This Friday will see the start of the New Music Biennial at Southbank Centre in London comprising of a weekend of free concerts, workshops and new music. Amongst the many commissions and performances taking place there are a number that will appeal to folk music lovers out there, all are London Premieres so expect those free tickets to go very fast.
Friday 4 July 2014
Matheu Watson & Luke Daniels: New World Drovers
New World Drovers is a special commission by Gael Music in which Matheu Watson and Luke Daniels have created new music to be performed by a folk quartet with projection inspired by the long-vanished trade of Scottish cattle-droving.
The piece explores the many drove roads or tracks set deeply into the Scottish countryside, its hardy highland cattle drovers and their wider connections to the New World.
It features joint composers of the work, Matheu Watson (electric guitar) and Luke Daniels (melodeon and zither banjo), and performances from Patsy Reid (fiddle), James Fagan (bouzouki) and Mac Morin (piano and step dancer).
Saturday 5 July 2014
Lau: The Bell That Never Rang
Folk musicians Lau and the Elysian Quartet find common ground which will come as no surprise to those who know their music as both share a love for exploration and experimentation.
This piece is a celebration of Glasgow; the title refers to the verse attached to Glasgow’s coat of arms, relating to the deeds of St Mungo.
Mary Ann Kennedy: Aiseag
Another London premiere of Aiseag (The Ferryboat) is connection. A lifelong fascination creates a journey between the Highlands and Canada’s Gaelic diaspora. Electronica and found sound, Cape Breton and Scottish Highland musicians, a Gaelic choir and a Glasgow string section all aboard with composers Mary Ann Kennedy and Scott Macmillan, audio designer Nick Turner and poet, Aonghas MacNeacail.
Sunday 6 July 2014
Alistair Anderson: Panning for Gold
Commissioned by Sage Gateshead Panning for Gold is a unique musical collaboration between one of the UK’s most talented Steel Pan musicians, Alistair Anderson,the world’s most respected English concertina player, a DJ, clog dancer and youth steel bands from the UK and the West Indies. This project will create high impact performances both in the UK and Trinidad.
The New Music Biennial is a PRS for Music Foundation initiative, New Music Biennial provides a platform for talented composers, performers and organisations who push the boundaries of new music in the UK.
Entry is free but you do need to book
Details and Links here: http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/new-music-biennial/productions