Qu Junktions is a bespoke music event, promotion and tour adventure specialist involving two programmers from the artist run enclave that is the The Cube Microplex in Bristol, UK.
Latest News
Qu 30
First up...3 summer shows that simmer with possibility.
This is what is needed... a Kenyan and American cooperative effort where African benga music and some fine-tuned American rock (Thrill Jockey style) meet in sun kissed union
Wed 9th July: EXTRA GOLDEN + Drinks
A full on Japanese invasion of mental fusion featuring the talents of Ove Naxx, Bogulta, DJ Scotch Egg and Maruosa
Thu 17th July: OSAKA INVASION
A nine piece brass band from Brooklyn lead the dance at the now annual Qu J Summer Show
Sat 19th July: HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE + Bass Clef + Zun Zun Egui
Other Stuff
Efterklang play a 4 date UK mini tour before playing with Tortoise and the Liars at Analog on the 19th July
Bass Clef + DJ /rupture + Jah Dan all at Glade Festival
Zun Zun Egui at Dingwalls, London, in support of Extra Golden
Qu Autumn tours and shows are being planned at the mo...
///
Go see this these if you can:
Fri 11 July: KIKURI (MERZBOW & KEIJI HAINO) + The A Band + Domovoi in Newcastle
Sun 20th July: THE TREMBLING BELLS + Ben Reynolds + Freeze Puppy
Plus big, big THANKKKSS to all that played, paid and made Venn 08 a sheer delight. Full reviews and pics up soon.
This is what is needed... a Kenyan and American cooperative effort where African benga music and some fine-tuned American rock (Thrill Jockey style) meet in sun kissed union
Wed 9th July: EXTRA GOLDEN + Drinks
A full on Japanese invasion of mental fusion featuring the talents of Ove Naxx, Bogulta, DJ Scotch Egg and Maruosa
Thu 17th July: OSAKA INVASION
A nine piece brass band from Brooklyn lead the dance at the now annual Qu J Summer Show
Sat 19th July: HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE + Bass Clef + Zun Zun Egui
Other Stuff
Efterklang play a 4 date UK mini tour before playing with Tortoise and the Liars at Analog on the 19th July
Bass Clef + DJ /rupture + Jah Dan all at Glade Festival
Zun Zun Egui at Dingwalls, London, in support of Extra Golden
Qu Autumn tours and shows are being planned at the mo...
///
Go see this these if you can:
Fri 11 July: KIKURI (MERZBOW & KEIJI HAINO) + The A Band + Domovoi in Newcastle
Sun 20th July: THE TREMBLING BELLS + Ben Reynolds + Freeze Puppy
Plus big, big THANKKKSS to all that played, paid and made Venn 08 a sheer delight. Full reviews and pics up soon.
Qu 29
Munch Crunch
Now the fruit are ripening enough to eat/cake/distill, it is the time for Venn to blossom. A festival of musical overlap in our city of Bristol, England. Qu has fed the festival and mixed things up...we would like you to harvest ...while the conditions are good. The Bristol music gorge is here. 5th - 8th June - www.vennfestival.com
There is plenty to pick from the Venn tree....Qu would like recommend a few things.
On Thursday the cosmos brought to you via Murcof and AntiVJ in the Planetarium (where is that?...it's the silver ball by @Bristol. (These shows have sold out..however!).
For the serious music heads Friday offers up Chris Cundy with his huge sax doing his free thing, John Wall is here to blast and Matmos good enough to taste...then there is the pleasure of Chew Magna + DJ Fett at the p(arty).
Come Saturday..there is the early showing of hardcore Tractor at the fini....a slope off to forge forest fruits with Ergo Phizmiz and his installation. Feral Trade coffee gonna be slurped up. Bucky are pretty feral too and we are glad they are back at Venn. The MoHa! floorshow should be dug. Philp Jeck definitely a rare sight to take in. Zun Zun Egui have replaced ill fated Why? - who have been forced to cancel a string of European dates due to mumps and a broken hand. Artamonova a welcome weed and Fungus Moth a invitation to step into the the wild.
Side 2 has a ton. At the Skate Park we will witness Peverelist wraping his bass around the tunnel, the ramps getting pounded by Arnaud Rebotini's vintage live set and Punksi letting his two step brass and mesmeric klezmer noise spill into party.
Phil Minton conducting 100 Feral Voices at 2pm and 3pm on Sunday should be one off experience. In fact Venn Sundays are always the best and this year it looks like there will be some delightfully exciting white water riding intercut with plenty of gentle cruising and beatific moments. The adventurous N.I.P plan to do Stockhausen for startes. Take a trip with Sunburned, soar with Flying Lotus and get funked all over.
Venn is about music for those in love with music and all it can do.
Cheap tix on sale in advance and tix on the door.
To be in England, in the summertime, with my love, close to the edge.
PLUS.... ...two new Qu summer shows on the site now..take a peep + 2 more to be added soon. One is Extra Golden.
...Bass Clef is gearing up for his Sonar and Glastonbury sets.
...Efterklang in the USA and awaiting the Analog show with Tortoise.
...MV/EE played with a two drum/two bass + harp set up at Primavera.
...Zun Zun Egui have organic t-shirts and limited CD-R for sale.
...Goldmund just outside Berlin, lakeside.. is where it will be at.
Now the fruit are ripening enough to eat/cake/distill, it is the time for Venn to blossom. A festival of musical overlap in our city of Bristol, England. Qu has fed the festival and mixed things up...we would like you to harvest ...while the conditions are good. The Bristol music gorge is here. 5th - 8th June - www.vennfestival.com
There is plenty to pick from the Venn tree....Qu would like recommend a few things.
On Thursday the cosmos brought to you via Murcof and AntiVJ in the Planetarium (where is that?...it's the silver ball by @Bristol. (These shows have sold out..however!).
For the serious music heads Friday offers up Chris Cundy with his huge sax doing his free thing, John Wall is here to blast and Matmos good enough to taste...then there is the pleasure of Chew Magna + DJ Fett at the p(arty).
Come Saturday..there is the early showing of hardcore Tractor at the fini....a slope off to forge forest fruits with Ergo Phizmiz and his installation. Feral Trade coffee gonna be slurped up. Bucky are pretty feral too and we are glad they are back at Venn. The MoHa! floorshow should be dug. Philp Jeck definitely a rare sight to take in. Zun Zun Egui have replaced ill fated Why? - who have been forced to cancel a string of European dates due to mumps and a broken hand. Artamonova a welcome weed and Fungus Moth a invitation to step into the the wild.
Side 2 has a ton. At the Skate Park we will witness Peverelist wraping his bass around the tunnel, the ramps getting pounded by Arnaud Rebotini's vintage live set and Punksi letting his two step brass and mesmeric klezmer noise spill into party.
Phil Minton conducting 100 Feral Voices at 2pm and 3pm on Sunday should be one off experience. In fact Venn Sundays are always the best and this year it looks like there will be some delightfully exciting white water riding intercut with plenty of gentle cruising and beatific moments. The adventurous N.I.P plan to do Stockhausen for startes. Take a trip with Sunburned, soar with Flying Lotus and get funked all over.
Venn is about music for those in love with music and all it can do.
Cheap tix on sale in advance and tix on the door.
To be in England, in the summertime, with my love, close to the edge.
PLUS.... ...two new Qu summer shows on the site now..take a peep + 2 more to be added soon. One is Extra Golden.
...Bass Clef is gearing up for his Sonar and Glastonbury sets.
...Efterklang in the USA and awaiting the Analog show with Tortoise.
...MV/EE played with a two drum/two bass + harp set up at Primavera.
...Zun Zun Egui have organic t-shirts and limited CD-R for sale.
...Goldmund just outside Berlin, lakeside.. is where it will be at.
Qu-Out 28
Been a while.
Since last time...Viaka got sick but jumped up in fine, ever youthful and ravished style...Jack Rose got into rag-time mode and proved once again his raw mastery of slide, harmonics and all...John Coxon brought his town to ours with Evan Parker and Eddie Prevost in fine camaraderie...get treader...DROID rammed the Trinity and raved till 4am bringing dancers into the worlds of mischief and techno babble...dishers of the dirt Stanley Forbes dun good...MV/EE and The Golden Road mixed up drinks and tunes with The Cherry Blossoms and it was unwieldy and wild front porch, backwoods, prime time stuff that makes for legends...it's been a lucky throw in a cruel but unbelievably fantastical world.
For Matt Valentine’s full tour diary from the Aquarius Tour, UK leg please glide below and read it all up.
There are plenty of Qu tours with acts on the road such as Scorces (laying you flat, in their first UK tour), Peter Walker (the legendary, myth making raga-folk-flamenco guitar man), Chris Corsano and Mick Flower (taking drums and ‘shaahi baaja'to new ecstatics), A Hawk and A Hacksaw (doing their beautiful borderless music making) and Bass Clef laying it down hard and heavy before BIG festival shows.
Upcoming shows
The outer limits of noise, viral electronics and expansive eastern drone/free-form drumming
Fri 18th April: MERZBOW + FLOWER-CORSANO DUO + Carlos Giffoni + Totton Glass
Big classic west coast rock 'n' roll to bring you up for the good times
Sun 11th May: HOWLIN' RAIN + The Wailingest Cats
A riot of exuberant, excited, thrashy energy from the US
Tue 13th May: BLACK LIPS + NO AGE + Soiled Matress & The Springs
An intoxicating blend of borderless musics
Thu 15th May: A HAWK AND A HACKSAW + Zun Zun Egui
A rare show from the cult Australian minimalist/jazz band
Sat 17th May: THE NECKS + Tom Bugs vs Roger Skerman
An three-way evening of heavenly musics and 16mm projections
Mon 19th May: STARS OF THE LID + Scorces + Jez riley French
Since last time...Viaka got sick but jumped up in fine, ever youthful and ravished style...Jack Rose got into rag-time mode and proved once again his raw mastery of slide, harmonics and all...John Coxon brought his town to ours with Evan Parker and Eddie Prevost in fine camaraderie...get treader...DROID rammed the Trinity and raved till 4am bringing dancers into the worlds of mischief and techno babble...dishers of the dirt Stanley Forbes dun good...MV/EE and The Golden Road mixed up drinks and tunes with The Cherry Blossoms and it was unwieldy and wild front porch, backwoods, prime time stuff that makes for legends...it's been a lucky throw in a cruel but unbelievably fantastical world.
For Matt Valentine’s full tour diary from the Aquarius Tour, UK leg please glide below and read it all up.
There are plenty of Qu tours with acts on the road such as Scorces (laying you flat, in their first UK tour), Peter Walker (the legendary, myth making raga-folk-flamenco guitar man), Chris Corsano and Mick Flower (taking drums and ‘shaahi baaja'to new ecstatics), A Hawk and A Hacksaw (doing their beautiful borderless music making) and Bass Clef laying it down hard and heavy before BIG festival shows.
Upcoming shows
The outer limits of noise, viral electronics and expansive eastern drone/free-form drumming
Fri 18th April: MERZBOW + FLOWER-CORSANO DUO + Carlos Giffoni + Totton Glass
Big classic west coast rock 'n' roll to bring you up for the good times
Sun 11th May: HOWLIN' RAIN + The Wailingest Cats
A riot of exuberant, excited, thrashy energy from the US
Tue 13th May: BLACK LIPS + NO AGE + Soiled Matress & The Springs
An intoxicating blend of borderless musics
Thu 15th May: A HAWK AND A HACKSAW + Zun Zun Egui
A rare show from the cult Australian minimalist/jazz band
Sat 17th May: THE NECKS + Tom Bugs vs Roger Skerman
An three-way evening of heavenly musics and 16mm projections
Mon 19th May: STARS OF THE LID + Scorces + Jez riley French
MATT VALENTINE TOUR DIARY
MV&EE with The Golden Road Aquarius Tour – UK Leg – Feb 2008
Here we are ramblin’ across the zone of domes gettin’ gone in aquarius, my sort of ride. For a while we cruised in “snaggletooth”, that is the highway tiger…all purr. UK we’re in white bus that rides like a silver machine. Unit is all lovetone, Samara Lubelski from Soho, NYC on bass, Doc Dunn from Toronto on pedal steel and guitar, Chris Davis from Metairie, Louisiana on the drums…everyone sings. Everything feelin’ fine for Erika and I with this tribe on and off stage. Samara jettisoned the pod after London and Mick Flower steps in to dance, very righteous hyperspace. He’s a cat from Leeds, even jams starfields on his shahi baaja. We even recruit The Doozer, Simon Loynes, from Cambridgeshire for some harp environments. Like I said everyone sings. Space shanties and dance band, that’s The Golden Road.
Cambridge
rolled one a day early and blasted clowns from the soil of dominoes, acclimated in prime joyce via kings and other tone lawns...gig was magic circuitous, dialed up the space time donut and rode the curvature around the moon. i believe in you all the way.
Brighton
rocked the north laines in true believers with ballroom miniature in back room transformer wo/man. hit the daily dance hard outta the gate and left grace by the fences of a sonic kegler, burned the last frame as a dog star wicker image and inhaled numbers in tartan as if it was the last sonic fire. had a peaceful flag waving when it came time to collect the coins, mentions of earth and bishop but schenker stung scorpion bowls as if milton keynes was gwine to the sky stadium of lonesome crow. burned the sky down at the record collector over emmett miller 78's for panacea.
London
prime dance upsetting the rhythm under luminaire moonphase, launched hard on spacetone with samara's last boogie...the golden molecules bet it all for quintuplet mare...speed queen around the bend peeling out hard and there was nothing i could do to stop it. i dig it when my loved ones come free elevated by tangential hyperspace.
Manchester
parallel dimension acessed thru the snooker door to the toilets, bingo masters breakout parlour style backroom ambience with spectres of crispy ambulance and other ambulatory blues. PA was more like WC but we flushed all the houses with amps gone wild...did a space cowboy set of cosmic strings, deditcated it to the ghost harmonics and set the flag alight with the radiant anticipation of picking up mick flower to join the road shelter for the remainder of gettin' gone in aquarius. don't miss these blown out trails. another step forward! Newcastle
mick is in the house housing flushes. of course we bet it all...blow out with dylan carson's guitar mag rider and other forms of flannel labyrinth...rick bishop shreds mighty shards where there is glass refracting the ultimate. me, i fell thru skyholes of liquid ballrooms and other uni circles, we just keep on revolving...recliner ragas in the balcony was my private song and wish it was in the van on cassette. we'll dig slurp dogs anyway and all things slooow. had a eulogy for fushitsusha and i didn't even know it yet, just had to cruise to the cathedral and unbuckle the bible belt. all day long i feel the things that go further than me.
Lincoln
played fuzak, that would be fleshapoids gone wild. it looks really good here, so good we can't touch it...we just burn bright. legendry drum imp inna house. prime boogie and i know that the kuchar brothers woulda made a great movie that night. all stars in lincolnshire.
Sheffield
onna my fave places on earth, never had it so fine and so sublime. all my friends revolving. got to blast medway style over fillmore tone...counted the hungry stones and ali akbar khan quotients in empties. even stayed in john hackett's pad, ghosts of reading gone by and roger dean in cornish waves.
Penryn
made in corwall, chiefly falmouth and freestyle i found my shit. i could feel the last on the jetty near torquay - definitely corwallian as in a new form of pure evolution. beyond beautful...we're rockin' in miss peabody's, i'm grateful to be here. i feel hammer flicks and deeper whitewood, even wicker man beauty as i rest and dance by the lake with pure betty stoggs. we're always gonna lift one up, cheers to all those who come out to see us.
Trowbridge
Fairport played here, Harry Pussy did not. GnR teeshirt, friends with Charlie, she was nice to him, gotta avoid and bend all these weird ways, push the table…I push the table toward “Wolfways”. Great soundcheck, played “Bedroom Eyes”, pocket trumpets on the wall, even ventricles. Keith Christmas played here.
Bristol
Village Thing. It’s a village thing. My only experience is that I was in prime form yet could see sick as a fuckin’ dog, I live vicariously, that happens. Alarm gwine off kids gwine to schools…alcohol induced pain coma. And then we jammed cos we damsoned; chris dealt with some kinda hygiene. Laundry. Tom Landry…set yer clock to the man’s haircut. Cowboys. Astral Weeks moaned I lamented for Veedon Fleece. Mick Sleeps. Coffee…Dot and Louis…Mango milkshakes. Erika reads rodeo style. Bath is drawn…I bathe, Chris tubs it (and embraces it), Mick stays dry. Page three Shakey rundown more scrub, less scrum. Qujunk and another salad, fly half. He Is the poet, barely airborne, grow wings, fins even. Big time mid field. One Henry for all, I got kicked a lot. That’s the mindfield, always putting it in. WE PLAYED IN THE GARDEN EVEN IN THE SAFEHOUSE. Even in the clink. As in Colonel. Kernel. all colonel, home for a nut…a house for everything.
A bed is a home for a bug. Single, poptones…the cassette played.
Rose of the desert. Desert Rose. Chris Hillman is a genius. Go out and see “Horror Hotel”. Food elation, We make erotic song charge. Sauntered back to gratitude road and saw co-operation, the road again. A few pieces were more five easy, I thought of Nicholson’s jacket and wore disco sucks.
Zun Zun Egui, barrista with the milky way. Rolled to get caffeinated to find the joint closed. Cat complained about the price of roll. It was a good day…
Midden Eastern. Arrive at the Croft, the brewpub…cider scene. Upstairs rental, really scummy, tryin’ to make it a sweet place to hangout. Paul runs the best house goin’, the bevs and bevy thereof. People gwine down to the sweatbox, yet now we’um intah the music and people hung on. My kinda scene, Wednesday nite in Bristol, even had group sex. played “mama my” and debuted “susquehanna”…tomorrow we’re in Colchester.
Colchester
Good ales in the brink, sweet room for gesang via the first roman city, we built some tonewalls and a moat, even crashed at faulty towers. Our kinda youth abandon, felt the 'know' in this joint...even had the views of Sam and Lucy making the scene. I felt that kinda arc when on the perimeter of 'hammer', mick had his best dancing shoes on...mighta even been barefoot, the road is wound around boogie children.
Norwich
Had some great spirits in the house that totally made up for some empty seats. one of the only 'off the radar' gigs next to manchester but this one had the look. always good to see an original brattleboro free folk festival poster displayed alongside other archives from erika and my barn. harvest time pictorial also up nearby for the full nudie rub, my kinda suit. blasted off early and late at this one, had one of my best tones and big moments sitting in with the doozer on public transport, i think i made it to the upper deck so mellow in the smoke.
Glasgow
Lovin' the native soil of Glaswegian magic earth as my extended family akin to a brushfire and no bas oxygen date. found the pot still and lamb shank with my people, yonder our dog zuma is still in the silverlake zone but i feel him thru the great walk of cullen skink, barrowlands, abandoned stations and spliffs on sidewalk rollercoasters - sun tramples kept us in the flotation tanx and we jammed bobb trimble style leashes thru other publick houses and old jock. what a site it will be for sore eyes seein' that little boogie king being free and easy running on the mountain lawn cascading snow deep. what a reflection it would be for us to be stravagin with volcanic souls for interminable fire codas. tour was wildwood, better than the jersey shore - my kinda stone pony to end up here...biggest bang at instal, heads asked for a saddled up mare and as always heads rolled. frankie lee and judas priest in a public livingroom, who knows what the leather will bring next for peace whipping post, we're saddled up now for mounds of glory - have wings, Daedalus and the deed. Fuck the bull, this is our entity.
