved musicians and an account of a strange and turbulent period in British history — exploring what secrecy does to the soul, and how fame rots the sense of self.

Through the lens of George Michael’s life, Sanghera weaves a story of immigration, homophobia, fame, the 80s and 90s, creative genius, the tabloids, addiction, obsessive fans, and why the love for George Michael has only grown since his tragic death. This is the book Sathnam needed to write. After years in the trenches of Britain’s culture wars, he turned to the artist who first captured his heart at the age of eight — and produced something joyful, sharp, and genuinely moving.

Sathnam will be in conversation with the writer, journalist and broadcaster Laura Barton — one of the finest voices on music and culture in Britain today. Expect laughter. Expect argument. Expect to hear Careless Whisper differently for the rest of your life.