ICEMAN FURNISS QNT  + ORGANZA RAY at The Old England Pub
Headfirst Editor's Pick

"All good things must come to an end they say… but the freewheeling revolving-door punk jazz quartet focused on Harry Furniss’ squalling cornet seemed like it would last forever. Bid adieu to this era of no-wave madness with support from kosmische trombone sound artsters Organza Ray. "

Join the Headfirst mailing list for our unbiased recommendations.

See event details

A gig held at The Old England Pub on Saturday 31st August. The event starts at 20:30.


Improv’s Greatest Hits hosts Iceman Furniss Qrt’s final show
with very special guests and OG’s of Berlin’s avant garde scene
—- Eleni Poulou ( ex The Fall etc ) with master trombonist Hilary
Jeffery in their duo Organza Ray

PLUS TO OPEN a unique and brand new performance
art group THE FULLWIT POP UP TRIO !

It’ll also be a return to hallowed ground - The Old
England ; newly replenished in alt scene waters.

Improv’s Greatest Hits is a night and fluid collective using
improvised music as a vehicle to mixmusical and social scenes.
Blurring subculture lines, debuting new artists + collaborations
on the regular www.instagram.com/improvsgreatesthits


ORGANZA RAY ( Berlin )
—————————————-

https://organzaray.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/eleni.poulou
https://hiljef.com/info/
https://elenipoulou.bandcamp.com

Organza Ray are Eleni Poulou and Hilary Jeffery. Early
improvised soundtracks and spontaneous storytelling
have transformed into future folk songs. Connecting
pathways of knowledge through sound, discovering
shimmering entrances and underwater arches. 400
years of long notes, open bags and dancing butterfly blues.

Eleni Poulou has played / recorded and toured worldwide
with many groups including The Fall ( 2002 - 2016 ) and
Shizuo. They are currently working with Wolfgang Seidel,
Bomb Sniffing Dogs, and as ULR with James »Jeanette« Main.
She hosts monthly radio shows such as “Elope” on Cashmere
Radio and “Kastra” on Stegi Radio as well as DJs, writes poetry,
creates sound collages and makes zines with like minded artists
such as Theresa Patzschke. She is one half of NOHE NOSHE
together with Petr Step Kišur and is part of the Berlin art
collective Honey Suckle Company. Her most recent solo
album is “Karta” which merges Greek Pontic music with
other sounds and beats.

Trombonist Hilary has played in many settings including
cathedrals, night clubs, dance studios, cinemas, galleries,
streets, forests and mountains, but it was the sense of silent
space he experienced during a journey to the Sahara Desert
in 1990 that has been the sustaining influence on his work.
A trombonist that can function in many roles: solo melodic
voice, abstract noise generator, funky riffer, apocalyptic
siren, harmonic pad, drone machine and in recent years has
become increasingly focused on the melodic and inbuilt
microtonal capacities of the instrument.. He is also based in
Berlin where he plays in a multitude of groups including Etude
(Ensemble Treffen Um Die Ecke), Mullet and Zinc & Copper


ICEMAN FURNISS QNT
————————————-

https://icemanfurnissquintet.bandcamp.com/album/direct-from" target="_blank" >https://icemanfurnissquintet.bandcamp.com/album/direct-from
https://improvsgreatesthits.bandcamp.com/album/hardboiled
Live sets on soundcloud - https://shorturl.at/YMg7Q
https://icemanfurnissquintet.bandcamp.com/

‘Fully improvising punk projectors of jazz sonics’ circa
2014 - 24. Starting out as a solo idea for cornet player
Furniss, the sound and ethos, very quickly become about
the group instead, with each member taking an equal role ;
mish mashing their respective musical influences from early
post punk to 70’s Miles to NYC no wave to Tortoise to spiritual
jazz into a unique gumbo. This in turn, along with other allies
helped introduce a new inclusive experimental scene to Bristol

Primarily playing their own hosted DIY shows championing
eclectic lineups / new artists + bands from overseas; gigs
featured Bristol bands like LICE, Milos Planes / Yama Warashi
Waldo’s Gift / The Brackish / Run Logan Run / Haal / Foot Foot
and The Rothmans. Other type shows have included supporting
heroes like James Chance and The Ex plus playing a Big Jeff
curated night for Independent venue week.

Past members have totalled around 20 or so, leading to
be named ‘Bristol’s Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers’
in reference to being an early practice ground for now
powerhouse local musicians including Dan Johnson
( Ep/64 etc ) Chris Langton ( Snazzback etc ) and until
recently Big Fuss ( Harry Irvine )

Releases have reflected the ‘you have to see it live’
nature of the group with all sets recorded and put on
Soundcloud, a mixtape ‘IFQ 90’ of live performances and
10 min single ‘18.07.16’ cut from a gig. Their only produced
album ‘HardBoiled’ was still all improvised in the studio but
with additional over dubs and edits. They have a new EP out
this week - ‘Direct From .. ‘ feat cuts from a session at Factory
Studios in 2022

Since 2019, appearances have been sporadic and they are
moving on to new projects. The Iceman name will carry on
in Harry’s forthcoming solo project

Tonight’s final credits are Harry Iceman Furniss ( Bingo Fury
Improv’s Greatest Hits / Ex Agent etc ) - cornet / Ant Brown
( Repo Man / Swelt ) - bass / Marcus Jeffery ( Bert Ussher )
- drums / Thomas Bryan - guitar & Harry Irvine ( Big Fuss )
- percussion

THE FULLWIT POP UP TRIO
—————————/-//————--

https://www.instagram.com/mikaverziehrt
https://www.instagram.com/evo_ethel
https://www.instagram.com/parisaurus

New performance art group featuring Tap / Clowning and
soundscapes ! from Evo ( Ex Agent / Foot Foot ) Mika + Paris

Entry requirements: 18+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio

Other post-punk gigs

Pure Adult at Rough Trade Bristol
— Rough Trade Bristol
experimental rock industrial rock alternative rock post-punk noise rock
Panic Shack at Thekla
— Thekla
rock alternative rock indie rock post-punk
Joshua Burnside at The Trinity Centre
— The Trinity Centre
folk folk rock experimental
Young Knives at Strange Brew
— Strange Brew
indie rock post-punk art rock
CHALK + special guests at Strange Brew
— Strange Brew
industrial rock post-grunge alternative rock post-punk shoegaze