Here we are ramblin’ across the zone of domes gettin’ gone in aquarius, my sort of ride. For a while we cruised in “snaggletooth”, that is the highway tiger…all purr. UK we’re in white bus that rides like a silver machine. Unit is all lovetone, Samara Lubelski from Soho, NYC on bass, Doc Dunn from Toronto on pedal steel and guitar, Chris Davis from Metairie, Louisiana on the drums…everyone sings. Everything feelin’ fine for Erika and I with this tribe on and off stage. Samara jettisoned the pod after London and Mick Flower steps in to dance, very righteous hyperspace. He’s a cat from Leeds, even jams starfields on his shahi baaja. We even recruit The Doozer, Simon Loynes, from Cambridgeshire for some harp environments. Like I said everyone sings. Space shanties and dance band, that’s The Golden Road.
Cambridge
rolled one a day early and blasted clowns from the soil of dominoes, acclimated in prime joyce via kings and other tone lawns...gig was magic circuitous, dialed up the space time donut and rode the curvature around the moon. i believe in you all the way.
Brighton
rocked the north laines in true believers with ballroom miniature in back room transformer wo/man. hit the daily dance hard outta the gate and left grace by the fences of a sonic kegler, burned the last frame as a dog star wicker image and inhaled numbers in tartan as if it was the last sonic fire. had a peaceful flag waving when it came time to collect the coins, mentions of earth and bishop but schenker stung scorpion bowls as if milton keynes was gwine to the sky stadium of lonesome crow. burned the sky down at the record collector over emmett miller 78's for panacea.
London
prime dance upsetting the rhythm under luminaire moonphase, launched hard on spacetone with samara's last boogie...the golden molecules bet it all for quintuplet mare...speed queen around the bend peeling out hard and there was nothing i could do to stop it. i dig it when my loved ones come free elevated by tangential hyperspace.
Manchester
parallel dimension acessed thru the snooker door to the toilets, bingo masters breakout parlour style backroom ambience with spectres of crispy ambulance and other ambulatory blues. PA was more like WC but we flushed all the houses with amps gone wild...did a space cowboy set of cosmic strings, deditcated it to the ghost harmonics and set the flag alight with the radiant anticipation of picking up mick flower to join the road shelter for the remainder of gettin' gone in aquarius. don't miss these blown out trails. another step forward! Newcastle
mick is in the house housing flushes. of course we bet it all...blow out with dylan carson's guitar mag rider and other forms of flannel labyrinth...rick bishop shreds mighty shards where there is glass refracting the ultimate. me, i fell thru skyholes of liquid ballrooms and other uni circles, we just keep on revolving...recliner ragas in the balcony was my private song and wish it was in the van on cassette. we'll dig slurp dogs anyway and all things slooow. had a eulogy for fushitsusha and i didn't even know it yet, just had to cruise to the cathedral and unbuckle the bible belt. all day long i feel the things that go further than me.
Lincoln
played fuzak, that would be fleshapoids gone wild. it looks really good here, so good we can't touch it...we just burn bright. legendry drum imp inna house. prime boogie and i know that the kuchar brothers woulda made a great movie that night. all stars in lincolnshire.
Sheffield
onna my fave places on earth, never had it so fine and so sublime. all my friends revolving. got to blast medway style over fillmore tone...counted the hungry stones and ali akbar khan quotients in empties. even stayed in john hackett's pad, ghosts of reading gone by and roger dean in cornish waves.
Penryn
made in corwall, chiefly falmouth and freestyle i found my shit. i could feel the last on the jetty near torquay - definitely corwallian as in a new form of pure evolution. beyond beautful...we're rockin' in miss peabody's, i'm grateful to be here. i feel hammer flicks and deeper whitewood, even wicker man beauty as i rest and dance by the lake with pure betty stoggs. we're always gonna lift one up, cheers to all those who come out to see us.
Trowbridge
Fairport played here, Harry Pussy did not. GnR teeshirt, friends with Charlie, she was nice to him, gotta avoid and bend all these weird ways, push the table…I push the table toward “Wolfways”. Great soundcheck, played “Bedroom Eyes”, pocket trumpets on the wall, even ventricles. Keith Christmas played here.
Bristol
Village Thing. It’s a village thing. My only experience is that I was in prime form yet could see sick as a fuckin’ dog, I live vicariously, that happens. Alarm gwine off kids gwine to schools…alcohol induced pain coma. And then we jammed cos we damsoned; chris dealt with some kinda hygiene. Laundry. Tom Landry…set yer clock to the man’s haircut. Cowboys. Astral Weeks moaned I lamented for Veedon Fleece. Mick Sleeps. Coffee…Dot and Louis…Mango milkshakes. Erika reads rodeo style. Bath is drawn…I bathe, Chris tubs it (and embraces it), Mick stays dry. Page three Shakey rundown more scrub, less scrum. Qujunk and another salad, fly half. He Is the poet, barely airborne, grow wings, fins even. Big time mid field. One Henry for all, I got kicked a lot. That’s the mindfield, always putting it in. WE PLAYED IN THE GARDEN EVEN IN THE SAFEHOUSE. Even in the clink. As in Colonel. Kernel. all colonel, home for a nut…a house for everything.
A bed is a home for a bug. Single, poptones…the cassette played.
Rose of the desert. Desert Rose. Chris Hillman is a genius. Go out and see “Horror Hotel”. Food elation, We make erotic song charge. Sauntered back to gratitude road and saw co-operation, the road again. A few pieces were more five easy, I thought of Nicholson’s jacket and wore disco sucks.
Zun Zun Egui, barrista with the milky way. Rolled to get caffeinated to find the joint closed. Cat complained about the price of roll. It was a good day…
Midden Eastern. Arrive at the Croft, the brewpub…cider scene. Upstairs rental, really scummy, tryin’ to make it a sweet place to hangout. Paul runs the best house goin’, the bevs and bevy thereof. People gwine down to the sweatbox, yet now we’um intah the music and people hung on. My kinda scene, Wednesday nite in Bristol, even had group sex. played “mama my” and debuted “susquehanna”…tomorrow we’re in Colchester.
Colchester
Good ales in the brink, sweet room for gesang via the first roman city, we built some tonewalls and a moat, even crashed at faulty towers. Our kinda youth abandon, felt the 'know' in this joint...even had the views of Sam and Lucy making the scene. I felt that kinda arc when on the perimeter of 'hammer', mick had his best dancing shoes on...mighta even been barefoot, the road is wound around boogie children.
Norwich
Had some great spirits in the house that totally made up for some empty seats. one of the only 'off the radar' gigs next to manchester but this one had the look. always good to see an original brattleboro free folk festival poster displayed alongside other archives from erika and my barn. harvest time pictorial also up nearby for the full nudie rub, my kinda suit. blasted off early and late at this one, had one of my best tones and big moments sitting in with the doozer on public transport, i think i made it to the upper deck so mellow in the smoke.
Glasgow
Lovin' the native soil of Glaswegian magic earth as my extended family akin to a brushfire and no bas oxygen date. found the pot still and lamb shank with my people, yonder our dog zuma is still in the silverlake zone but i feel him thru the great walk of cullen skink, barrowlands, abandoned stations and spliffs on sidewalk rollercoasters - sun tramples kept us in the flotation tanx and we jammed bobb trimble style leashes thru other publick houses and old jock. what a site it will be for sore eyes seein' that little boogie king being free and easy running on the mountain lawn cascading snow deep. what a reflection it would be for us to be stravagin with volcanic souls for interminable fire codas. tour was wildwood, better than the jersey shore - my kinda stone pony to end up here...biggest bang at instal, heads asked for a saddled up mare and as always heads rolled. frankie lee and judas priest in a public livingroom, who knows what the leather will bring next for peace whipping post, we're saddled up now for mounds of glory - have wings, Daedalus and the deed. Fuck the bull, this is our entity.
Qu-Out 27
The skies keep on changing and so does the music. Second guess and it can be too late. 2008 is going to bring a multi-vitamin pigbag of music to the music lover of Bristol and beyond - from Qu J.
Forthcoming Attractions
A whirlwind of dervish energy, hard-hitting polyrhythms, yelps and howls
Fri 22nd Feb: VIALKA + The Master Chaynjis + Safetyword
A stellar cast of 21st Century dance musicicans hijack the world of Second Life
Sat 23rd Feb: LUKE VIBERT + Various Production DJs + Bass Clef and more @ D.R.O.I.D.
A highly combustible and legendary fellowship of improvised music travelers
Sat 8th Mar: EVAN PARKER / EDDIE PREVOST / JOHN COXON TRIO
Electro sci-fi, radiophonia, b-music and the spirit of Yuri Gagarin
Thu 13th Mar: FELIX KUBIN + Bronnt Industries Kapital + Katapulto + Lucky Throw
Qu Pick Ups
We where unable to predict the epic, spiralling music sessions that we had with the first 3 Qu shows for 2008 and the two touring parties that hit the road. The first two live shows in Bristol were sell outs but no-one compromised here.
The Anni Rossi and Rollin Hunt roadshow crashed down in the UK and barn stormed peek-a-boo shows up and down the country.
The Cube was packed to the rafters for the Men Diamler double album launch. 2 sets from the minstrel man + Pekko Kappi's beautiful Finnish songs and Cath & Phil’s pitch perfect folk resistance all rotated around Ice Bird Spiral's viral Punch & Judy show... making for high entertainments and rapturous applause.
MV/EE and the Golden Road provided Europe with rollicking high times. They flung the folk over the shoulder, amped out with pedal steel and harp assistance (from Cambridge’s fine Doozer man) and welded some spaced country vibes with gothic rural rockers and powderfinger tracks from their astounding song collection. This is head heritage trail rock ‘n’ roll. You have to trust them. A full Joycean MV/EE tour journal to spice up this site soon.
A trip to Instal in Glasgow was terrific too. Concepts and notions in music/art/life put into no-compromise practise was dreamy to experience.
Tours
A Hawk And A Hacksaw have been confirmed as Portishead guests on their first tour for years - wandering stars. Further grand materials are to be found at shows for the The Flower-Corsano Duo, who have picked a few carefully chosen dates to play – worth getting on a train for. Colleen graces the UK for only two rare shows. Efterklang play one very special show at the QEH during their tour of the UK and Ireland; meantime Zun Zun Egui are lining up a few fire swallowing shows. Ears peel back.
For Qu shows with Colleen / Merzbow / Chris Corsano / Howlin' Rain / The Necks / Jack Rose / Black Lips / Baby Dee and many more check HERE.
Forthcoming Attractions
A whirlwind of dervish energy, hard-hitting polyrhythms, yelps and howls
Fri 22nd Feb: VIALKA + The Master Chaynjis + Safetyword
A stellar cast of 21st Century dance musicicans hijack the world of Second Life
Sat 23rd Feb: LUKE VIBERT + Various Production DJs + Bass Clef and more @ D.R.O.I.D.
A highly combustible and legendary fellowship of improvised music travelers
Sat 8th Mar: EVAN PARKER / EDDIE PREVOST / JOHN COXON TRIO
Electro sci-fi, radiophonia, b-music and the spirit of Yuri Gagarin
Thu 13th Mar: FELIX KUBIN + Bronnt Industries Kapital + Katapulto + Lucky Throw
Qu Pick Ups
We where unable to predict the epic, spiralling music sessions that we had with the first 3 Qu shows for 2008 and the two touring parties that hit the road. The first two live shows in Bristol were sell outs but no-one compromised here.
The Anni Rossi and Rollin Hunt roadshow crashed down in the UK and barn stormed peek-a-boo shows up and down the country.
The Cube was packed to the rafters for the Men Diamler double album launch. 2 sets from the minstrel man + Pekko Kappi's beautiful Finnish songs and Cath & Phil’s pitch perfect folk resistance all rotated around Ice Bird Spiral's viral Punch & Judy show... making for high entertainments and rapturous applause.
MV/EE and the Golden Road provided Europe with rollicking high times. They flung the folk over the shoulder, amped out with pedal steel and harp assistance (from Cambridge’s fine Doozer man) and welded some spaced country vibes with gothic rural rockers and powderfinger tracks from their astounding song collection. This is head heritage trail rock ‘n’ roll. You have to trust them. A full Joycean MV/EE tour journal to spice up this site soon.
A trip to Instal in Glasgow was terrific too. Concepts and notions in music/art/life put into no-compromise practise was dreamy to experience.
Tours
A Hawk And A Hacksaw have been confirmed as Portishead guests on their first tour for years - wandering stars. Further grand materials are to be found at shows for the The Flower-Corsano Duo, who have picked a few carefully chosen dates to play – worth getting on a train for. Colleen graces the UK for only two rare shows. Efterklang play one very special show at the QEH during their tour of the UK and Ireland; meantime Zun Zun Egui are lining up a few fire swallowing shows. Ears peel back.
For Qu shows with Colleen / Merzbow / Chris Corsano / Howlin' Rain / The Necks / Jack Rose / Black Lips / Baby Dee and many more check HERE.
Quwack 25
Hello all
The first trickles of 2008 shows are now up and alive on the Events page – look out for Spring Heel Jack w/ Eddie Prevost, Colleen, Jack Rose and much more besides...
2007 blast off...thanks to all that lived through it. Here are our 7x7's - Qu Junktions and friends pick their 7 musical moments of '07...
MATT VALENTINE
1. The Cherry Blossoms - s/t (Apostasy + Black Velvet Fuckere, Breaking World Records, Consaguineous Records, Hank the Herald Angel Recordings, and Yeay! Cassettes). Paralyzing debut LP that rips in the sweet zone of post-Fieldhands appalachian squonk love, released by a variable plethora of our green earth's finest, Union Pole, well, look the fuck out!
2. Visitations - s/t (Time - Lag). Some of the finest murmur further channeled by Roky and landing somewhere in the spooked avatar of Idaho Transfer via the non callous north country roll up. These folks are natives of Maine, nowhere near Calais.
3. Woods - 'At Rear House' (Woodsist). A jaw droppingly important work in the episode of "free folk" during the post Joyce wars, prime duo exchange with melodies you can dig for multimoons and a fidelity that can only exist in the love range of a deep psychedelic global underground.
4. Starbird - 'Nanook of the North' (Sloow Tapes). A zap that is more Herzog to my ears than Flaherty, tho' there are hints of Paul F's freedom breath, this is a glorious 65 minute slow burner on THE prime oxide format...subterranean Guilford igloo tone of the highest order.
5. Jakob & Sus - 'The Last Vocalions' (Soleil). More tonal cinema that brings up 'The Swimmer' and the other Frank Perry's 'New Atlantis' revolving. The cover image of a black and white lost ESP jammer only hints at the majesty within this mega genesis of howling forest moderne of the brightest nocturne.
6. Silvercords - 'Divergence Eve' (Time-Lag). Pharaoh dust sounds as if a mummified Furekaaben shed ghost ragas in the dream house space bug, love cries with the top down as the earth folk peeled out to begin a perfect drone world underneath a blanket of warm hum, the aural equivalent of 'Omega Man' or the NRA without Charlton Heston.
7. Starving Weirdos - 'Shrine of the Post-Hypnotic' (Root Strata). Dune rock drone of the grooviest sand pipe, full throttle demolition mash of righteous inner ear fog surf. Easily one of their finest tides and a massive fuckin' spirit wave.
***
1. Grinderman at ATP
2. Tom Bugs' set at Goldmund
3. Konono no.1 at the Fiddlers
4. Venn
5. QuWack (E)
6. Haxan at the Pro Cathedral
7. Freeze Puppy acoustic gig at the Kino
***
LAURIE APPLEBLIM
1. Todd Terje, Chateau Flight & Joakim at Siestes Electronique, Toulouses
What an amazing festival, run by lovely people, all for free, during the day in one of the prettiest green parks I have ever been to...Chateau Flight were a delight, two Frenchmen in front of laptops (one of whom made the first French drum & bass tune fact fans!) producing the warmest, analogue sounding space disco/house/techno/cosmic noise ever...hearing them jam out the bassline from their hit 'Baroque' (go buy that record!) and twist it into ever more beautiful shapes with delays, reverbs and what-not was seriously mind altering....Todd Terje repped the burgeoning Norwegian disco scene, dropping Lindstrom, prog disco, & Ian Dury's 'Spasticus Autisticus' featuring surely the best phlanged synth breakdown ever, causing me to get up and shake it like a madman which in turn inspired 150 or so others previously lounging in the sun to do the same! Finally Joakim came and played with a bassist, a drummer and his collection of moogs and laptops...somewhere between Neu, Joy Division, Amon Dull and Hawkwind! My kinda band!
2. Playing Peverelist’s 'Infinity is Now' on Mungo's Hi Fi soundsystem, at 5am, in the rain, in a forest somewhere Dumfries, at Dubcamp outdoor weekender
Kinda self explanatory really! Peverelist’s tunes have been an inspiration all year, and its been a pleasure to be amongst the first to introduce them to crowds…'Infinity is Now' is a true classic with the warmest bassline of the year - when the hypnotic arpeggiating synth line gives way to the sub bass u can’t help but skank... so there I was, 5am, getting rained on in the middle of a forest in Scotland, but all ok because it was through the best rig I've ever played on. Hand built by Mungo’s Hi Fi, a collective of reggae enthusiasts who have been running roots and dancehall nights in Glasgow for years… Man, these guys have the specials! I’m talking Horace Andy shouting out Mungo’s…go on! They take such pride in their system, and you can hear it…they're a lovely bunch, mad props to them…watch out for their 140bpm dubsteppy stuff too…gonna be big! I played B2B with Geiom that morning, and it was the start of a real cool friendship with him, his lovely lady Juliet and the Futureproof crew from Nottingham (out to Tom and Rachel!), who are really positive creative people that have inspired me a lot this year, so it was a special night for that reason too….big shout to Gordan from Dubcamp too, everyone agreed it was a special weekend despite the rain…next year is gonna be massive!
3. Konono no.1 & Bass Clef at Fiddlers Bristol
What a night! Shackleton and his missus came down for this and we had a whale of a time....what a band....it's like time stood still for their set...mesmerising overtones and harmonies creating crazy sonic colours...and what a groove! My old Stamford Hill chum Bass Clef merked a happy crowd with his energetic live show, which if u haven't seen u HAVE to check out…I got to DJ too, which was fun, playing different stuff to a different crowd was great. Seeing members of Konono skanking out to Shackletons Tin Foil Sky made Shacks year I think! Massive thanks to Qu Junktions for bringing this fascinating band over…
4. Mala from Digital Mystikz
Mala is just on some next level s**t….constantly pushing the boundaries of his sound…, constantly surprising with rhythmic inventiveness…'Bury Da Bwoy', 'Hunter', 'Lean Forward', ‘Learn’, all released this year on his own DMZ label show such a variety of ideas its bewildering…simple, pure, and effective…and that’s not to mention unreleased dubplate killers like ‘Miracles’ (“soundsystem has worked……miracles” - damn right they have), ‘City Cycle’…the list goes on…shiver down the spine business…2008 is surely going to contain some amazing things from this chap, and I (and thousands of DMZ faithful) cannot wait to experience them…
At the same Dubcamp event I mention below I had the pleasure of being stood in front of the Mungos Hi Fi wall of speakers as Simon Subdub dropped Mala’s ‘Maintain Through Madness’..the most haunting, evocative and deep tune this year for me…being surrounded by the bass and the strange echoing feedback was truly intense - deep deep inside the sound everything melts away and the pure expression of Mala’s beats take you far away…magical…
5. Playing at DMZ in May, Brixton, London
Ok so I cacked my pants and didn’t play an awesome set, but this was still one of my highlights of the year….I nearly fell over when Mala rang and asked me “what are u doin on 5th of May bruv”!....to say that I am obsessed with the DMZ sound is an understatement…I’ve had more musical epiphanies at their dances than pretty much anywhere else, only FWD>> & Metalheadz back in 96/97 comes close for that vibe of pure physical, sonic invention for me… The DMZ dances are crazy, if u haven't been, go. The energy is insane. The way it builds and feeds back between the djs and the ravers is pure magic..the purity of seeing a dj and crowds reaction to a new dub is really special. When Coki of Digital Mystikz first dropped his classic ‘Haunted’ to the faithful back in the day, at the old 3rd Base venue at 5am the reaction was insane! People jumping up and down, waving hands, moshing, group hugs, & Pokes on the mic INSISTING it gets taken back for the 4th time…! Now, I’m against too many reloads, but I love it when everyone KNOWS a tune has to come back!
