The Gallimaufry and Emily Magpie are excited to announce the start of a new weekly Wednesday night. 'Magpie Presents' showcases female & non-binary artists / bands from Bristol and beyond who are coming up and creating beautiful, interesting music that feels exciting to us.

Born in Tehran, Iran, AVIJÉ moved to Shrewsbury as a child, later finding her home in Brighton. Growing up around a strong Persian family-oriented culture, AVIJÉ’s first experiences of performing centred around traditional Iranian song and dance at family events.

Iranian censorship imbedded her anti-establishment roots from an early age, listening to RnB, Hip-Hop and Soul. These silky roots have since flourished in Brighton - her home from home. At a time of political uncertainty and smouldering revolution in Iran, her most recent project fans the flames of this fire.

AVIJÉ’s sound is a cumulation of this journey and these experiences, drawing an eclectic mix of reggae, jazz, soul, Latin and 1970s Iranian music. Alongside receiving funding for the project from Arts Council England, AVIJÉ has been featured in Sussex Jazz Magazine and was named Vocalist of the Year by BBC Introducing Shropshire’s Michaela Brown.

Avije carries the emotional gravitas that comes with this social responsibility, giving an emotive, insightful vocal that accompanies this; her catharsis is contagious and informative, providing an outlet for the Iranian voice that is otherwise hushed by mainstream media. She is far from hushed, with her postmodern Shirley Bassey boom that frames the percussion and strings of the rest of her band. Musically and socially she is a guiding voice that needs to be heard.

Listen in solidarity, move with power.

Free Entry

Entry requirements: no age restrictions — Read more — Read less