Steve Reich’s work and influence will be the focus of celebration this weekend as LSO St Luke’s and Barbican Hall between them host Reverberations, a series of sessions by various artists exploring how his work has affected their own music. Musicians featured over the weekend include experimental, contemporary New Yorkers Bang On A Can, as well as Tyondai Braxton, Johann Johannsson and Owen Pallett who, accompained by the Britten Sinfonia, will play his Heartland album on Sunday.
Reich will himself be performing and his compositions will of course feature heavily. Some will be getting UK premieres, including Mallet Quartet, performed by the Amadinda Quartet, and Double Sextet, performed by eighth blackbird and Bang On A Can.
Kronos Quartet are heavily involved, giving Reich’s WTC 9/11 its European premiere, and also performing the world premiere of Tenebre by Bryce Dessner, taking time out from his day job as guitarist with The National.
Reverberations: The Influence of Steve Reich takes place on 7 and 8 May.
More details here.
Gigs Of The Week: 2 May – 8 May 2011
Hugh Laurie – Union Chapel, London – 4 May
The Americanisation of Bertie Wooster continues as the highest paid actor on telly gets ready for the release of his debut album, Let Them Talk, on 9 May. Inspired by New Orleans blues, Laurie takes the vocals and piano parts on a collection of versions of tracks originally laid down by the likes of Ray Charles and Lead Belly. It also features collaborations with Irma Thomas, Tom Jones and Dr John. Having already showcased a couple of tracks on Later with Jools Holland, he’ll be letting us in on some more material at the Union Chapel before heading to Hamburg, Berlin and Paris.
More details here.
Mariza – Queen Elizabeth Hall, London – 5, 6, 7 May
In recent years, the sad songs of Portuguese fado have become synonymous with Mariza, as she’s managed to imbue the genre with a cross-over appeal that’s taken her and her art around the world. In March she released Fadotracional, an album in which she has revisited Fado songs that she grew up with. Catch her performing them as she takes up a three day residency in the South Bank Centre this week, before moving on to Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh.
More details here.
Also Recommended:
And So I Watch You From Afar + Mojo Fury – Scala, London – 3 May
Baths + Starslinger – Cargo, London – 3 May
Max Raptor – Barfly, London – 3 May
Brandt Bauer Flick – Bush Hall, London – 4 May
Fdot1 – Queen Of Hoxton, London – 4 May
Young The Giant – Borderline, London – 4 May
Panic At The Disco – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London – 4 May
The Chakras – Borderline, London – 5 May
Duologue – Electrowerkz, London – 5 May
Young Legionnaire – Barfly, London – 5 May
Nikki Yanofsky – Queen Elizabeth Hall, London – 8 May
Laura Cantrell – Union Chapel, London – 8 May
Just Announced:
Austra – Cargo, London – 7 July
Canadians Austra, led by Katie Stelmanis, have what is sure to be regarded as one of 2011’s best debut albums. While her powerful vocals offer up comparisons to Florence Welch and Nika Roza Danilova, the sideways 1980s synths that back their hook-laden, earwormy melodies ensure that Austra have something new to offer. Having recently completed a successful trip over here that’s cemented their reputation, they’ll be back in July.
More details here.
The Apple Cart – Victoria Park, London – 7 August
A new one-Sundayer in Victoria Park, The Apple Cart promises to combine music, comedy, art, cabaret and magic. The music side of things is shaping up nicely for the more discerning types of a certain age, with Saint Etienne, Soul II Soul and Badly Drawn Boy all confirmed. Chilly Gonzales will be headlining the cabaret stage.
More details here.