6. Shackleton at Metadub, plastic people, London
Shack’s new approach to playing live, armed with a laptop, a midi controller, Ableton and his stupidly deep tunes has been a revelation… hearing him play his new slower material on the legendary Plastic People soundsystem was a joy…the crowd swaying in meditation, some eyes closed, some skanking, in the dark basement, surrounded by those speakers in all 4 corners…watch out for some amazing Shackleton music coming very soon..and some incredible remixes too…
7. Discovering Yabby You
Ok so I stay at Shack's house a lot as I'm always in London for work, and in the mornings its breakfast, Shack style (out to the Polish sausage - your time!), whilst listening to the tape player in the kitchen…coincidentally I had just picked up the Jesus Dread compilation of Yabby Yous work in a charity shop in Bristol (touch!) and one morning Shack popped on one of his fave old tapes, ‘Yabby You Meets King Tubby’…I was floored…every tune is a winner, sing along after the second time u hear it style, proper spiritual vibes. Yabby had grown up through the most ridiculous hard times, being seriously ill when a kid and working in a cave next to a sewer outlet…he had visions and heard God’s voice, and felt it was his duty to sing the praises of Christ rather than Haile Selassie in his music, unlike most Rastas …not being a religious person myself this is the closest I get to singing hymns…in a similar way to Wookie’s ‘Battle’, or Brasstooth’s ‘Celebrate life’ these are the kind of spiritual songs I can sing along to and really feel uplifted by…
***
MARK SLATER
1. I've only ever seen two acts make audience members faint. Justice Yeldham was one, supporting Melt Banana in 2005, and Om was the other at Portishead's ATP. The sheer physicality of their sound and their endless transcendental groove proved too much for me come their final chord, when the cumulative power of their performance left me on the floor - and another audience member standing a couple of rows back!
2. Unger Balazs, the cimbalom maestro extraordinaire from Budapest who joined A Hawk and A Hacksaw's ranks this year. A force of nature on stage, a virtuoso of the instrument able to tease out melodic, rhythmic and harmonic elements simultaneously - but also a tremendously giving musician. Hungarian violinist/trumpeter Ferencs Kovacs's performances with AHAAH and an impromptu collab with Tom Bugs at Venn also stick in my mind. A pleasure to work with such amazing musicians.
3. Discovering Omar Souleyman, the Syrian pop star who put out a release on Sublime Frequencies this year. I Djed "Leh Jani" at the Cube party twice in a row and a packed Cube dancefloor went wild. To see him live...
4. Animal Collective's sickly sweet lightshow jam at Trinity in October was the most perfectly conceived performance I saw all year. Strangely new record 'Strawberry Jam' seems to have been overlooked by many but for me it's the best expression yet of their unique sound. Other Brooklyn-affiliated jewels this year Panda Bear's 'Person Pitch' and Dirty Projectors' Rise Above' keep me coming back for more
5. 4th world euphoria courtesy of Zun Zun Egui at Shambala, Vialka at The County Sports Club, The Ex & Getatchew Mekuria in The Hague, A Hawk and A Hacksaw at Bush Hall, Konono No.1 at Fiddlers, Sunburned at The Croft, and Akron/Family at The Croft. Great performances from new acts like Dagger Brothers, Fuck Buttons and Anni Rossi promise much for 2008.
6. Murcof's performance of 'Cosmos' at Greenwich Planetarium - featuring an unlikely and inspired collaboration with the Royal Astronomer. Worth every penny.
7. A Bristolian triple bill of Team Brick, Tom Bugs and Men Diamler on a beach near Berlin at Goldmund Festival. The festival is an inspiration and Bugs gave Berlin's minimal heads something to think about with a freeform, unquantised techno/dubstep masterclass on his homebuilt modular synth.
***
CASPER CLAUSEN
1. Dirty Projectors, Concert at Loppen, Copenhagen
2. Efterklang UK Tour 2007
3. Kevin Drew - Spirit if... Album
4. Roskilde Festival 07 w. Tenniscoats, Grizzly Bear, Slaraffenland, Nikaido Kazumi, Kama Aina, Taxi Taxi! and many more + lots of mud!
5. Deerhunter, Concert at Loppen, Copenhagen - this video clip is not from Copenhagen though!
6. Peter Broderick at Elektroni[K] Festival in Rennes, France -
7. Jamming late night in a little house far away from civilization
***
HEATHER TROST
1. Doing a Take Away Show in Paris as the sun was setting over a lively playground.
2. Playing at Venn to an amazingly vibrant crowd, especially the chilling sing along improvisation by Kush that made the hairs on my neck stand up.
3. Playing on the corner of Helena Mamalka stree and Jaffa street in Jerusalem as people stopped to play drums, dance, and sing. Then walking up the hill to an impromptu birthday party in which some amazing improvised traditional Jewish dancing took place, much to the dismay of the owner in the club we were standing outside, in which a rock band was playing.
4. Barging past security with a cymabalom at ATP and doing another take away show in a tiny Elvis themed casino at Butlins holiday camp, whilst apparently Balazs was blocking the fire exit.
5. Listening to a Kurdish Zurna player Tzadik Zaharia with a traditional Kurdish drum in tel aviv
6. Meeting George, a Romanian accordion player on the streets of Dublin. He was playing jingle bells, and when Jeremy asked him if he new a Romanian hora, he gave us the biggest smile ever, and played us 3 Romanian songs. We met two more Romanian accordionists on the streets of Dublin, and Cork after meeting George.
7. Playing at the Romanian Restaurant in London in December.
***
KUSHAL GAYA
1. Boredoms in Cardiff, Yamatsuka Eye playing 8 guitars hung like gongs and hitting the shit out of them while a very focused roadie was trying to keep them in tune and keep them on their stands. the roadies fingers were literally bleeding....
2. A friend passing out, on OM's last stroke of thunder! At Portishead's ATP
3. Finally seeing Konono no 1 and making eye contact with the sweet lady dancer.
4. The highlife band Harare at shambala festival featuring a member of the bhundu boys!
5. Tony Allen at Venn 2006 is still a memory that haunted me this year.
6. Discovering the might of Han Bennink and rediscovering Peter Brotzmann through youtube while i was having the shits in India.
7. Being obsessed by Roland Kirk's album 'Rip, Rig and Panic' after listening to it with my bandmates Luke and Yoshino in a hotbox.
***
FRANCIS HARVEY
1. Lily Allen - 'Ldn' (BBC TV coverage of Princess Diana memorial concert, July).
A counter-intuitive choice. By rights, this should logically be among my LEAST favourite moments: I dislike literalism (performing a song about a sunny day in London on a sunny day in London), I'm no royalist, I can't stand sunshine, I find the lyric crass and gratingly cheery, Lily Allen is over-exposed and dislikeable. Yet the sheer exuberance and youthful self-assurance of this performance to a huge crowd in a park won me over.
2. Kate Nash - 'Foundations' (single heard on various radio/TV programmes, in clubs, etc).
Spine-chilling descendant of Strawberry Switchblade's "Since Yesterday", in the annals of melancholic girly-pop break-up songs. Also supplied a good old-fashioned chart-position drama of a kind rarely witnessed nowadays, lodging at number 2 for weeks rather than scoring an all-too-easy automatic number 1.
3. Gossip - 'Standing in the Way of Control' (BBC TV coverage of Glastonbury Festival, June).
This track would have been shortlisted anyway, for its innate quality and because it has soundtracked various dancefloor moments, but this particular performance makes the final seven thanks to atmospheric camerawork capturing the dingy Glastonbury marquee as well as for Beth Ditto's hearty crowd-surfing performance.
4. Russian Disco - 'Music for Annihilation' (club night, Cooler, March).
As far as I am aware, this was a one-off night, though it could easily have become a regular fixture and grown to fill bigger venues. Unclear to what extent its Soviet kitsch-pop playlist (including multiple plays of the same Tatu track) was taking the mickey, but Bristol's good-looking Russian and Russian-curious community enjoyed a sociable, pop-culturally educational night.
5. Qu Wack (e), Spike Island, Sep.
It would be possible to pick seven moments from this event alone, but I'm nominating it as a whole - not just because of the musical quality and diversity, but also its virtually faultless execution of a slick format. The looming clock with captions was a vital masterstroke in both creating a sense of dramatic urgency (arbitrary though the time limit may be) and clearly informing the audience of each act's name, while also serving as a constant reminder of the ephemerality of performance and of life itself. The interplay between each collaborating/competing act was quasi-sexual in its tense co-dependency, as musicians, often with visible anxiety, faced each other off across the purpose-built auditorium. The event was also noteworthy for inaugurating Spike Island as a full-scale cerebral music venue.
6. Bronnt Industries Kapital and other acts at the Saturday night of Venn (Clockwork, Jun).
Not necessarily the 'best' part of the festival, nor even necessarily BIK's top performance of the year. But the night overall gave, with the festival context, a palpable frisson of regenerating a highly promising large venue (see also: Crystal Castles et al, playing a Vice magazine night at the same club in Nov). On previous form, though, it will probably change hands yet again in a year or so.
7. Joy Division/New Order
Responsible for several moments this year (and any year), but, as mail-order book clubs would say, 'counts as one choice' as they are all related and are part of the year's Factory quadruple whammy of Tony Wilson's death, New Order's split, Joy Division biopic 'Control' being released, and an elegiac Hacienda (atrocity) exhibition being held at Urbis, Manchester.
Again perhaps rather cornily literal, but I was moved by the moment in 'Control' where Ian and Deborah Curtis talk about splitting up and the soundtrack duly bursts into 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.
A more subtle use of the same track can be seen on a looped video at the Urbis exhibition, in which a New Order supergroup/jam session, following a casual lengthy version of 'Confusion', nonchalantly strikes up a powerful 'LWTUA'. Maybe all the more potent and under-stated because of the crowd of gurning ravers seemingly more interested in dancing on stage than savouring the sentiment. Also poignant because of the nearby Hacienda fittings and Wilson remembrance display.
My enjoyment of watching Control's musical sequences was marred by fellow viewers tapping rhythm against my seat (as Gossip would say, they were sitting in the way of Control), but nevertheless Sam Riley IS Ian Curtis in a powerful musical homage. A tiny clip, on BBC Radio 4's "The Film Programme" of the real Joy Division, juxtaposed with an extract of Riley's impersonation, also provided a moving moment.
At the Cube's Tony Wilson memorial night, a fuzzy early-'80s Factory live compilation video also yielded a profound experience. Maybe it was the poignant context of Wilson's recent demise, or the intimacy of a surprisingly thinly-attended evening, or the nostalgic pathos of watching performers when they were 20+ years younger, or maybe I was worn down by its sheer mesmeric duration, but New Order's 'Your Silent Face' seemed to start as a run-of-the-mill performance yet to gradually subtly mutate into an almost religious transaction, with its under-stated beauty.
I was also stopped in my tracks in the warehouse at work by the league-of-its-own power of a Joy Division song blaring out from a CD-player typically restricted to a bland diet of pap, rock and over-played hits.
***
SADIE CAMPBELL
1. Slamming Balacz's cimbalom-playing fingers in the sliding door of the tour van outside the arches in glasgow. holy CRAP. redeemed by their triumphant show 6 hours later, complete with bucket of ice.
2. Getting stuck in the Arnolfini lift at Venn with all the backstage booze and a claustrophobe.
3. Battles at the cooler. Battles at Green Nan. Battles at trinity. three completely different shows of identical songs.
4. PJ Harvey asking to borrow a compact to get a fly out of her contact lens at colston hall. oh. and the music.
5. That bloke at blackout at Shambala in the mini skirt shouting obscene poetry rearranging his fake boobs.
6. Dave 'the boat’ Taylor at the scout hut singing 'where is my tent' as the wind lashed the boards.
7. Human League at Benicassim. i know, but they were skill. they showed those electroclash arrivistes what it was all about, you hear what i'm saying.
***
CHIZ WILLIAMS
1. Artic Circle just about made me cry and feel alive live in their morning puffy state at The Green Man. The music shone through them as all else turned to mud. Animal Collective’s Jam, Phil Franklin’s voice, Nancy Elizabeth’s tone and Panda Bear’s soup also made me feel nearly this happy.
2. A long night drive with ‘Greasy Rock N Roll’ DJs on the radio…electrifying the mojo. It feels right time for a new Elvis to emerge. Coupled with a new taste for coffee. This music felt right. Radio also gave me hair raising moments via dubstep/jungle mixes, Somalian hour on BCFM, WMFU mad mixes and Alan Green.
3. Getting delivery of MV/EE with The Golden Road’s ‘Getting Gone’ promo, all woody and beautifully packaged and then turning it UP loud as we in the UK experienced a late summer sun rush.
4. Wildman Kush’s holler/cry within AHAAH’s Venn performance. Seeing musicians engage fully with the audience, and visa-versa, a lot this year has made live performances a real treaty.
5. Infinite Livez's plaintive song/cry over Matt Elliot’s Spanish guitar. Weird mixes don’t get better than this..
6. Taking a breather at Konono No1, knowing there was another hour to go. The groove, for me, has been brought back into play this year - no matter how messed up. Performances from DJ/Rupture Vs Andy Moor (it was a real privilege to see his guitar improvise) Artamonova, Chris Corsano and Mick Flower, Bass Clef, Zun Zun Egui, Octopussy, Directing Hand, Om, Tom Bugs, Aphex Twin, Monkey Steak all gave over to the roll more than the rock. 2008 is bound to be ‘horn-time’.
7. Hearing and seeing Crescent play new songs at The Cube Microplex was home from home
***
DAVID HOPKINSON
1. Bellatrix/Beardyman/Shlomo, Purcell Rooms - also Belle in Venn
2. Man From Uranus Cube Birthday fancy dress Mashpit
3. Vialka at the Cube nanoplerplexed kid's moshpit ( and Ice T/Mr T cover )
4. Cream tease Vexkiddy in Big Chill Bristol Meth Madness ( with the roll & roll jimmy riddle )
5. ZunZunEgui, "you're all fucking hippies" Blackout at Shambala ( Black Bat-out-man-tion also )
6. Bela Emerson v Alexander Thomas QuWackdown
7. Men Diamler, with support from Billy Chilidish
***
NANCY ELIZABETH
1. Watching New Hawks at Fuel Café, Manchester.
Headed by Dan Haywood, the New Hawks are a treat. I watched them nearly breaking the floor boards in a tiny Manchester cafe on a mild weathered friday night in October. Most of the audience watched in confusion, not sure of what they were listening to – New Hawks are the front lines of creative music, I was dumbfounded and hysterical after this show, and had to go home and check my brain was still working.
2. BBQ in Chorlton
Some friends put on a BBQ where I fiddled about with a delay peddle with my friend Danny Norbury. We played Arvo Part, on the dulcetone and cello. I played an acid version of my song coriander, acid due to the delay peddle running out of my control and making everything sound far out. It rained immensely, but I had a green PVC mac, and a golfing umbrella, which I flaunted around to show the other BBQ goers how well organized and dry I was.
3. End of The Road Festival
I drove down to the festival on the Sunday after having to attend my friend’s wedding in Wigan on the Saturday. The weather wasn’t particularly sunny, and once I’d completed the 5 hour drive, I looked in my bag and realized I had brought one tent pole, but no tent. I decided the best course of action was to have a pint of warm scrumpy. I greeted the stage for my gig tipsy, was confused by my out of tune guitar, but sobered up in a flash when I sang the first note 4.72 tones too low, and realized I was about to make a completely idiot out of myself. Sleeping in my car was similar to how I imagine being in the womb was like. I felt completely content.
4. Sea Sick Steve at the Green Man
One of those musical experiences which make you want to curl up laughing. Everything seemed funny, and groovy. Sea Sick steve played raw, uncomplicated no mess blues music. It was late on the Sunday night and I was tired and sick of the rain. Steve made it awwl good.
5. Re-visiting Clwt Bedw. The day before my album got released (30th September) I visited the cottage where I recorded my album. It was weird to see it at a different time of year to how I imagined it. I walked around the back, to where I took the photo which is printed inside my album cover, and reminisced on the many hours I spent looking out the window at the cows while singing into a microphone.
I became pensive, and thought of the RAF planes which interrupted various takes by flying very close overhead and making every microphone distort like the devil had gotten inside of them. I love that cottage.
I peered through the window at the kitchen table which had been home to the mixing desk during the recording, I reckoned there was no one in there, so I stood there a while gazing in. Then someone appeared out of nowhere and must have assumed I was either a mad person or a burglar, or both. I ran away in panic, which must have made me look guilty.
6. Cross Street Chapel
This was my first gig with The Cunliffes. Played with 5 other people, playing arrangements with mandolin, extra guitar, bass pedals, drums, cello, vocal harmonies and various other bits and bobs. I had a really great time playing with the others, felt a great sense of unity between us and the band kicked ass.
7. My Yellow Scarf Creation
I spend hours in a little blue van thing, in the driving seat (although it was a left hand drive so I wasn’t driving) on tour with Thee Stranded horse in November. I used the time to knit a scarf – mainly mustard yellow in colour, with brown stripes. I gave it some tassles on the end, and finished it off with a button (in the shape of a cat) sewn on to the end. It was amusing to see people turning their road rage on who they assumed was driving the van, to see a girl wearing ear muffs, knitting and not paying one ounce of attention to the road.
***
GILES BAILEY
1. Monty Casino at the Love Apple in Bradford 8th December
2. Sarah Kenchington at Transmission Gallery in Glasgow as part of Lawrence Abu Hamdan and Wil Saunder's exhibition in December
3. Alistair Crosbie at Café Rio, Glasgow in Summer sometime
4. Man Aubergine on a squatted boat on the Thames in Greenwich somewhere, during autumn
5. Daniel Higgs at the Captain's Rest in Glasgow
6. Marla Hansen at Nice n Sleazy, Glasgow on 27 November
7. Gay Against You at the opening of All Black is Not Bright White in the street outside gallery 54 in Gothenberg, Sweden in August.
***
LEE ETHERINGTON
1. Flower-Corsano Duo live at the Star&Shadow, Newcastle
Is there a better, more intense, more exhilirating live act around right now? They slayed us last year, then came back and were 10 times better (how?). And for utter contrast, we had the mega-minimal drums and bass of Patrick Farmer & Dominic Lash. The only reason for putting gigs on is that hopefully you'll get the odd one like this.
2. Free Noise tour
NO-FI'S first tour, bit of a gamble artistically you might say, but luckily an amazing bunch of people low on ego and high on experiment. i'd happily work with everybody involved as much as they'd have me. a Free Noise album is planned for 2008 too.
3. Benga live at NoName, The Tyne, Newcastle
Beats 'n' bass don't get much better.
4. A Hawk & A Hacksaw with The Hun Hangar Ensemble
As if Jeremy and Heather weren't barnstorming enough already, with added Hungarians they completely kicked arse!
5. Kemialliset Ystavat and Tight Meat live in London
Finally get to see the incredible KY live; is Jan a genius? And TM did 2 tracks with Vinnie Blackwall's unbelievable voice that were just gobsmacking acoustic noise.
6. Joanna Newsom live
On her own or with an orchestra, she's just amazing; she surely possesses otherwordly powers: she writes the most incredible, meandering, personal, funny, touching, dreamy adventures and totally spellbinds an audience. 2 albums and barely into her 20s, words can't do her justice....
7. Alejandro Jodorowsky - Holy Mountain original score. Shit, why has it taken me so long to get round to appreciating this genius?
The first trickles of 2008 shows are now up and alive on the Events page – look out for Spring Heel Jack w/ Eddie Prevost, Colleen, Jack Rose and much more besides...
2007 blast off...thanks to all that lived through it. Here are our 7x7's - Qu Junktions and friends pick their 7 musical moments of '07...
