Headfirst Editor's Pick
"Showstopping trifecta of contemporary classical meets experimental electronic. Mara Simpson weaves vocal loops and field recordings into shapeshifting ambient/avant garde/chamber folk soundscapes to lose (and find) yourself deep within. Stellar support in the glitchy jazzbient eclecticism of Bethany Ley (fka STANLÆY) and pianist Larkhall’s sublime post-classical compositions."
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A gig held at The Jam Jar on Monday 25th March. The event starts at 19:30.
*MARA SIMPSON*
Mara Simpson is an award-winning film composer, multi-instrumentalist, performing artist and songwriter. Her critically acclaimed work seamlessly blends electronic, acoustic and orchestral instruments, exploring her love for tape delays, analogue synths and field recordings.
Her genre-defying musical works include scores for SILO and collaborations with Hidden Orchestra, Cerys Matthews, Poppy Ackroyd and Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres.
*BETHANY LEY*
Bethany Ley is an independent producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Bristol, UK. Her sonic world circulates intricate arrangements informed by Bethany’s eclectic musical background, creating “sublime twilight electronica” (Music is My Sanctuary).
Inspiration stems from the textures and sounds of Indonesian Gamelan, Debussy, and Alice Coltrane to the popular voices of Cocorosie, Aphex Twin, and FKA twigs. The combination is both virtuoso arrangements and intriguing granular sound design that comes together to create an otherworldly and hypnotic sonic landscape.
*LARKHALL*
Composer and pianist Charlie Hooper-Williams aka Larkhall performs “beautiful” (Times Radio), “soulful, richly layered” (Nick Smithson) music which is “masterfully understated and laced with a magnetic sense of melody” (Archodia). A prizewinning former concert pianist, he combines intricate, virtuosic textures with soaring, stirring melodies. Originally from the pine woods of Minnesota’s Iron Range, he grew up near Chicago, studied at the University of Cambridge Centre for Music and Science, and now makes his home in Bath.
*POSTCLASSICAL ASSEMBLY*
Postclassical Assembly is a new concert series showcasing composer-performers working a classically-influenced format, each with their own modern, unique, and deeply listenable approach.
Beautiful, engaging, accessible music, with no barrier to entry.
Informal and unconventional as well as classic concert spaces.
Performers from a wide variety of backgrounds and influences.
Some use technology to create a performance that wouldn’t have been possible last year; others bring a collaborative, pop aesthetic to ensemble playing.
The common thread is that they love music too much to let it stagnate— this is heart-burstingly emotional, unafraid of virtuosity (or lack of virtuosity!), fun, sexy, daringly new music that respects it audience and is excited to show them new things.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
Mara Simpson is an award-winning film composer, multi-instrumentalist, performing artist and songwriter. Her critically acclaimed work seamlessly blends electronic, acoustic and orchestral instruments, exploring her love for tape delays, analogue synths and field recordings.
Her genre-defying musical works include scores for SILO and collaborations with Hidden Orchestra, Cerys Matthews, Poppy Ackroyd and Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres.
*BETHANY LEY*
Bethany Ley is an independent producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Bristol, UK. Her sonic world circulates intricate arrangements informed by Bethany’s eclectic musical background, creating “sublime twilight electronica” (Music is My Sanctuary).
Inspiration stems from the textures and sounds of Indonesian Gamelan, Debussy, and Alice Coltrane to the popular voices of Cocorosie, Aphex Twin, and FKA twigs. The combination is both virtuoso arrangements and intriguing granular sound design that comes together to create an otherworldly and hypnotic sonic landscape.
*LARKHALL*
Composer and pianist Charlie Hooper-Williams aka Larkhall performs “beautiful” (Times Radio), “soulful, richly layered” (Nick Smithson) music which is “masterfully understated and laced with a magnetic sense of melody” (Archodia). A prizewinning former concert pianist, he combines intricate, virtuosic textures with soaring, stirring melodies. Originally from the pine woods of Minnesota’s Iron Range, he grew up near Chicago, studied at the University of Cambridge Centre for Music and Science, and now makes his home in Bath.
*POSTCLASSICAL ASSEMBLY*
Postclassical Assembly is a new concert series showcasing composer-performers working a classically-influenced format, each with their own modern, unique, and deeply listenable approach.
Beautiful, engaging, accessible music, with no barrier to entry.
Informal and unconventional as well as classic concert spaces.
Performers from a wide variety of backgrounds and influences.
Some use technology to create a performance that wouldn’t have been possible last year; others bring a collaborative, pop aesthetic to ensemble playing.
The common thread is that they love music too much to let it stagnate— this is heart-burstingly emotional, unafraid of virtuosity (or lack of virtuosity!), fun, sexy, daringly new music that respects it audience and is excited to show them new things.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
Other classical gigs
— Rough Trade Bristol
alternative rock
noise rock
art rock
experimental