MATT VALENTINE
1. The Cherry Blossoms - s/t (Apostasy + Black Velvet Fuckere, Breaking World Records, Consaguineous Records, Hank the Herald Angel Recordings, and Yeay! Cassettes). Paralyzing debut LP that rips in the sweet zone of post-Fieldhands appalachian squonk love, released by a variable plethora of our green earth's finest, Union Pole, well, look the fuck out!
2. Visitations - s/t (Time - Lag). Some of the finest murmur further channeled by Roky and landing somewhere in the spooked avatar of Idaho Transfer via the non callous north country roll up. These folks are natives of Maine, nowhere near Calais.
3. Woods - 'At Rear House' (Woodsist). A jaw droppingly important work in the episode of "free folk" during the post Joyce wars, prime duo exchange with melodies you can dig for multimoons and a fidelity that can only exist in the love range of a deep psychedelic global underground.
4. Starbird - 'Nanook of the North' (Sloow Tapes). A zap that is more Herzog to my ears than Flaherty, tho' there are hints of Paul F's freedom breath, this is a glorious 65 minute slow burner on THE prime oxide format...subterranean Guilford igloo tone of the highest order.
5. Jakob & Sus - 'The Last Vocalions' (Soleil). More tonal cinema that brings up 'The Swimmer' and the other Frank Perry's 'New Atlantis' revolving. The cover image of a black and white lost ESP jammer only hints at the majesty within this mega genesis of howling forest moderne of the brightest nocturne.
6. Silvercords - 'Divergence Eve' (Time-Lag). Pharaoh dust sounds as if a mummified Furekaaben shed ghost ragas in the dream house space bug, love cries with the top down as the earth folk peeled out to begin a perfect drone world underneath a blanket of warm hum, the aural equivalent of 'Omega Man' or the NRA without Charlton Heston.
7. Starving Weirdos - 'Shrine of the Post-Hypnotic' (Root Strata). Dune rock drone of the grooviest sand pipe, full throttle demolition mash of righteous inner ear fog surf. Easily one of their finest tides and a massive fuckin' spirit wave.
***
1. Grinderman at ATP
2. Tom Bugs' set at Goldmund
3. Konono no.1 at the Fiddlers
4. Venn
5. QuWack (E)
6. Haxan at the Pro Cathedral
7. Freeze Puppy acoustic gig at the Kino
***
LAURIE APPLEBLIM
1. Todd Terje, Chateau Flight & Joakim at Siestes Electronique, Toulouses
What an amazing festival, run by lovely people, all for free, during the day in one of the prettiest green parks I have ever been to...Chateau Flight were a delight, two Frenchmen in front of laptops (one of whom made the first French drum & bass tune fact fans!) producing the warmest, analogue sounding space disco/house/techno/cosmic noise ever...hearing them jam out the bassline from their hit 'Baroque' (go buy that record!) and twist it into ever more beautiful shapes with delays, reverbs and what-not was seriously mind altering....Todd Terje repped the burgeoning Norwegian disco scene, dropping Lindstrom, prog disco, & Ian Dury's 'Spasticus Autisticus' featuring surely the best phlanged synth breakdown ever, causing me to get up and shake it like a madman which in turn inspired 150 or so others previously lounging in the sun to do the same! Finally Joakim came and played with a bassist, a drummer and his collection of moogs and laptops...somewhere between Neu, Joy Division, Amon Dull and Hawkwind! My kinda band!
2. Playing Peverelist’s 'Infinity is Now' on Mungo's Hi Fi soundsystem, at 5am, in the rain, in a forest somewhere Dumfries, at Dubcamp outdoor weekender
Kinda self explanatory really! Peverelist’s tunes have been an inspiration all year, and its been a pleasure to be amongst the first to introduce them to crowds…'Infinity is Now' is a true classic with the warmest bassline of the year - when the hypnotic arpeggiating synth line gives way to the sub bass u can’t help but skank... so there I was, 5am, getting rained on in the middle of a forest in Scotland, but all ok because it was through the best rig I've ever played on. Hand built by Mungo’s Hi Fi, a collective of reggae enthusiasts who have been running roots and dancehall nights in Glasgow for years… Man, these guys have the specials! I’m talking Horace Andy shouting out Mungo’s…go on! They take such pride in their system, and you can hear it…they're a lovely bunch, mad props to them…watch out for their 140bpm dubsteppy stuff too…gonna be big! I played B2B with Geiom that morning, and it was the start of a real cool friendship with him, his lovely lady Juliet and the Futureproof crew from Nottingham (out to Tom and Rachel!), who are really positive creative people that have inspired me a lot this year, so it was a special night for that reason too….big shout to Gordan from Dubcamp too, everyone agreed it was a special weekend despite the rain…next year is gonna be massive!
3. Konono no.1 & Bass Clef at Fiddlers Bristol
What a night! Shackleton and his missus came down for this and we had a whale of a time....what a band....it's like time stood still for their set...mesmerising overtones and harmonies creating crazy sonic colours...and what a groove! My old Stamford Hill chum Bass Clef merked a happy crowd with his energetic live show, which if u haven't seen u HAVE to check out…I got to DJ too, which was fun, playing different stuff to a different crowd was great. Seeing members of Konono skanking out to Shackletons Tin Foil Sky made Shacks year I think! Massive thanks to Qu Junktions for bringing this fascinating band over…
4. Mala from Digital Mystikz
Mala is just on some next level s**t….constantly pushing the boundaries of his sound…, constantly surprising with rhythmic inventiveness…'Bury Da Bwoy', 'Hunter', 'Lean Forward', ‘Learn’, all released this year on his own DMZ label show such a variety of ideas its bewildering…simple, pure, and effective…and that’s not to mention unreleased dubplate killers like ‘Miracles’ (“soundsystem has worked……miracles” - damn right they have), ‘City Cycle’…the list goes on…shiver down the spine business…2008 is surely going to contain some amazing things from this chap, and I (and thousands of DMZ faithful) cannot wait to experience them…
At the same Dubcamp event I mention below I had the pleasure of being stood in front of the Mungos Hi Fi wall of speakers as Simon Subdub dropped Mala’s ‘Maintain Through Madness’..the most haunting, evocative and deep tune this year for me…being surrounded by the bass and the strange echoing feedback was truly intense - deep deep inside the sound everything melts away and the pure expression of Mala’s beats take you far away…magical…
5. Playing at DMZ in May, Brixton, London
Ok so I cacked my pants and didn’t play an awesome set, but this was still one of my highlights of the year….I nearly fell over when Mala rang and asked me “what are u doin on 5th of May bruv”!....to say that I am obsessed with the DMZ sound is an understatement…I’ve had more musical epiphanies at their dances than pretty much anywhere else, only FWD>> & Metalheadz back in 96/97 comes close for that vibe of pure physical, sonic invention for me… The DMZ dances are crazy, if u haven't been, go. The energy is insane. The way it builds and feeds back between the djs and the ravers is pure magic..the purity of seeing a dj and crowds reaction to a new dub is really special. When Coki of Digital Mystikz first dropped his classic ‘Haunted’ to the faithful back in the day, at the old 3rd Base venue at 5am the reaction was insane! People jumping up and down, waving hands, moshing, group hugs, & Pokes on the mic INSISTING it gets taken back for the 4th time…! Now, I’m against too many reloads, but I love it when everyone KNOWS a tune has to come back!
6. Shackleton at Metadub, plastic people, London
Shack’s new approach to playing live, armed with a laptop, a midi controller, Ableton and his stupidly deep tunes has been a revelation… hearing him play his new slower material on the legendary Plastic People soundsystem was a joy…the crowd swaying in meditation, some eyes closed, some skanking, in the dark basement, surrounded by those speakers in all 4 corners…watch out for some amazing Shackleton music coming very soon..and some incredible remixes too…
7. Discovering Yabby You
Ok so I stay at Shack's house a lot as I'm always in London for work, and in the mornings its breakfast, Shack style (out to the Polish sausage - your time!), whilst listening to the tape player in the kitchen…coincidentally I had just picked up the Jesus Dread compilation of Yabby Yous work in a charity shop in Bristol (touch!) and one morning Shack popped on one of his fave old tapes, ‘Yabby You Meets King Tubby’…I was floored…every tune is a winner, sing along after the second time u hear it style, proper spiritual vibes. Yabby had grown up through the most ridiculous hard times, being seriously ill when a kid and working in a cave next to a sewer outlet…he had visions and heard God’s voice, and felt it was his duty to sing the praises of Christ rather than Haile Selassie in his music, unlike most Rastas …not being a religious person myself this is the closest I get to singing hymns…in a similar way to Wookie’s ‘Battle’, or Brasstooth’s ‘Celebrate life’ these are the kind of spiritual songs I can sing along to and really feel uplifted by…
***
MARK SLATER
1. I've only ever seen two acts make audience members faint. Justice Yeldham was one, supporting Melt Banana in 2005, and Om was the other at Portishead's ATP. The sheer physicality of their sound and their endless transcendental groove proved too much for me come their final chord, when the cumulative power of their performance left me on the floor - and another audience member standing a couple of rows back!
2. Unger Balazs, the cimbalom maestro extraordinaire from Budapest who joined A Hawk and A Hacksaw's ranks this year. A force of nature on stage, a virtuoso of the instrument able to tease out melodic, rhythmic and harmonic elements simultaneously - but also a tremendously giving musician. Hungarian violinist/trumpeter Ferencs Kovacs's performances with AHAAH and an impromptu collab with Tom Bugs at Venn also stick in my mind. A pleasure to work with such amazing musicians.
3. Discovering Omar Souleyman, the Syrian pop star who put out a release on Sublime Frequencies this year. I Djed "Leh Jani" at the Cube party twice in a row and a packed Cube dancefloor went wild. To see him live...
4. Animal Collective's sickly sweet lightshow jam at Trinity in October was the most perfectly conceived performance I saw all year. Strangely new record 'Strawberry Jam' seems to have been overlooked by many but for me it's the best expression yet of their unique sound. Other Brooklyn-affiliated jewels this year Panda Bear's 'Person Pitch' and Dirty Projectors' Rise Above' keep me coming back for more
5. 4th world euphoria courtesy of Zun Zun Egui at Shambala, Vialka at The County Sports Club, The Ex & Getatchew Mekuria in The Hague, A Hawk and A Hacksaw at Bush Hall, Konono No.1 at Fiddlers, Sunburned at The Croft, and Akron/Family at The Croft. Great performances from new acts like Dagger Brothers, Fuck Buttons and Anni Rossi promise much for 2008.
6. Murcof's performance of 'Cosmos' at Greenwich Planetarium - featuring an unlikely and inspired collaboration with the Royal Astronomer. Worth every penny.
7. A Bristolian triple bill of Team Brick, Tom Bugs and Men Diamler on a beach near Berlin at Goldmund Festival. The festival is an inspiration and Bugs gave Berlin's minimal heads something to think about with a freeform, unquantised techno/dubstep masterclass on his homebuilt modular synth.
***
CASPER CLAUSEN
1. Dirty Projectors, Concert at Loppen, Copenhagen
2. Efterklang UK Tour 2007
3. Kevin Drew - Spirit if... Album
4. Roskilde Festival 07 w. Tenniscoats, Grizzly Bear, Slaraffenland, Nikaido Kazumi, Kama Aina, Taxi Taxi! and many more + lots of mud!
5. Deerhunter, Concert at Loppen, Copenhagen - this video clip is not from Copenhagen though!
6. Peter Broderick at Elektroni[K] Festival in Rennes, France -
7. Jamming late night in a little house far away from civilization
***
HEATHER TROST
1. Doing a Take Away Show in Paris as the sun was setting over a lively playground.
2. Playing at Venn to an amazingly vibrant crowd, especially the chilling sing along improvisation by Kush that made the hairs on my neck stand up.
3. Playing on the corner of Helena Mamalka stree and Jaffa street in Jerusalem as people stopped to play drums, dance, and sing. Then walking up the hill to an impromptu birthday party in which some amazing improvised traditional Jewish dancing took place, much to the dismay of the owner in the club we were standing outside, in which a rock band was playing.
4. Barging past security with a cymabalom at ATP and doing another take away show in a tiny Elvis themed casino at Butlins holiday camp, whilst apparently Balazs was blocking the fire exit.
5. Listening to a Kurdish Zurna player Tzadik Zaharia with a traditional Kurdish drum in tel aviv
6. Meeting George, a Romanian accordion player on the streets of Dublin. He was playing jingle bells, and when Jeremy asked him if he new a Romanian hora, he gave us the biggest smile ever, and played us 3 Romanian songs. We met two more Romanian accordionists on the streets of Dublin, and Cork after meeting George.
7. Playing at the Romanian Restaurant in London in December.
***
KUSHAL GAYA
1. Boredoms in Cardiff, Yamatsuka Eye playing 8 guitars hung like gongs and hitting the shit out of them while a very focused roadie was trying to keep them in tune and keep them on their stands. the roadies fingers were literally bleeding....
2. A friend passing out, on OM's last stroke of thunder! At Portishead's ATP
3. Finally seeing Konono no 1 and making eye contact with the sweet lady dancer.
4. The highlife band Harare at shambala festival featuring a member of the bhundu boys!
5. Tony Allen at Venn 2006 is still a memory that haunted me this year.
6. Discovering the might of Han Bennink and rediscovering Peter Brotzmann through youtube while i was having the shits in India.
7. Being obsessed by Roland Kirk's album 'Rip, Rig and Panic' after listening to it with my bandmates Luke and Yoshino in a hotbox.
***
FRANCIS HARVEY
1. Lily Allen - 'Ldn' (BBC TV coverage of Princess Diana memorial concert, July).
A counter-intuitive choice. By rights, this should logically be among my LEAST favourite moments: I dislike literalism (performing a song about a sunny day in London on a sunny day in London), I'm no royalist, I can't stand sunshine, I find the lyric crass and gratingly cheery, Lily Allen is over-exposed and dislikeable. Yet the sheer exuberance and youthful self-assurance of this performance to a huge crowd in a park won me over.
2. Kate Nash - 'Foundations' (single heard on various radio/TV programmes, in clubs, etc).
Spine-chilling descendant of Strawberry Switchblade's "Since Yesterday", in the annals of melancholic girly-pop break-up songs. Also supplied a good old-fashioned chart-position drama of a kind rarely witnessed nowadays, lodging at number 2 for weeks rather than scoring an all-too-easy automatic number 1.
3. Gossip - 'Standing in the Way of Control' (BBC TV coverage of Glastonbury Festival, June).
This track would have been shortlisted anyway, for its innate quality and because it has soundtracked various dancefloor moments, but this particular performance makes the final seven thanks to atmospheric camerawork capturing the dingy Glastonbury marquee as well as for Beth Ditto's hearty crowd-surfing performance.
4. Russian Disco - 'Music for Annihilation' (club night, Cooler, March).
As far as I am aware, this was a one-off night, though it could easily have become a regular fixture and grown to fill bigger venues. Unclear to what extent its Soviet kitsch-pop playlist (including multiple plays of the same Tatu track) was taking the mickey, but Bristol's good-looking Russian and Russian-curious community enjoyed a sociable, pop-culturally educational night.
5. Qu Wack (e), Spike Island, Sep.
It would be possible to pick seven moments from this event alone, but I'm nominating it as a whole - not just because of the musical quality and diversity, but also its virtually faultless execution of a slick format. The looming clock with captions was a vital masterstroke in both creating a sense of dramatic urgency (arbitrary though the time limit may be) and clearly informing the audience of each act's name, while also serving as a constant reminder of the ephemerality of performance and of life itself. The interplay between each collaborating/competing act was quasi-sexual in its tense co-dependency, as musicians, often with visible anxiety, faced each other off across the purpose-built auditorium. The event was also noteworthy for inaugurating Spike Island as a full-scale cerebral music venue.
6. Bronnt Industries Kapital and other acts at the Saturday night of Venn (Clockwork, Jun).
Not necessarily the 'best' part of the festival, nor even necessarily BIK's top performance of the year. But the night overall gave, with the festival context, a palpable frisson of regenerating a highly promising large venue (see also: Crystal Castles et al, playing a Vice magazine night at the same club in Nov). On previous form, though, it will probably change hands yet again in a year or so.
7. Joy Division/New Order
Responsible for several moments this year (and any year), but, as mail-order book clubs would say, 'counts as one choice' as they are all related and are part of the year's Factory quadruple whammy of Tony Wilson's death, New Order's split, Joy Division biopic 'Control' being released, and an elegiac Hacienda (atrocity) exhibition being held at Urbis, Manchester.
Again perhaps rather cornily literal, but I was moved by the moment in 'Control' where Ian and Deborah Curtis talk about splitting up and the soundtrack duly bursts into 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.
A more subtle use of the same track can be seen on a looped video at the Urbis exhibition, in which a New Order supergroup/jam session, following a casual lengthy version of 'Confusion', nonchalantly strikes up a powerful 'LWTUA'. Maybe all the more potent and under-stated because of the crowd of gurning ravers seemingly more interested in dancing on stage than savouring the sentiment. Also poignant because of the nearby Hacienda fittings and Wilson remembrance display.
My enjoyment of watching Control's musical sequences was marred by fellow viewers tapping rhythm against my seat (as Gossip would say, they were sitting in the way of Control), but nevertheless Sam Riley IS Ian Curtis in a powerful musical homage. A tiny clip, on BBC Radio 4's "The Film Programme" of the real Joy Division, juxtaposed with an extract of Riley's impersonation, also provided a moving moment.
At the Cube's Tony Wilson memorial night, a fuzzy early-'80s Factory live compilation video also yielded a profound experience. Maybe it was the poignant context of Wilson's recent demise, or the intimacy of a surprisingly thinly-attended evening, or the nostalgic pathos of watching performers when they were 20+ years younger, or maybe I was worn down by its sheer mesmeric duration, but New Order's 'Your Silent Face' seemed to start as a run-of-the-mill performance yet to gradually subtly mutate into an almost religious transaction, with its under-stated beauty.
I was also stopped in my tracks in the warehouse at work by the league-of-its-own power of a Joy Division song blaring out from a CD-player typically restricted to a bland diet of pap, rock and over-played hits.
***
SADIE CAMPBELL
1. Slamming Balacz's cimbalom-playing fingers in the sliding door of the tour van outside the arches in glasgow. holy CRAP. redeemed by their triumphant show 6 hours later, complete with bucket of ice.
2. Getting stuck in the Arnolfini lift at Venn with all the backstage booze and a claustrophobe.
3. Battles at the cooler. Battles at Green Nan. Battles at trinity. three completely different shows of identical songs.
4. PJ Harvey asking to borrow a compact to get a fly out of her contact lens at colston hall. oh. and the music.
5. That bloke at blackout at Shambala in the mini skirt shouting obscene poetry rearranging his fake boobs.
6. Dave 'the boat’ Taylor at the scout hut singing 'where is my tent' as the wind lashed the boards.
7. Human League at Benicassim. i know, but they were skill. they showed those electroclash arrivistes what it was all about, you hear what i'm saying.
***
CHIZ WILLIAMS
1. Artic Circle just about made me cry and feel alive live in their morning puffy state at The Green Man. The music shone through them as all else turned to mud. Animal Collective’s Jam, Phil Franklin’s voice, Nancy Elizabeth’s tone and Panda Bear’s soup also made me feel nearly this happy.
2. A long night drive with ‘Greasy Rock N Roll’ DJs on the radio…electrifying the mojo. It feels right time for a new Elvis to emerge. Coupled with a new taste for coffee. This music felt right. Radio also gave me hair raising moments via dubstep/jungle mixes, Somalian hour on BCFM, WMFU mad mixes and Alan Green.
3. Getting delivery of MV/EE with The Golden Road’s ‘Getting Gone’ promo, all woody and beautifully packaged and then turning it UP loud as we in the UK experienced a late summer sun rush.
4. Wildman Kush’s holler/cry within AHAAH’s Venn performance. Seeing musicians engage fully with the audience, and visa-versa, a lot this year has made live performances a real treaty.
5. Infinite Livez's plaintive song/cry over Matt Elliot’s Spanish guitar. Weird mixes don’t get better than this..
6. Taking a breather at Konono No1, knowing there was another hour to go. The groove, for me, has been brought back into play this year - no matter how messed up. Performances from DJ/Rupture Vs Andy Moor (it was a real privilege to see his guitar improvise) Artamonova, Chris Corsano and Mick Flower, Bass Clef, Zun Zun Egui, Octopussy, Directing Hand, Om, Tom Bugs, Aphex Twin, Monkey Steak all gave over to the roll more than the rock. 2008 is bound to be ‘horn-time’.
7. Hearing and seeing Crescent play new songs at The Cube Microplex was home from home
***
DAVID HOPKINSON
1. Bellatrix/Beardyman/Shlomo, Purcell Rooms - also Belle in Venn
2. Man From Uranus Cube Birthday fancy dress Mashpit
3. Vialka at the Cube nanoplerplexed kid's moshpit ( and Ice T/Mr T cover )
4. Cream tease Vexkiddy in Big Chill Bristol Meth Madness ( with the roll & roll jimmy riddle )
5. ZunZunEgui, "you're all fucking hippies" Blackout at Shambala ( Black Bat-out-man-tion also )
6. Bela Emerson v Alexander Thomas QuWackdown
7. Men Diamler, with support from Billy Chilidish
***
NANCY ELIZABETH
1. Watching New Hawks at Fuel Café, Manchester.
Headed by Dan Haywood, the New Hawks are a treat. I watched them nearly breaking the floor boards in a tiny Manchester cafe on a mild weathered friday night in October. Most of the audience watched in confusion, not sure of what they were listening to – New Hawks are the front lines of creative music, I was dumbfounded and hysterical after this show, and had to go home and check my brain was still working.
2. BBQ in Chorlton
Some friends put on a BBQ where I fiddled about with a delay peddle with my friend Danny Norbury. We played Arvo Part, on the dulcetone and cello. I played an acid version of my song coriander, acid due to the delay peddle running out of my control and making everything sound far out. It rained immensely, but I had a green PVC mac, and a golfing umbrella, which I flaunted around to show the other BBQ goers how well organized and dry I was.
3. End of The Road Festival
I drove down to the festival on the Sunday after having to attend my friend’s wedding in Wigan on the Saturday. The weather wasn’t particularly sunny, and once I’d completed the 5 hour drive, I looked in my bag and realized I had brought one tent pole, but no tent. I decided the best course of action was to have a pint of warm scrumpy. I greeted the stage for my gig tipsy, was confused by my out of tune guitar, but sobered up in a flash when I sang the first note 4.72 tones too low, and realized I was about to make a completely idiot out of myself. Sleeping in my car was similar to how I imagine being in the womb was like. I felt completely content.
4. Sea Sick Steve at the Green Man
One of those musical experiences which make you want to curl up laughing. Everything seemed funny, and groovy. Sea Sick steve played raw, uncomplicated no mess blues music. It was late on the Sunday night and I was tired and sick of the rain. Steve made it awwl good.
5. Re-visiting Clwt Bedw. The day before my album got released (30th September) I visited the cottage where I recorded my album. It was weird to see it at a different time of year to how I imagined it. I walked around the back, to where I took the photo which is printed inside my album cover, and reminisced on the many hours I spent looking out the window at the cows while singing into a microphone.
I became pensive, and thought of the RAF planes which interrupted various takes by flying very close overhead and making every microphone distort like the devil had gotten inside of them. I love that cottage.
I peered through the window at the kitchen table which had been home to the mixing desk during the recording, I reckoned there was no one in there, so I stood there a while gazing in. Then someone appeared out of nowhere and must have assumed I was either a mad person or a burglar, or both. I ran away in panic, which must have made me look guilty.
6. Cross Street Chapel
This was my first gig with The Cunliffes. Played with 5 other people, playing arrangements with mandolin, extra guitar, bass pedals, drums, cello, vocal harmonies and various other bits and bobs. I had a really great time playing with the others, felt a great sense of unity between us and the band kicked ass.
7. My Yellow Scarf Creation
I spend hours in a little blue van thing, in the driving seat (although it was a left hand drive so I wasn’t driving) on tour with Thee Stranded horse in November. I used the time to knit a scarf – mainly mustard yellow in colour, with brown stripes. I gave it some tassles on the end, and finished it off with a button (in the shape of a cat) sewn on to the end. It was amusing to see people turning their road rage on who they assumed was driving the van, to see a girl wearing ear muffs, knitting and not paying one ounce of attention to the road.
***
GILES BAILEY
1. Monty Casino at the Love Apple in Bradford 8th December
2. Sarah Kenchington at Transmission Gallery in Glasgow as part of Lawrence Abu Hamdan and Wil Saunder's exhibition in December
3. Alistair Crosbie at Café Rio, Glasgow in Summer sometime
4. Man Aubergine on a squatted boat on the Thames in Greenwich somewhere, during autumn
5. Daniel Higgs at the Captain's Rest in Glasgow
6. Marla Hansen at Nice n Sleazy, Glasgow on 27 November
7. Gay Against You at the opening of All Black is Not Bright White in the street outside gallery 54 in Gothenberg, Sweden in August.
***
LEE ETHERINGTON
1. Flower-Corsano Duo live at the Star&Shadow, Newcastle
Is there a better, more intense, more exhilirating live act around right now? They slayed us last year, then came back and were 10 times better (how?). And for utter contrast, we had the mega-minimal drums and bass of Patrick Farmer & Dominic Lash. The only reason for putting gigs on is that hopefully you'll get the odd one like this.
2. Free Noise tour
NO-FI'S first tour, bit of a gamble artistically you might say, but luckily an amazing bunch of people low on ego and high on experiment. i'd happily work with everybody involved as much as they'd have me. a Free Noise album is planned for 2008 too.
3. Benga live at NoName, The Tyne, Newcastle
Beats 'n' bass don't get much better.
4. A Hawk & A Hacksaw with The Hun Hangar Ensemble
As if Jeremy and Heather weren't barnstorming enough already, with added Hungarians they completely kicked arse!
5. Kemialliset Ystavat and Tight Meat live in London
Finally get to see the incredible KY live; is Jan a genius? And TM did 2 tracks with Vinnie Blackwall's unbelievable voice that were just gobsmacking acoustic noise.
6. Joanna Newsom live
On her own or with an orchestra, she's just amazing; she surely possesses otherwordly powers: she writes the most incredible, meandering, personal, funny, touching, dreamy adventures and totally spellbinds an audience. 2 albums and barely into her 20s, words can't do her justice....
7. Alejandro Jodorowsky - Holy Mountain original score. Shit, why has it taken me so long to get round to appreciating this genius?
Quwack 24
Thanks to those that showed up to experience a run of shows that where bristling with ‘into the wild’ animalistic excitements – Haxan with Bronnt was gothic elegance in-extremis, Sunburned's sleaze-phunk, spiritual baseball set was their best yet in Bristol, Nancy Elizabeth tantalised a audience with her song and Animal Collective full-on sound/song wave upon wave was a 100% sound drench.
Dagger Brothers played a sweaty rave pit before leaving for Australia and seduced the day-glo massive with their perfectly honed pop nuggets/muscles. Hoping kindred spirit John Maus plays Bristol in December.
Sunburned Hand of the Man (on a tour roll) have confirmed Xtra dates:
20 Nov Falmouth - Miss Peapods
21 Nov Cheltenham - Slak
22 Nov Brighton - Engine Rooms
23 Nov Sheffield - Bar Abbey
A Hawk and A Hacksaw play Portishead's ATP and have UK and Ireland dates scheduled for the first half of December. Dates here.
Excited to welcome Brazilian duo Colorir to these shores for the first time following travels across China – they are touring with the equally unpredictable Team Brick late November/early December. Click here for the info.
Aufgehoben and z'ev play the Freeaction Festival of Noise in Sheffield alongside Sonny Simmons trio, Kreepa, Black Carrot and many more on Fri 21st Dec.
Chris Corsano plays a solo set at Optimo’s 10th B-Day party with Jimi Tenor, Ebony Bones and William Bennet on Fri 23rd Nov.
Vi plays an away date with Murcof + Rothko at Corsica Studios on Sun 2nd Dec. Tickets here.
Qu 2008 show with… Men Diamler, MV/EE with The Golden Road, Black Lips, Anni Rossi, Vialka, Pekko Kappi, Cath & Phil Tyler…news and dates soon.
Qu Forthcomers
Blowing power. Heads up for this show featuring the incredible saxophonist and legend
Tue 20th Nov: TIGHT MEAT WITH SONNY SIMMONS + Jookla
Stunning 8-piece ensemble whose lush, panoramic arrangements transport the gig-goer to a magical place
Wed 21st Nov: EFTERKLANG + Peter Broderick
The Queen of the Indie-Blues is back with us with two bands from Too Pure in support
Thu 22nd Nov: SCOUT NIBLETT + Devastations + It Hugs Back
More Danish super-group lushness at large in London
Fri 23rd Nov: EFTERKLANG + Peter Broderick + Denis Jones
Roll up for uplifting good times with this fine, fine rock'n'roll band
Sun 25th Nov: AKRON/FAMILY + Phosphorescent
Three overworldly eccentronic spirits play a Winter special at the Cube
Fri 30th Nov: GOODIEPAL + LAWRENCE ENGLISH + Alexander Thomas
Unruly, gut-bursting performances in an atmos crypt
Sat 1st Dec: TEAM BRICK + COLORIR + Headfall
Saddle up for Sparklehorse's woebegotten country-rock beauty at The Cube
Wed 5th Dec: SPARKLEHORSE + SJ Esau
Dagger Brothers played a sweaty rave pit before leaving for Australia and seduced the day-glo massive with their perfectly honed pop nuggets/muscles. Hoping kindred spirit John Maus plays Bristol in December.
Sunburned Hand of the Man (on a tour roll) have confirmed Xtra dates:
20 Nov Falmouth - Miss Peapods
21 Nov Cheltenham - Slak
22 Nov Brighton - Engine Rooms
23 Nov Sheffield - Bar Abbey
A Hawk and A Hacksaw play Portishead's ATP and have UK and Ireland dates scheduled for the first half of December. Dates here.
Excited to welcome Brazilian duo Colorir to these shores for the first time following travels across China – they are touring with the equally unpredictable Team Brick late November/early December. Click here for the info.
Aufgehoben and z'ev play the Freeaction Festival of Noise in Sheffield alongside Sonny Simmons trio, Kreepa, Black Carrot and many more on Fri 21st Dec.
Chris Corsano plays a solo set at Optimo’s 10th B-Day party with Jimi Tenor, Ebony Bones and William Bennet on Fri 23rd Nov.
Vi plays an away date with Murcof + Rothko at Corsica Studios on Sun 2nd Dec. Tickets here.
Qu 2008 show with… Men Diamler, MV/EE with The Golden Road, Black Lips, Anni Rossi, Vialka, Pekko Kappi, Cath & Phil Tyler…news and dates soon.
Qu Forthcomers
Blowing power. Heads up for this show featuring the incredible saxophonist and legend
Tue 20th Nov: TIGHT MEAT WITH SONNY SIMMONS + Jookla
Stunning 8-piece ensemble whose lush, panoramic arrangements transport the gig-goer to a magical place
Wed 21st Nov: EFTERKLANG + Peter Broderick
The Queen of the Indie-Blues is back with us with two bands from Too Pure in support
Thu 22nd Nov: SCOUT NIBLETT + Devastations + It Hugs Back
More Danish super-group lushness at large in London
Fri 23rd Nov: EFTERKLANG + Peter Broderick + Denis Jones
Roll up for uplifting good times with this fine, fine rock'n'roll band
Sun 25th Nov: AKRON/FAMILY + Phosphorescent
Three overworldly eccentronic spirits play a Winter special at the Cube
Fri 30th Nov: GOODIEPAL + LAWRENCE ENGLISH + Alexander Thomas
Unruly, gut-bursting performances in an atmos crypt
Sat 1st Dec: TEAM BRICK + COLORIR + Headfall
Saddle up for Sparklehorse's woebegotten country-rock beauty at The Cube
Wed 5th Dec: SPARKLEHORSE + SJ Esau
Quwack 23
Hello
Field recordings, tender song craft, Animal Collective (a must see!), devil worship. Harps, a night with the SHOTM troupe, Finnish fever dreams, primitive techno, on-the-edge of yr soul music dynamics and the art of conversation. That’s the next line up of Qu music/art/sound events and gigs.
An evening of deep listening from three artists who harness nature through technology
Sat 27th Oct: BIOSPHERE + CHRIS WATSON & BJNILSEN
A relaxed and intimate masterclass and discussion with Touch artists
Sun 28th Oct: MIKE HARDING + CHRIS WATSON + BIOSPHERE
A wonderfully concocted undergrowth full of cosmic poprocktronica
Tue 30th Oct : ANIMAL COLLECTIVE + Islaja
They are back for more of the crazed
Mon 5th Nov: SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN + Ice Bird Spiral + Ben Reynolds
A real special double-header featuring two inquisitive singer-songwriters
Fri 9th Nov: NANCY ELIZABETH + THEE, STRANDED HORSE + Skarabee
A really rather wonderful and devilish occasion
Sat 10th Nov: HAXAN: LIVE SOUNDTRACK BY BRONNT INDUSTRIES KAPITAL + Grouper
Field recordings, tender song craft, Animal Collective (a must see!), devil worship. Harps, a night with the SHOTM troupe, Finnish fever dreams, primitive techno, on-the-edge of yr soul music dynamics and the art of conversation. That’s the next line up of Qu music/art/sound events and gigs.
An evening of deep listening from three artists who harness nature through technology
Sat 27th Oct: BIOSPHERE + CHRIS WATSON & BJNILSEN
A relaxed and intimate masterclass and discussion with Touch artists
Sun 28th Oct: MIKE HARDING + CHRIS WATSON + BIOSPHERE
A wonderfully concocted undergrowth full of cosmic poprocktronica
Tue 30th Oct : ANIMAL COLLECTIVE + Islaja
They are back for more of the crazed
Mon 5th Nov: SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN + Ice Bird Spiral + Ben Reynolds
A real special double-header featuring two inquisitive singer-songwriters
Fri 9th Nov: NANCY ELIZABETH + THEE, STRANDED HORSE + Skarabee
A really rather wonderful and devilish occasion
Sat 10th Nov: HAXAN: LIVE SOUNDTRACK BY BRONNT INDUSTRIES KAPITAL + Grouper
Quwack 22
Hello,
Time begins to speed up about now.
First up: PLEASE NOTE VENUE CHANGE for Battles show - it is at the Trinity now.
QUick Notes
The digital display on the wall is driving us mad. The clockwork was all apparent at the event we organized with Blackout Arts at Spike called QuWack (e). It took 3 days to install and months in the planning – it was a serious/novel success. Man From Uranus into Vi was dirty, Janek Schaefer into Twocsinak was stupidly good and Infinite Livez singing over Third Eye Foundation was hair-raisingly beautiful. For pics and reviews.
Next QuWack might be a (b) or a (c) or (r)?
Murcof's collaboration with the royal astronomer at The Peter Harrison Observatory in Greenwich was spectacular and unforgettable. Reviewed here. Look out for forthcoming planetarium shows in Berlin and Vienna.
Upfront shows
The ultimate wet dream 21st century rock'n'roll band
Wed 10th Oct: BATTLES + Parts and Labor
***change of venue - now at Trinity Centre***
An amazing encounter between turntablist DJ /rupture guitarist Andy Moor (The Ex)
Thu 11th Oct: DJ/RUPTURE & ANDY MOOR + Agaskodo Teliverek + V.i.
Glitter, tender melodies, songs and orch-rock
Sat 13th Oct: BABY DEE + Stafraenn Hakon + Adam Higton
An evening of deep listening from three artists who harness nature through technology
Sat 27th Oct: BIOSPHERE + CHRIS WATSON & BJNILSEN
A wonderfully concocted undergrowth full of cosmic poprocktronica
Tue 30th Oct : ANIMAL COLLECTIVE + Islaja
New shows just announced
They are back for more of the crazed
Mon 5th Nov: SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN + Ice Bird Spiral
Arabic melodies and delta blues from Tinariwen's producer and Robert Plant's guitarist
Wed 14th Nov: JUSTIN ADAMS & JULDEH CAMARA + Zun Zun Egui
Uplift and fly with this fine, fine rock'n'roll band
Sun 25th Nov: AKRON/FAMILY + Phosphorescent
Three overworldly electronic spirits play a Winter special at the Cube
Fri 30th Nov: GOODIEPAL + LAWRENCE ENGLISH + Alexander Thomas
Selling out fast. Pick them up now.
Wed 5th Dec: SPARKLEHORSE
Time begins to speed up about now.
First up: PLEASE NOTE VENUE CHANGE for Battles show - it is at the Trinity now.
QUick Notes
The digital display on the wall is driving us mad. The clockwork was all apparent at the event we organized with Blackout Arts at Spike called QuWack (e). It took 3 days to install and months in the planning – it was a serious/novel success. Man From Uranus into Vi was dirty, Janek Schaefer into Twocsinak was stupidly good and Infinite Livez singing over Third Eye Foundation was hair-raisingly beautiful. For pics and reviews.
Next QuWack might be a (b) or a (c) or (r)?
Murcof's collaboration with the royal astronomer at The Peter Harrison Observatory in Greenwich was spectacular and unforgettable. Reviewed here. Look out for forthcoming planetarium shows in Berlin and Vienna.
Upfront shows
The ultimate wet dream 21st century rock'n'roll band
Wed 10th Oct: BATTLES + Parts and Labor
***change of venue - now at Trinity Centre***
An amazing encounter between turntablist DJ /rupture guitarist Andy Moor (The Ex)
Thu 11th Oct: DJ/RUPTURE & ANDY MOOR + Agaskodo Teliverek + V.i.
Glitter, tender melodies, songs and orch-rock
Sat 13th Oct: BABY DEE + Stafraenn Hakon + Adam Higton
An evening of deep listening from three artists who harness nature through technology
Sat 27th Oct: BIOSPHERE + CHRIS WATSON & BJNILSEN
A wonderfully concocted undergrowth full of cosmic poprocktronica
Tue 30th Oct : ANIMAL COLLECTIVE + Islaja
New shows just announced
They are back for more of the crazed
Mon 5th Nov: SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN + Ice Bird Spiral
Arabic melodies and delta blues from Tinariwen's producer and Robert Plant's guitarist
Wed 14th Nov: JUSTIN ADAMS & JULDEH CAMARA + Zun Zun Egui
Uplift and fly with this fine, fine rock'n'roll band
Sun 25th Nov: AKRON/FAMILY + Phosphorescent
Three overworldly electronic spirits play a Winter special at the Cube
Fri 30th Nov: GOODIEPAL + LAWRENCE ENGLISH + Alexander Thomas
Selling out fast. Pick them up now.
Wed 5th Dec: SPARKLEHORSE
Quwack 21
Coming up fast
The stories, the heartbreak and good time vibes that circle this authentic country-blues keep people coming back for more.
Sat 15th September: CHARLIE PARR + KUUPUU + MY TWO TOMS at The Polish Club
14 acts, 2 stages, 2 performances, 2 sound systems, electronics, stop clocks and quadraphonic DJ’s
Sat 22nd September: QUWACK(E) at Spike Island
Third Eye Foundation aka Matt Elliott has been revealed as Quwack(e)'s Mystery Guest. Wild card indeed, Bristol anti-hero and bound to let loose.
Here is the running order and list of collaborations, mixes and segues in its full splendour. Things might change a little but this is the plan at the moment.
QUWACK(E) SESSION 01
QUWACK(E) SESSION 02
New Dates Just In
A combustible encounter between turntablist DJ /rupture and guitarist Andy Moor (from cult band The Ex)
Thu 11th October: DJ/RUPTURE & ANDY MOOR
The original and most notorious cult film of all time is rescored by in a faded gothic Cathedral!
Sat 10th November: HAXAN: LIVE SOUNDTRACK BY BRONNT INDUSTRIES KAPITAL
Uplift and fly with this fine, fine rock'n'roll band in support of new album
Sun 25th November: AKRON/FAMILY
For updates on ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / SCOUT NIBLETT / BATTLES / EFTERKLANG / TEAM BRICK / NANCY ELIZABETH / BABY DEE / ADAM HIGTON and more flip over here.
QuIck Notes
Men Diamler set a spell at the Luminere supporting AHAAH. In his home town they sing along with his song.
Six Organs Of Admittance duo show at Green Man with Elisa Magik Marker was firesome sexual guitar antics of the highest combustion.
Fuck Off Batman / Botborg / SonVer / Big Naturals all tuned in and turned down super dark sets at the Shambala Blackout Tent.
Just took delivery of MV & EE and the Golden Road’s ‘Getting’ Gone’ album and it is pure Neal Cassady inspirational fried rock n roll. More erotic, xtra Buddha, heightened beauty and dusty dirty beat hymns. They are set to tour UK/Europe in Feb 2008. So keep in touch.
The stories, the heartbreak and good time vibes that circle this authentic country-blues keep people coming back for more.
Sat 15th September: CHARLIE PARR + KUUPUU + MY TWO TOMS at The Polish Club
14 acts, 2 stages, 2 performances, 2 sound systems, electronics, stop clocks and quadraphonic DJ’s
Sat 22nd September: QUWACK(E) at Spike Island
Third Eye Foundation aka Matt Elliott has been revealed as Quwack(e)'s Mystery Guest. Wild card indeed, Bristol anti-hero and bound to let loose.
Here is the running order and list of collaborations, mixes and segues in its full splendour. Things might change a little but this is the plan at the moment.
QUWACK(E) SESSION 01
| Time |
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
| 2.23pm |
Isambard Kroustaliou | |
| 2.30pm |
Isambard Kroustaliou |
Katapulto |
| 2.35pm |
Katapulto |
|
| 2.50pm |
James Scatter | Katapulto |
| 2.55pm |
James Scatter |
|
| 3.10pm |
James Scatter |
Willtowine |
| 3.15pm |
Willtowine |
|
| 3.30pm |
Alexander Thomas |
Willtowine |
| 3.35pm |
Alexander Thomas |
|
| 3.50pm |
Alexander Thomas | Bela Emerson |
| 3.55pm |
Bela Emerson |
|
| 4.10pm |
Artamonova | Bela Emerson |
| 4.15pm |
Artamonova | |
| 4.30pm |
Aramonova | Isambard Kroustaliov |
| 4.35pm |
Isambard Kroustaliov | |
| 4.42pm |
END |
|
QUWACK(E) SESSION 02
| Time |
Stage 1 |
Stage 2 |
| 7.53pm |
3rd Eye Foundation | |
| 8pm |
3rd Eye Foundation | Man From Uranus |
| 8.05pm |
Man From Uranus | |
| 8.20pm |
V.i. | Man From Uranus |
| 8.25pm |
V.i. |
|
| 8.40pm |
V.i. |
MAIOF |
| 8.45pm |
MAIOF |
|
| 9pm |
Janek Schaefer |
MAIOF |
| 9.05pm |
Janek Schaefer | |
| 9.20pm |
Janek Schaefer | Twocsinak |
| 9.25pm |
Twocsinak | |
| 9.40pm |
Infinite Livez |
Twocsinak |
| 9.45pm |
Infinite Livez | |
| 10pm |
Infinite Livez | 3rd Eye Foundation |
| 10.05pm |
3rd Eye Foundation | |
| 10.12pm |
END |
|
New Dates Just In
A combustible encounter between turntablist DJ /rupture and guitarist Andy Moor (from cult band The Ex)
Thu 11th October: DJ/RUPTURE & ANDY MOOR
The original and most notorious cult film of all time is rescored by in a faded gothic Cathedral!
Sat 10th November: HAXAN: LIVE SOUNDTRACK BY BRONNT INDUSTRIES KAPITAL
Uplift and fly with this fine, fine rock'n'roll band in support of new album
Sun 25th November: AKRON/FAMILY
For updates on ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / SCOUT NIBLETT / BATTLES / EFTERKLANG / TEAM BRICK / NANCY ELIZABETH / BABY DEE / ADAM HIGTON and more flip over here.
QuIck Notes
Men Diamler set a spell at the Luminere supporting AHAAH. In his home town they sing along with his song.
Six Organs Of Admittance duo show at Green Man with Elisa Magik Marker was firesome sexual guitar antics of the highest combustion.
Fuck Off Batman / Botborg / SonVer / Big Naturals all tuned in and turned down super dark sets at the Shambala Blackout Tent.
Just took delivery of MV & EE and the Golden Road’s ‘Getting’ Gone’ album and it is pure Neal Cassady inspirational fried rock n roll. More erotic, xtra Buddha, heightened beauty and dusty dirty beat hymns. They are set to tour UK/Europe in Feb 2008. So keep in touch.
Quwack 20
Qu Crumbs
Everyone who was bowled over by Konono No1 should still be grinning. An 120 minute force of nature that totally blistered the room with their overpowered electric thumb pianos, diy drums, infectious and delirious groove. Hats came off for Bass Clef and Appleblim too. Save yr shoes, they should be returning in the autumn/winter.
The Vialka UK tour also caused ripples with their charmed stage show, jammed with elements of infectious riffs, northern noise, eastern punk, tropical drums and blimblambast. Freeform & tight. Back in early 2008.
Crescent reminded all at the Cube why they are such a treasured band. Performing songs from new record 'Little Waves' for the first time Matt Jones was quietly intense, with beautifully understated Autumnal hues from his band. Worth waiting 2 years for.
Qu Funktions can be found doing their CountrySoulDJset at the beautiful Green Man festival.
Coming up this Autumn
Back for more, Charlie plays a mixture of his own/traditional folk music, and Piedmont-style blues on resonator guitar, 12 string and banjo
Sat 15th September: CHARLIE PARR + KUUPUU + MY TWO TOMS
14 acts, two stages, 2 continuous performances, two sound systems, electronics, stop clocks and quadraphonic DJ’s
Sat 22nd September: QUWACK(E) with Janek Schaefer, Infinite Livez, Man From Uranus, Artamonova, Twocsinak, Isambard Khroustaliou and more
After bringing a packed out Cooler to boiling point back in May, Battles' hyper-literate dance music returns to Bristol
Wed 10th October: BATTLES + PARTS AND LABOR
The multi-talented harpist and one of the star's of this year's Venn is back
Saturday 13th October: BABY DEE
From the phenomenal Touch label (Fennez, Ryoji Ikeda), an evening of deep listening from three artists who harness nature through technology
Sat 27th October: BIOSPHERE + CHRIS WATSON & BJNILSEN 'STORM'
A head-rush of underwater warped cosmic poprocktronica from the band who shimmer and shade their music with delightful kaleidoscopic touchs
Tue 30th October: ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
Heads up on this show featuring the incredible saxophonist and wild legend that is Sonny Simmons
Tue 20th November: SONNY SIMMONS + TIGHT MEAT
Recommendations
Watch out! There's a storm coming
Sat 18th September: ASHTRAY NAVIGATIONS
An inspired mini-festival that brings together a consistently strong and interesting lineup to an authentic "folk club" atmosphere
Sun 9th September: DOUBLE YANG with Alasdair Roberts, James Blackshaw, Rose Kemp, Blanket and more
Everyone who was bowled over by Konono No1 should still be grinning. An 120 minute force of nature that totally blistered the room with their overpowered electric thumb pianos, diy drums, infectious and delirious groove. Hats came off for Bass Clef and Appleblim too. Save yr shoes, they should be returning in the autumn/winter.
The Vialka UK tour also caused ripples with their charmed stage show, jammed with elements of infectious riffs, northern noise, eastern punk, tropical drums and blimblambast. Freeform & tight. Back in early 2008.
Crescent reminded all at the Cube why they are such a treasured band. Performing songs from new record 'Little Waves' for the first time Matt Jones was quietly intense, with beautifully understated Autumnal hues from his band. Worth waiting 2 years for.
Qu Funktions can be found doing their CountrySoulDJset at the beautiful Green Man festival.
Coming up this Autumn
Back for more, Charlie plays a mixture of his own/traditional folk music, and Piedmont-style blues on resonator guitar, 12 string and banjo
Sat 15th September: CHARLIE PARR + KUUPUU + MY TWO TOMS
14 acts, two stages, 2 continuous performances, two sound systems, electronics, stop clocks and quadraphonic DJ’s
Sat 22nd September: QUWACK(E) with Janek Schaefer, Infinite Livez, Man From Uranus, Artamonova, Twocsinak, Isambard Khroustaliou and more
After bringing a packed out Cooler to boiling point back in May, Battles' hyper-literate dance music returns to Bristol
Wed 10th October: BATTLES + PARTS AND LABOR
The multi-talented harpist and one of the star's of this year's Venn is back
Saturday 13th October: BABY DEE
From the phenomenal Touch label (Fennez, Ryoji Ikeda), an evening of deep listening from three artists who harness nature through technology
Sat 27th October: BIOSPHERE + CHRIS WATSON & BJNILSEN 'STORM'
A head-rush of underwater warped cosmic poprocktronica from the band who shimmer and shade their music with delightful kaleidoscopic touchs
Tue 30th October: ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
Heads up on this show featuring the incredible saxophonist and wild legend that is Sonny Simmons
Tue 20th November: SONNY SIMMONS + TIGHT MEAT
Recommendations
Watch out! There's a storm coming
Sat 18th September: ASHTRAY NAVIGATIONS
An inspired mini-festival that brings together a consistently strong and interesting lineup to an authentic "folk club" atmosphere
Sun 9th September: DOUBLE YANG with Alasdair Roberts, James Blackshaw, Rose Kemp, Blanket and more
QuWack 19
A surefire hit if Gogol Bordello, Ruins, A Hawk And A Hacksaw, Mark E Smith, Fatima Mansions or Beck tickle your fancy: Vialka + Jinx Lennon + Kid Carpet & DJ Punksi Wednesday 25th July at Bristol County Sports Club.
Then there is this: probably the most primitive, awesome and infectious electric dance band in Africa: Konono No1. With Appleblim, Bass Clef and Ashowka. Nothing, nothing can come more highly recommended than this evening. Friday 03 August at Fiddlers Club. All the info is found here.
Lets thank Om for holy head bang. Then there is Zun Zun Egui for adding math rock to afro-beat, Staff Panic Only Wall Unit for a wall of electric riffs, plus Directing Hand and Roxanne: The Early Years for putting early music aside beautiful early form, free jazz next to freedom from inhibition. Reviewed here. Some kinda summer shows of difference.
Mid August brings PG Six who is a subtle and rather wonderful experience to behold and Crescent (showcasing their really wonderful new LP). Then Qu Junktions do their country soul set at the Green Man festival.
Not far in the future is a wonderful new evening of QuWack. This time at Spike Island, Bristol with 14 acts, 2 Sound Systems, two continuous performances. All electronic. Featuring artists well known and new.
Acts now booking for UK and European tours:
Nancy Elizabeth, Thee, Stranded Horse, Efterklang, Team Brick, Colorir
QuWack 18
First a BIG thanks to all those who performed, helped, attended and supported Venn 07. As preparations for some major tour operations this autumn continue (Efterklang / Bass Clef / Nancy Elizabeth / Thee, Stranded Horse among them), we have fixed down some dates for the summer months:
Fri 20th July: DIRECTING HAND
Wed 25th July: VIALKA + JINX LENNON
Fri 3rd August: KONONO NO. 1
Wed 15th August: PG SIX + CRESCENT
Sat 15th September: CHARLIE PARR
Wed 10th October: BATTLES
Venn '07
KTL was a curtain-raiser we won't forget. Senses were overloaded and deprived in equal measure as The Cube was pumped full of smoke and a dense fog of electronic/analogue hell descended. Withered Man’s segueing of hammer horror ambience into Burt Bacharach was inspired too.
On the Friday, Vladislav Delay and Colin Potter gave contrasting master classes on the mixing desk – the former opening up spacious digital vistas, while the latter decimated signals fed through to him by Faust and friends. Fox/Pateras gave an invigorating electronic/vocal performance overflowing with punk attitude and Raymond Scott-isms. Anni Rossi wowed too.
Saturday was electric. In true Venn style Lawrence showed an unlikely affection for Scott Walker and David Axelrod alongside his perfectly sculpted minimal techno. Paavoharju transfixed the Arnolfini with a performance of unrivalled mystery and devotion, Jack Rose had 200 people trying to get into his steamy show and Extreme Noise Terror disappointed no one with a archetypal grindcore set. Chipper, Thee, Stranded Horse and Zun Zun Egui also surprised a few.
Sunday saw bandleader Tori Kudo take Maher Shalal Hash Baz through a 100 song Maher-medley before A Hawk And A Hacksaw & The Hun Hangar Ensemble led the most jubliant of Venn finales. Venn ’07 seemed to mix the most way-out wildness with a sense of occasion and pop like never before.
Venn photo evidence, audio and video footage will be up in due course on the Venn site. Thanks again to all those who came and please do email us with your festival feedback / highs / lows / ideas for next year.
On Tour
A gypsy-punk symphony for humble flesh through the high spirits of rock'n'roll
VIALKA
Qu Recommends
Thursday 21st June: INTERPLAY 4
Sprawl presents new collaborations at The Cube between Thomas Koner & Max Eastley, Ekkehard Ehlers & Brian Duffy, Iris Garrelfs & si-cut.db
Friday 13th - Saturday 14th July: SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL
5th edition of Capsule's uber-dark fest at The Custard Factory in Birmingham. Line up includes Wolf Eyes, Om, Mogwai, Sunn O))), Pharoah Overlord, Oxbow Duo
Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th July: INPUT FESTIVAL
New Newcastle based festival from No-Fi (people behind the recent Free Noise tour). A journey deep into noise, drone, improv and unfettered rock scree featuring Wolf Eyes, Om, Colin Potter, Vibracathedral Orchestra, Skullflower, Hush Arbors and more
Saturday 25th August: PALIMPSEST FESTIVAL
Cambridge's Harvest Time bring on an almighty line up of outsider sounds - Kemialliset Ystävät, Vibracathedral Orchestra, Richard Youngs, Directing Hand & Tight Meat among them
Fri 20th July: DIRECTING HAND
Wed 25th July: VIALKA + JINX LENNON
Fri 3rd August: KONONO NO. 1
Wed 15th August: PG SIX + CRESCENT
Sat 15th September: CHARLIE PARR
Wed 10th October: BATTLES
Venn '07
KTL was a curtain-raiser we won't forget. Senses were overloaded and deprived in equal measure as The Cube was pumped full of smoke and a dense fog of electronic/analogue hell descended. Withered Man’s segueing of hammer horror ambience into Burt Bacharach was inspired too.
On the Friday, Vladislav Delay and Colin Potter gave contrasting master classes on the mixing desk – the former opening up spacious digital vistas, while the latter decimated signals fed through to him by Faust and friends. Fox/Pateras gave an invigorating electronic/vocal performance overflowing with punk attitude and Raymond Scott-isms. Anni Rossi wowed too.
Saturday was electric. In true Venn style Lawrence showed an unlikely affection for Scott Walker and David Axelrod alongside his perfectly sculpted minimal techno. Paavoharju transfixed the Arnolfini with a performance of unrivalled mystery and devotion, Jack Rose had 200 people trying to get into his steamy show and Extreme Noise Terror disappointed no one with a archetypal grindcore set. Chipper, Thee, Stranded Horse and Zun Zun Egui also surprised a few.
Sunday saw bandleader Tori Kudo take Maher Shalal Hash Baz through a 100 song Maher-medley before A Hawk And A Hacksaw & The Hun Hangar Ensemble led the most jubliant of Venn finales. Venn ’07 seemed to mix the most way-out wildness with a sense of occasion and pop like never before.
Venn photo evidence, audio and video footage will be up in due course on the Venn site. Thanks again to all those who came and please do email us with your festival feedback / highs / lows / ideas for next year.
On Tour
A gypsy-punk symphony for humble flesh through the high spirits of rock'n'roll
VIALKA
Qu Recommends
Thursday 21st June: INTERPLAY 4
Sprawl presents new collaborations at The Cube between Thomas Koner & Max Eastley, Ekkehard Ehlers & Brian Duffy, Iris Garrelfs & si-cut.db
Friday 13th - Saturday 14th July: SUPERSONIC FESTIVAL
5th edition of Capsule's uber-dark fest at The Custard Factory in Birmingham. Line up includes Wolf Eyes, Om, Mogwai, Sunn O))), Pharoah Overlord, Oxbow Duo
Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th July: INPUT FESTIVAL
New Newcastle based festival from No-Fi (people behind the recent Free Noise tour). A journey deep into noise, drone, improv and unfettered rock scree featuring Wolf Eyes, Om, Colin Potter, Vibracathedral Orchestra, Skullflower, Hush Arbors and more
Saturday 25th August: PALIMPSEST FESTIVAL
Cambridge's Harvest Time bring on an almighty line up of outsider sounds - Kemialliset Ystävät, Vibracathedral Orchestra, Richard Youngs, Directing Hand & Tight Meat among them
Quwack 17
Hello,
Set out your sails and blow into Venn '07.
This year expect lots of movement, musicians cropping up in all kinds of new and exciting ways, new venues to explore, as well as the Venn mix of the unharnessed and the tender, the horizontal and the jump up, from legends to new kids off their block.
Qu's Venn picks
Faust (playing with Nurse With Wound's Colin Potter and Henry Cow's Geoff Leigh), Vi's Bristolised dub pulsations, Jason 'the Donna Summer of Breakcore' Forrest Band's first exclusive UK appearance, J Spaceman (Spiritualised main man) and Mark Sanders rocking out with the almighty Spring Heel Jack, Paavoharju (unbelievably spellbinding Finnish collective), Jack Rose playing before Baby Dee at The Cube, not to mention the Balkan/Mexican gypsy swagger and poise of A Hawk And A Hacksaw and The Hun Hangar Ensemble on the final day. The Portland connection is strong at Venn: Arrington De Dionsyo, Yellow Swans and Adrian Orange (who is gonna put a song spell on you) will be popping up in all kinds of configurations. Special collaborations and guest slots throughout Venn promise to keep you guessing, while Bellatrix's outside the box beatboxer tricks, Vexkiddy's delirious time travel acid house, and Goodiepal's entertaining forays into the world of magic, sound and art should all surprise a few.
Other good news to us is that The One Ensemble have enlarged by three and will be showcasing a specially written composition called 'Other Thunders', Vladislav Delay/Luomo are both appearing within 5 hours of each other, and the surprise turn of Green 'Scritti Politti' Gartside all make this year's Venn festival experience even more thrilling in a period of lazy-arsed festival line-ups.
Plus…. the slots by performers we can guarantee you will be hearing more from Anni Rossi, Thee, Stranded Horse, Aufgehoben, Ignatz, Chipper, Motor Ghost, Voe, and Robert Logan are all highly anticipated.
After-Venn shows
One of the most unique voices in any genre
Sat 9th June: CARLA BOZULICH
Last month's Qu pick ups
Constant United Kingdom movement has made sure we have experienced music to the max recently...
A Hawk And A Hacksaw with the Hun Hangar Ensemble's recent tour was a red hot success. Blowing into venues and surprising the folks with a fiery mix of the plaintive, the irrepressibly joyous and Transylvanian dance tunes, The Hungarian-New Mexican mix was a potent one
Battles made math rock solid at a boiling point Cooler show in Bristol. Crunching rock riff and jazz licks numbers into new melodic patterns and tight off kilter drum funk. Well worth the hype
Naat Veliov's Kocani Orchestra in Brighton was also serious fun. Balkan Brass all around the place
Also on the South Coast are On Fire whose 'Oh, what a shitting, stinking prig I am' makes for fine blistering listening
Hearing Alvin Curran's harbour brass get re-aired on Bjork's Volta is also a highlight
Jack Rose cooking Cardiff with his raga infected blues and Colleen's magical quietude at The Cube where moments of reverie too
Men Diamler's remarkable display of pent-up energy supporting Scout Niblett blew old and new fans away. A man who raises his game with every performance
Set out your sails and blow into Venn '07.
This year expect lots of movement, musicians cropping up in all kinds of new and exciting ways, new venues to explore, as well as the Venn mix of the unharnessed and the tender, the horizontal and the jump up, from legends to new kids off their block.
Qu's Venn picks
Faust (playing with Nurse With Wound's Colin Potter and Henry Cow's Geoff Leigh), Vi's Bristolised dub pulsations, Jason 'the Donna Summer of Breakcore' Forrest Band's first exclusive UK appearance, J Spaceman (Spiritualised main man) and Mark Sanders rocking out with the almighty Spring Heel Jack, Paavoharju (unbelievably spellbinding Finnish collective), Jack Rose playing before Baby Dee at The Cube, not to mention the Balkan/Mexican gypsy swagger and poise of A Hawk And A Hacksaw and The Hun Hangar Ensemble on the final day. The Portland connection is strong at Venn: Arrington De Dionsyo, Yellow Swans and Adrian Orange (who is gonna put a song spell on you) will be popping up in all kinds of configurations. Special collaborations and guest slots throughout Venn promise to keep you guessing, while Bellatrix's outside the box beatboxer tricks, Vexkiddy's delirious time travel acid house, and Goodiepal's entertaining forays into the world of magic, sound and art should all surprise a few.
Other good news to us is that The One Ensemble have enlarged by three and will be showcasing a specially written composition called 'Other Thunders', Vladislav Delay/Luomo are both appearing within 5 hours of each other, and the surprise turn of Green 'Scritti Politti' Gartside all make this year's Venn festival experience even more thrilling in a period of lazy-arsed festival line-ups.
Plus…. the slots by performers we can guarantee you will be hearing more from Anni Rossi, Thee, Stranded Horse, Aufgehoben, Ignatz, Chipper, Motor Ghost, Voe, and Robert Logan are all highly anticipated.
After-Venn shows
One of the most unique voices in any genre
Sat 9th June: CARLA BOZULICH
Last month's Qu pick ups
Constant United Kingdom movement has made sure we have experienced music to the max recently...
A Hawk And A Hacksaw with the Hun Hangar Ensemble's recent tour was a red hot success. Blowing into venues and surprising the folks with a fiery mix of the plaintive, the irrepressibly joyous and Transylvanian dance tunes, The Hungarian-New Mexican mix was a potent one
Battles made math rock solid at a boiling point Cooler show in Bristol. Crunching rock riff and jazz licks numbers into new melodic patterns and tight off kilter drum funk. Well worth the hype
Naat Veliov's Kocani Orchestra in Brighton was also serious fun. Balkan Brass all around the place
Also on the South Coast are On Fire whose 'Oh, what a shitting, stinking prig I am' makes for fine blistering listening
Hearing Alvin Curran's harbour brass get re-aired on Bjork's Volta is also a highlight
Jack Rose cooking Cardiff with his raga infected blues and Colleen's magical quietude at The Cube where moments of reverie too
Men Diamler's remarkable display of pent-up energy supporting Scout Niblett blew old and new fans away. A man who raises his game with every performance
Quwack 16
Hello / hello
The run up to the summer may just be our best set of shows yet. Gander on below for a full round up...
Legends, exciting new artists and killer collaborations from the burgeoning noise and free jazz scenes
Thu 3rd May: FREE NOISE with EVAN PARKER, PAUL HESSION, YELLOW SWANS, JOHN WIESE, C. SPENCER YEH, METALUX, JOHN EDWARDS & CULVER
Deeply expressionist music that invigorates the imagination from The Leaf Label
Sat 5th May: TRIOSK & COLLEEN
Hypnotic bleeped-up math attack from Warp/NYC
Fri 18th May: BATTLES
Welcome back this classic drummer/guitar player/singer who rocks like the Pixies
Wed 23rd May: SCOUT NIBLETT
Faust, J Spaceman, Extreme Noise Terror, Einar Orn (Sugarcubes), Jack Rose, Vladislav Delay, Stephen O'Malley and more
Thu 31st May-3rd June: VENN
The run up to the summer may just be our best set of shows yet. Gander on below for a full round up...
Legends, exciting new artists and killer collaborations from the burgeoning noise and free jazz scenes
Thu 3rd May: FREE NOISE with EVAN PARKER, PAUL HESSION, YELLOW SWANS, JOHN WIESE, C. SPENCER YEH, METALUX, JOHN EDWARDS & CULVER
Deeply expressionist music that invigorates the imagination from The Leaf Label
Sat 5th May: TRIOSK & COLLEEN
Hypnotic bleeped-up math attack from Warp/NYC
Fri 18th May: BATTLES
Welcome back this classic drummer/guitar player/singer who rocks like the Pixies
Wed 23rd May: SCOUT NIBLETT
Faust, J Spaceman, Extreme Noise Terror, Einar Orn (Sugarcubes), Jack Rose, Vladislav Delay, Stephen O'Malley and more
Thu 31st May-3rd June: VENN
QuWack 15
Hello, Below is the next full range of gigs, shows and festivals.
Safetyword have returned safely from a smattering of well-received UK shows and have some vinyl releases in the pipeline. Catch Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe on the road this month and just wait for her debut album....
Tickets for Qu events are now available from 20th Century Flicks in Clifton as well as Bristol Ticket Shop and Here Shop. Drop by in person to pick them up.
Thanks a bunch and look out for the second booQulet. It is all pudding, sweet and sticky afters from here on in.
Shows
Head on collision between two widescreen jazz/rock acts
Saturday 10th March: THE BLESSING vs LIMBO
Primal rhythms, swirling heavy riffs and ecstatic rites
Wednesday 14th March: RACCOO-OO-OON + TIGHT MEAT DUO
Master jazz/funk maestro musician meets future electronix/f***ed folktronics boy live on the stage and sparks fly
Wednesday 21st March: KIERAN HEBDEN & STEVE REID
A magnetic, dreamy night featuring straight for the heart 12-string guitar music
Saturday 31st March: JAMES BLACKSHAW
Kings of the noise highway rob you of sight via their ‘take no prisoners’ sound
Wednesday 18th April: WOLF EYES
A purveyor of timeless, tuneful songs full of inner mystery, love and death
Thursday 19th April: ALASDAIR ROBERTS
Prepare and ticket up for
Thursday 3rd May: FREE NOISE with EVAN PARKER, PAUL HESSION, YELLOW SWANS, JOHN WIESE, C. SPENCER YEH, METALUX, JOHN EDWARDS & CULVER
Saturday 5th May: COLLEEN + TRIOSK
Friday 18th May: BATTLES
Wednesday 23rd May: SCOUT NIBLETT
Deep breath...
Thursday 31st May-3rd June: VENN FESTIVAL
With: PAAVOHARJU, KTL, A HAWK AND A HACKSAW with THE HUN HUNGAR ENSEMBLE, FAUST, LUKE VIBERT, VLADISLAV DELAY, THE ONE ENSEMBLE and ORCHESTRA, SPRING HEEL JACK W/ J SPACEMAN & MARK SANDERS, LAWRENCE, JACK ROSE, MAHER SHALAL HASH BAZ, MORNINGSTAR, SAFETY SCISSORS, BEARDY MAN, YELLOW SWANS AUFGEHOBEN, WITHERED MAN, BABY DEE, MANYFINGERS, ARRINGTON DE DIONSYO, ADRIAN ORANGE AND THE CHILD SLAVE REBELLION, TRIM SOUND, VEXKIDDY and lots more acts, music, art, kaleidoscopic identities and musical overlap
Safetyword have returned safely from a smattering of well-received UK shows and have some vinyl releases in the pipeline. Catch Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe on the road this month and just wait for her debut album....
Tickets for Qu events are now available from 20th Century Flicks in Clifton as well as Bristol Ticket Shop and Here Shop. Drop by in person to pick them up.
Thanks a bunch and look out for the second booQulet. It is all pudding, sweet and sticky afters from here on in.
Shows
Head on collision between two widescreen jazz/rock acts
Saturday 10th March: THE BLESSING vs LIMBO
Primal rhythms, swirling heavy riffs and ecstatic rites
Wednesday 14th March: RACCOO-OO-OON + TIGHT MEAT DUO
Master jazz/funk maestro musician meets future electronix/f***ed folktronics boy live on the stage and sparks fly
Wednesday 21st March: KIERAN HEBDEN & STEVE REID
A magnetic, dreamy night featuring straight for the heart 12-string guitar music
Saturday 31st March: JAMES BLACKSHAW
Kings of the noise highway rob you of sight via their ‘take no prisoners’ sound
Wednesday 18th April: WOLF EYES
A purveyor of timeless, tuneful songs full of inner mystery, love and death
Thursday 19th April: ALASDAIR ROBERTS
Prepare and ticket up for
Thursday 3rd May: FREE NOISE with EVAN PARKER, PAUL HESSION, YELLOW SWANS, JOHN WIESE, C. SPENCER YEH, METALUX, JOHN EDWARDS & CULVER
Saturday 5th May: COLLEEN + TRIOSK
Friday 18th May: BATTLES
Wednesday 23rd May: SCOUT NIBLETT
Deep breath...
Thursday 31st May-3rd June: VENN FESTIVAL
With: PAAVOHARJU, KTL, A HAWK AND A HACKSAW with THE HUN HUNGAR ENSEMBLE, FAUST, LUKE VIBERT, VLADISLAV DELAY, THE ONE ENSEMBLE and ORCHESTRA, SPRING HEEL JACK W/ J SPACEMAN & MARK SANDERS, LAWRENCE, JACK ROSE, MAHER SHALAL HASH BAZ, MORNINGSTAR, SAFETY SCISSORS, BEARDY MAN, YELLOW SWANS AUFGEHOBEN, WITHERED MAN, BABY DEE, MANYFINGERS, ARRINGTON DE DIONSYO, ADRIAN ORANGE AND THE CHILD SLAVE REBELLION, TRIM SOUND, VEXKIDDY and lots more acts, music, art, kaleidoscopic identities and musical overlap
Quwack 14
The music that fell to earth…
There is a certain warm glow within our Qu news words, for the next set of visiting artists, musicians and conductors of sound/air and matter are all bound by a certain ability to set paces, hearts and grey matter coursing with blood, energy and streams of ideas. Enterprises of an inner-galactic matter are on offer and all are welcome. Be set for the formidable Free Noise line up, the first Wolf Eyes Bristol show, heavy sax/drum song with Tight Meat Duo, the near perfect sound of Mick Flower and Chris Corsano playing together and Okkyung Lee's mesmeric cello this Sat at the Cube Microplex. News soon of some UK dates for Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe.
2007 also comes with news of Qu Junktions' first foray into CMN backed touring. This has enabled A Hawk And A Hacksaw to work with some wonderful Hungarian musicians to tour the UK. A lift off sound of joyousness is expected. AHAAH move to Budapest in the Spring and a new EP on the Leaf Label is to be released in May. Jack Rose will be playing on some of the dates at the beginning of his headline European Tour.
Lots of kisses go to Dudley Sutton, Will Oldham and Eugene Hütz for making this Jan a cultured place to pass through. For full details of Qu Junktions acts touring or available for festivals and one offs punch the button here.
Qu Forthcomers
The man known as Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. joins Korean cellist at The Cube
Saturday 3rd February: JASON MOLINA + OKKYUNG LEE
A f***ing incredible mix of wide-eyed hardcore, ecstatic noise, free rock, Indian drone, sweat and bone
Friday 16th February: FLOWER – CORSANO DUO
Primal rhythms, swirling heavy riffs and ecstatic rites
Wednesday 14th March: RACCOO-OO-OON + TIGHT MEAT DUO
Master jazz/funk maestro musician meets future electronix/f***ed folktronics boy live on the stage and sparks fly
Wednesday 21st March: KIERAN HEBDEN & STEVE REID
Pleased to announce the following Funktions
Wednesday 18th April: WOLF EYES at The Cooler
Thursday 3rd May: FREE NOISE with EVAN PARKER, PAUL HESSION, YELLOW SWANS, JOHN WIESE, C. SPENCER YEH, METALUX, JOHN EDWARDS & CULVER at Arnolfini
Wednesday 23rd May: SCOUT NIBLETT at Thekla Social
Friday 1st-Sunday 3rd June: VENN 2007 across Bristol
Can we also recommend these 3
Thursday 1st February: Owl Toes presents JAKOB OLAUSSON
Saturday 10th February: No.Signal presents SOTTOVOCE with AUFGEHOBEN, LASSE MARHAUG, GARY SMITH, JAMES BLACKSHAW, RHODRI DAVIES and more
Friday 9th March: Blackout Arts present SEMICONDUCTOR vs ANTENNA FARM
On Tour
SAFETYWORD
FLOWER-CORSANO DUO
SHIU-YEUNG HUI
A HAWK AND A HACKSAW WITH THE HUNGAR ENSEMBLE
There is a certain warm glow within our Qu news words, for the next set of visiting artists, musicians and conductors of sound/air and matter are all bound by a certain ability to set paces, hearts and grey matter coursing with blood, energy and streams of ideas. Enterprises of an inner-galactic matter are on offer and all are welcome. Be set for the formidable Free Noise line up, the first Wolf Eyes Bristol show, heavy sax/drum song with Tight Meat Duo, the near perfect sound of Mick Flower and Chris Corsano playing together and Okkyung Lee's mesmeric cello this Sat at the Cube Microplex. News soon of some UK dates for Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe.
2007 also comes with news of Qu Junktions' first foray into CMN backed touring. This has enabled A Hawk And A Hacksaw to work with some wonderful Hungarian musicians to tour the UK. A lift off sound of joyousness is expected. AHAAH move to Budapest in the Spring and a new EP on the Leaf Label is to be released in May. Jack Rose will be playing on some of the dates at the beginning of his headline European Tour.
Lots of kisses go to Dudley Sutton, Will Oldham and Eugene Hütz for making this Jan a cultured place to pass through. For full details of Qu Junktions acts touring or available for festivals and one offs punch the button here.
Qu Forthcomers
The man known as Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. joins Korean cellist at The Cube
Saturday 3rd February: JASON MOLINA + OKKYUNG LEE
A f***ing incredible mix of wide-eyed hardcore, ecstatic noise, free rock, Indian drone, sweat and bone
Friday 16th February: FLOWER – CORSANO DUO
Primal rhythms, swirling heavy riffs and ecstatic rites
Wednesday 14th March: RACCOO-OO-OON + TIGHT MEAT DUO
Master jazz/funk maestro musician meets future electronix/f***ed folktronics boy live on the stage and sparks fly
Wednesday 21st March: KIERAN HEBDEN & STEVE REID
Pleased to announce the following Funktions
Wednesday 18th April: WOLF EYES at The Cooler
Thursday 3rd May: FREE NOISE with EVAN PARKER, PAUL HESSION, YELLOW SWANS, JOHN WIESE, C. SPENCER YEH, METALUX, JOHN EDWARDS & CULVER at Arnolfini
Wednesday 23rd May: SCOUT NIBLETT at Thekla Social
Friday 1st-Sunday 3rd June: VENN 2007 across Bristol
Can we also recommend these 3
Thursday 1st February: Owl Toes presents JAKOB OLAUSSON
Saturday 10th February: No.Signal presents SOTTOVOCE with AUFGEHOBEN, LASSE MARHAUG, GARY SMITH, JAMES BLACKSHAW, RHODRI DAVIES and more
Friday 9th March: Blackout Arts present SEMICONDUCTOR vs ANTENNA FARM
On Tour
SAFETYWORD
FLOWER-CORSANO DUO
SHIU-YEUNG HUI
A HAWK AND A HACKSAW WITH THE HUNGAR ENSEMBLE
Quwack 13
Dec 06/Jan 07: revelations one and all
The intense final bundle of Qu shows in 2006 brought up some magic times. Josephine Foster played off dreamy word prose to electric (Michael Brook-esque) unjointed acoustic arrangements of a warm kind to a het-up post Magik Makers crowd. Eugene Chadbourne moved us between heartbreak and belly ache. Espers out-spooked us all with the best set we have seen them pull off. Safetyword rammed the Cube belly with strange words, precise audio movements and a new album, Mick Flower arrived just in time to crash into the reddened thunder funk of a delightfullychaotic Sunburned set. All bodes well.
33 and 1/3 journeys around the Sun,
Mark & Chiz
BacktoFront Info
It was a HARD year - so Jandek's two metal machine boogie shows at The Cube sat firm and fine / the wind chill factor stung the eyes and bones during the Vi intimate~INTIMATE set from a car park at – 8 degrees / Team Brick at QuWack (M) ripped / stone cold vanity wonder with The Brown Bunny on DVD / outback blues with The Proposition / earlywinterturnedtolatesummer / the AC/DC connection for perseverance and love in the time of Global shift / The reminder that fratboy noisecore just don't cut it next to cathartic bloodletting lust / Skaters wooed and Dead C were seen at last / OM, om, om / Ba da Bing
Good For What Ails You – the MV/EE Medicine Show and Bummer Road shows took you to a zone all were welcome in - ToneHeavy / AHAAH delightfully echoing the church at Palimpsest / getting it on to The Lobi Traore Group / Taking delivery of Glowing Raw and Emerald Message / practising to The Young Cricketer in The Cricketers Arms, Sheffield / images via Grace Jones / art via Motorboy / Gifts from the Orr of Schneiderman / Serfs, slave to Serfs / Aaron Neville / Old age coupled with wonderment / Qu Functions and Qu Luncheons / Cat Power doing the Mick Jagger impersonations
Happy times - with the exiciting arrival of Bass Clef album proper. We lush u / watching Ferenc Kovács cut loose at Fono / dancing in Tony Allen time / ManCry believe it / San Diego Heroes on DVD-R and every stageandfloor the Sunburned Hand of The Man graced / Rottenmeats nailing it / Jonathan Kane blistering the stars and then the party / Tapes from markets / Cassettes in the bottom of draws / Richard Seymour / Freeze Puppy / Market Garden moments.
Songs of the year collected: Green Blues - and that's the way it goes/went/will be.
/Cz/
Rebel uncles Herman Dune won over a cinema overflowing with children / exquisite lo-fi and gentle noise from Es, Islaja and all things Fonal. Waiting for Paarvuharju / the new weird Cube / Baby Dee was a blast and born to QuWack / once again Howe Gelb kept us guessing. Up there with Memphis Rhythm Blues for sheer exhilaration / touring Norway with AHAAH and the Leaf office party in Stavanger / Edith Frost sings Emergency at The Cube / under_score, Malcomm Sixx and Principal Participant head the Bristol minimal underground / maximum arousal / Mulato Astatqe, Bill Murray and Broken Flowers / Andrew Bird
Goldmund Festival – 24 hr pit stop at a mystical lake in the rain. Long live the Bristol-Berlin connection / Kasai Allstars / Vialka Vialka Vialka! / Massive Genius / Here Shop is the stop for Christmas then Cafe Kino for pancakes / Getting high in the morning with Ariel Pink / too many hits of Russian Cocaine / Tom Ze and Tropicalia / Benjamin Wetherill / the sound of Knowle West from Tricky to Freeze Puppy / the blues stretched to the infinity...it shouldn't work but by god it does - Jonathan Kane I Looked At The Sun / the glitter twins / Three Burials / Matt Elliott has Compassion Fatigue but his new album is a huge leap forward / recommend a daily dose of Safetyword / The One Ensemble and Nalle spellbind all who see them / the Bugbrand empire / looking forward to new horror house mastercuts from Bronnt Industries Kapital / Qu-euing at ATP and spoilt for choice - Gang of Four still have it. No matter what the snobs say.
/Mark/
FronttoBack Info
Ears peeled for Qu returns from Jack Rose, AHAAH with The Hun Hangár Ensemble, Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe with album proper nearly there, Efterklang in kaleidoscopic form, Shiu-Yeung Hiu, MV/EE and the Bummer Road, Team Brick, Matt Elliott, Safetyword, Triosk & Colleen. Prepare for QuWack (E) and Venn the documentary.
Events
Sat 03 February: JASON MOLINA + OKKYUNG LEE @ The Cube
Fri 16 February: CORSANO-FLOWER DUO @ The Cooler
Wed 21 March: KEIRAN HEBDEN & STEVE REID @ Trinity Centre
The intense final bundle of Qu shows in 2006 brought up some magic times. Josephine Foster played off dreamy word prose to electric (Michael Brook-esque) unjointed acoustic arrangements of a warm kind to a het-up post Magik Makers crowd. Eugene Chadbourne moved us between heartbreak and belly ache. Espers out-spooked us all with the best set we have seen them pull off. Safetyword rammed the Cube belly with strange words, precise audio movements and a new album, Mick Flower arrived just in time to crash into the reddened thunder funk of a delightfullychaotic Sunburned set. All bodes well.
33 and 1/3 journeys around the Sun,
Mark & Chiz
BacktoFront Info
It was a HARD year - so Jandek's two metal machine boogie shows at The Cube sat firm and fine / the wind chill factor stung the eyes and bones during the Vi intimate~INTIMATE set from a car park at – 8 degrees / Team Brick at QuWack (M) ripped / stone cold vanity wonder with The Brown Bunny on DVD / outback blues with The Proposition / earlywinterturnedtolatesummer / the AC/DC connection for perseverance and love in the time of Global shift / The reminder that fratboy noisecore just don't cut it next to cathartic bloodletting lust / Skaters wooed and Dead C were seen at last / OM, om, om / Ba da Bing
Good For What Ails You – the MV/EE Medicine Show and Bummer Road shows took you to a zone all were welcome in - ToneHeavy / AHAAH delightfully echoing the church at Palimpsest / getting it on to The Lobi Traore Group / Taking delivery of Glowing Raw and Emerald Message / practising to The Young Cricketer in The Cricketers Arms, Sheffield / images via Grace Jones / art via Motorboy / Gifts from the Orr of Schneiderman / Serfs, slave to Serfs / Aaron Neville / Old age coupled with wonderment / Qu Functions and Qu Luncheons / Cat Power doing the Mick Jagger impersonations
Happy times - with the exiciting arrival of Bass Clef album proper. We lush u / watching Ferenc Kovács cut loose at Fono / dancing in Tony Allen time / ManCry believe it / San Diego Heroes on DVD-R and every stageandfloor the Sunburned Hand of The Man graced / Rottenmeats nailing it / Jonathan Kane blistering the stars and then the party / Tapes from markets / Cassettes in the bottom of draws / Richard Seymour / Freeze Puppy / Market Garden moments.
Songs of the year collected: Green Blues - and that's the way it goes/went/will be.
/Cz/
Rebel uncles Herman Dune won over a cinema overflowing with children / exquisite lo-fi and gentle noise from Es, Islaja and all things Fonal. Waiting for Paarvuharju / the new weird Cube / Baby Dee was a blast and born to QuWack / once again Howe Gelb kept us guessing. Up there with Memphis Rhythm Blues for sheer exhilaration / touring Norway with AHAAH and the Leaf office party in Stavanger / Edith Frost sings Emergency at The Cube / under_score, Malcomm Sixx and Principal Participant head the Bristol minimal underground / maximum arousal / Mulato Astatqe, Bill Murray and Broken Flowers / Andrew Bird
Goldmund Festival – 24 hr pit stop at a mystical lake in the rain. Long live the Bristol-Berlin connection / Kasai Allstars / Vialka Vialka Vialka! / Massive Genius / Here Shop is the stop for Christmas then Cafe Kino for pancakes / Getting high in the morning with Ariel Pink / too many hits of Russian Cocaine / Tom Ze and Tropicalia / Benjamin Wetherill / the sound of Knowle West from Tricky to Freeze Puppy / the blues stretched to the infinity...it shouldn't work but by god it does - Jonathan Kane I Looked At The Sun / the glitter twins / Three Burials / Matt Elliott has Compassion Fatigue but his new album is a huge leap forward / recommend a daily dose of Safetyword / The One Ensemble and Nalle spellbind all who see them / the Bugbrand empire / looking forward to new horror house mastercuts from Bronnt Industries Kapital / Qu-euing at ATP and spoilt for choice - Gang of Four still have it. No matter what the snobs say.
/Mark/
FronttoBack Info
Ears peeled for Qu returns from Jack Rose, AHAAH with The Hun Hangár Ensemble, Nancy Elizabeth Cunliffe with album proper nearly there, Efterklang in kaleidoscopic form, Shiu-Yeung Hiu, MV/EE and the Bummer Road, Team Brick, Matt Elliott, Safetyword, Triosk & Colleen. Prepare for QuWack (E) and Venn the documentary.
Events
Sat 03 February: JASON MOLINA + OKKYUNG LEE @ The Cube
Fri 16 February: CORSANO-FLOWER DUO @ The Cooler
Wed 21 March: KEIRAN HEBDEN & STEVE REID @ Trinity Centre
Quwack12
November 07
Time to get on with the season of flygaric mushrooms and nose up to some of these upcoming shows of immense music making.
Upfront Info
Lisa Germano had to postpone her date at The Cube but is now joining us at Seymours on Thursday 7th December – what a line up. Info here
Dudley Sutton (iconic British actor, Tinker in Lovejoy, poet, performer) is gracing the Cube Cinema stage on Friday 19th January . More details to come. Think a thespian Billy Childish crossed with a wild sixties Soho Bohemian. Songs, blues and stories galore in this one-man special show
Jack Rose is currently out touring with legendary guitar player Peter Walker in the USA. He has a limited tour CD with him
Nalle & The One Ensemble are back home having spellbound audiences with their spacious drones, and sublime musicianship. New album from The One Ensemble out on Secret Eye now
Now booking shows for the Flower–Corsano duo for a tour in February. Fucking incredible mix of wide-eyed hardcore, ecstatic noise, free rock, Indian drone, sweat and bone from Michael Flower (Vibracathedral Orchestra, United Light) and Chris Corsano (Keiji Haino, Paul Flaherty, John Olston, Vampire Belt, Six Organs Of Admittance etc etc). See them play here
Events
A quadruple bill of rock, country, folk and psych. Only tickets left are available early on the door. Dead xcited by this night
Sun 19th November: ESPERS + special guests
A duo/partnership in this incarnation of talismanic proportions. Bluesy, spaced and akin to Neil Young meeting Royal Trux on an outer rural plateau
Monday 20th November: MV/EE MEDICINE SHOW
A liberating night of ‘genius at work’ principles and music like no other
Friday 1st December: EUGENE CHADBOURNE
Reference Beirut, The Magic Band, Johnny Marr, Talking Heads for their up, UP and AWAY sound
Saturday 2nd December: SAFETYWORD
A man in his prime, full of Tim Buckley and Devendra Banhart-isms
Sunday 3rd December: TOM BROSSEAU
A Qu Junktions triple shot of buddha-psych tracks and wonderous thunderous freak-outs and enigmatic hush hush songs by three stunningly individual acts
Thursday 7th December: SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE + SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN + very special guest LISA GERMANO
Musical thrills and spills with otherworldly singer Josephine Foster and the sonic chaos of Magik Markers
Tuesday 12th December: JOSEPHINE FOSTER + MAGIK MARKERS
Time to get on with the season of flygaric mushrooms and nose up to some of these upcoming shows of immense music making.
Upfront Info
Lisa Germano had to postpone her date at The Cube but is now joining us at Seymours on Thursday 7th December – what a line up. Info here
Dudley Sutton (iconic British actor, Tinker in Lovejoy, poet, performer) is gracing the Cube Cinema stage on Friday 19th January . More details to come. Think a thespian Billy Childish crossed with a wild sixties Soho Bohemian. Songs, blues and stories galore in this one-man special show
Jack Rose is currently out touring with legendary guitar player Peter Walker in the USA. He has a limited tour CD with him
Nalle & The One Ensemble are back home having spellbound audiences with their spacious drones, and sublime musicianship. New album from The One Ensemble out on Secret Eye now
Now booking shows for the Flower–Corsano duo for a tour in February. Fucking incredible mix of wide-eyed hardcore, ecstatic noise, free rock, Indian drone, sweat and bone from Michael Flower (Vibracathedral Orchestra, United Light) and Chris Corsano (Keiji Haino, Paul Flaherty, John Olston, Vampire Belt, Six Organs Of Admittance etc etc). See them play here
Events
A quadruple bill of rock, country, folk and psych. Only tickets left are available early on the door. Dead xcited by this night
Sun 19th November: ESPERS + special guests
A duo/partnership in this incarnation of talismanic proportions. Bluesy, spaced and akin to Neil Young meeting Royal Trux on an outer rural plateau
Monday 20th November: MV/EE MEDICINE SHOW
A liberating night of ‘genius at work’ principles and music like no other
Friday 1st December: EUGENE CHADBOURNE
Reference Beirut, The Magic Band, Johnny Marr, Talking Heads for their up, UP and AWAY sound
Saturday 2nd December: SAFETYWORD
A man in his prime, full of Tim Buckley and Devendra Banhart-isms
Sunday 3rd December: TOM BROSSEAU
A Qu Junktions triple shot of buddha-psych tracks and wonderous thunderous freak-outs and enigmatic hush hush songs by three stunningly individual acts
Thursday 7th December: SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE + SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN + very special guest LISA GERMANO
Musical thrills and spills with otherworldly singer Josephine Foster and the sonic chaos of Magik Markers
Tuesday 12th December: JOSEPHINE FOSTER + MAGIK MARKERS
Quwack 11
October 2007
The excitement mounts for Matt Valentine and Erika Elder to arrive in UK. The Bummer Road seem to be getting flipped on wigged Canned Heat vibes. Check out the clip with Thurston Moore and Byron Coley gabbering on here
Up in Newcastle No-Fi have started their 7” label with Sir Richard Bishop. Read about/buy here
As the nights are drawing in can't get enough of new Matt Elliott album 'Failing Songs' out now on Ici D'Ailleurs. Look out for a few UK dates in early 2007
Brooding music for the arty Halloween head has to be KTL (Stephen O'Malley (SUNNO))), Khanate) and Peter Rehberg (PITA) on Mego Editions
Cry to see Chipper again. She was one of the wonders of QuWack (f). QuWackers all
Go see this man make a grand bellow segue into whimper - Men Diamler
Jonny Trunk bounced the Cube Microplex into further theatrical directions a few weeks ago. Reviewed here
Shirley Collins enraptured an audience of folk/knitting/Nurse With Wound/Radio 4 admirers with her beautiful story. To hear her sing again….
Jonathan Kane and Arrington de Dionyso was a show to remember. Kane and his four guitar assault launched the blues into the stratosphere with 'I Looked At The Sun'.
Sorry previously announced show with The Books on Dec 10th has been postponed till 2007
Events
Solo guitar explorations from one of ethno-improv's pioneering legends Sun City Girls
Mon 23rd October: SIR RICHARD BISHOP + SCREENING OF PHI TA KHON
A heady brew of Eastern European traditions, gypsy, classical chamber music, mystical minimalism and theatrical flourishes
Wed 8th November: THE ONE ENSEMBLE + NALLE
Spooky, gothic tinged laments from an unheralded songtress from West Coast USA
Fri 10th November: LISA GERMANO
Pure voices, widescreen folk rock and country soul
Sun 19th November: ESPERS + special guests
Talismanic music with a haunted, bluesy Neil Young on mushrooms vibe
Mon 20th November: MV/EE MEDICINE SHOW
On Tour
NALLE & THE ONE ENSEMBLE
MV/EE MEDICINE SHOW
A HAWK AND A HACKSAW
The excitement mounts for Matt Valentine and Erika Elder to arrive in UK. The Bummer Road seem to be getting flipped on wigged Canned Heat vibes. Check out the clip with Thurston Moore and Byron Coley gabbering on here
Up in Newcastle No-Fi have started their 7” label with Sir Richard Bishop. Read about/buy here
As the nights are drawing in can't get enough of new Matt Elliott album 'Failing Songs' out now on Ici D'Ailleurs. Look out for a few UK dates in early 2007
Brooding music for the arty Halloween head has to be KTL (Stephen O'Malley (SUNNO))), Khanate) and Peter Rehberg (PITA) on Mego Editions
Cry to see Chipper again. She was one of the wonders of QuWack (f). QuWackers all
Go see this man make a grand bellow segue into whimper - Men Diamler
Jonny Trunk bounced the Cube Microplex into further theatrical directions a few weeks ago. Reviewed here
Shirley Collins enraptured an audience of folk/knitting/Nurse With Wound/Radio 4 admirers with her beautiful story. To hear her sing again….
Jonathan Kane and Arrington de Dionyso was a show to remember. Kane and his four guitar assault launched the blues into the stratosphere with 'I Looked At The Sun'.
Sorry previously announced show with The Books on Dec 10th has been postponed till 2007
Events
Solo guitar explorations from one of ethno-improv's pioneering legends Sun City Girls
Mon 23rd October: SIR RICHARD BISHOP + SCREENING OF PHI TA KHON
A heady brew of Eastern European traditions, gypsy, classical chamber music, mystical minimalism and theatrical flourishes
Wed 8th November: THE ONE ENSEMBLE + NALLE
Spooky, gothic tinged laments from an unheralded songtress from West Coast USA
Fri 10th November: LISA GERMANO
Pure voices, widescreen folk rock and country soul
Sun 19th November: ESPERS + special guests
Talismanic music with a haunted, bluesy Neil Young on mushrooms vibe
Mon 20th November: MV/EE MEDICINE SHOW
On Tour
NALLE & THE ONE ENSEMBLE
MV/EE MEDICINE SHOW
A HAWK AND A HACKSAW
Quwack 10
September 2006
Double figures but all good. Thanks for those who came to the b-day Sunburnt-Hawk show. While on summer trips the following thoughts came up:
Can't wait for the first Bass Clef release to drop on Blank Tapes
When is V.I gonna settle our minds with a release? A cd-r will do
Aaron Stitch Stitch is back in town to go to school and release skate dvd’s
Volcanic Tongue have become a regular hit to be reckoned with
Now…..who is going to write ‘A Song for Castro’? The whispers of revolution are hanging over us. Trouble on minds. Here are shows to fuel the fires...
Events
Unhinged, off-the-peg and out-there, brace yourself for an all-female line up from an unheard of Bristol micro-climate
Fri 22nd September: QUWACK (F)
Soulful song, country-folk pickings and lush arrangements for a specially seated Trinity audience
Wed 11th October: JAMES YORKSTON
The legendary English Folk Singer, collector and writer tells her story of love, travel and the folk music of the American South
Thu 12th October: SHIRLEY COLLINS
A rich mix of non-linear post-gamelan drumming and the noise thrill of power electronics from two pivotal subterranean musicians
Sat 14th October: Z'EV vs PITA
Rhythmic blues thunder and lustrous harmonic bliss from a NY hero plus free shamanic support
Sat 21st October: JONATHAN KANE'S FEBRUARY + ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO
Raw solo folk guitar from 1/3 of Sun City Girls, one of the most unpredictable, prolific and downright baffling bands around
Mon 23rd October: SIR RICHARD BISHOP
Deep Qu breaths taken in
While xperiencing a three show Sunburned Hand explosion. I’m a bum
Watching Jack Rose defying a tepid PA to play a blistering set at The Green Man festival
During the rain and wind that lashed A Hawk And A Hacksaw at the Gratitude Road Street Party Inside a Holy drum composition
Chris Corsano laying it down at Cambridge’s Palimpsest
As Charlie Parr and Men Diamler raised the heat for a packed Polish Club
In Stavanger Cathedral as Pierre Henry rescored the Mass as an eerie patchwork of disembodied voices
Double figures but all good. Thanks for those who came to the b-day Sunburnt-Hawk show. While on summer trips the following thoughts came up:
Can't wait for the first Bass Clef release to drop on Blank Tapes
When is V.I gonna settle our minds with a release? A cd-r will do
Aaron Stitch Stitch is back in town to go to school and release skate dvd’s
Volcanic Tongue have become a regular hit to be reckoned with
Now…..who is going to write ‘A Song for Castro’? The whispers of revolution are hanging over us. Trouble on minds. Here are shows to fuel the fires...
Events
Unhinged, off-the-peg and out-there, brace yourself for an all-female line up from an unheard of Bristol micro-climate
Fri 22nd September: QUWACK (F)
Soulful song, country-folk pickings and lush arrangements for a specially seated Trinity audience
Wed 11th October: JAMES YORKSTON
The legendary English Folk Singer, collector and writer tells her story of love, travel and the folk music of the American South
Thu 12th October: SHIRLEY COLLINS
A rich mix of non-linear post-gamelan drumming and the noise thrill of power electronics from two pivotal subterranean musicians
Sat 14th October: Z'EV vs PITA
Rhythmic blues thunder and lustrous harmonic bliss from a NY hero plus free shamanic support
Sat 21st October: JONATHAN KANE'S FEBRUARY + ARRINGTON DE DIONYSO
Raw solo folk guitar from 1/3 of Sun City Girls, one of the most unpredictable, prolific and downright baffling bands around
Mon 23rd October: SIR RICHARD BISHOP
Deep Qu breaths taken in
While xperiencing a three show Sunburned Hand explosion. I’m a bum
Watching Jack Rose defying a tepid PA to play a blistering set at The Green Man festival
During the rain and wind that lashed A Hawk And A Hacksaw at the Gratitude Road Street Party Inside a Holy drum composition
Chris Corsano laying it down at Cambridge’s Palimpsest
As Charlie Parr and Men Diamler raised the heat for a packed Polish Club
In Stavanger Cathedral as Pierre Henry rescored the Mass as an eerie patchwork of disembodied voices
August 2006
Hello, hello, velcome and vanks for veading. Qu Junktions feels a little blood-thirsty. It’s the weather…no good for vampires. We are also getting on a bit. Two years old. To celebrate we have a special Summer show on the 17th August – see below for details.
Goodbye Replay and Disc & Tape, two more record shops disappear. Bristol is depleted and bankrupt. Coffee moguls to blame. Stick to tea.
Events
Joyous gypsy song cycles plus spectral songs and great heavy noise
Wed 9th August: A HAWK AND A HACKSAW + NANCY CUNLIFFE + TEAM BRICK at The Luminaire, London
Qu Junktions Summer Smoothie
Thu 17 August: A HAWK AND A HACKSAW + SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN at Seymours Family Club, Bristol
Delicate and divine songs, fantastic soundscapes and musical rides to other worlds
Sat 9th September: MI & L'AU + TOM BROSSEAU at The Cube Microplex, Bristol
Stomp, sway and swoon to these men with guitars
Sat 16th
Hello, hello, velcome and vanks for veading. Qu Junktions feels a little blood-thirsty. It’s the weather…no good for vampires. We are also getting on a bit. Two years old. To celebrate we have a special Summer show on the 17th August – see below for details.
Goodbye Replay and Disc & Tape, two more record shops disappear. Bristol is depleted and bankrupt. Coffee moguls to blame. Stick to tea.
Events
Joyous gypsy song cycles plus spectral songs and great heavy noise
Wed 9th August: A HAWK AND A HACKSAW + NANCY CUNLIFFE + TEAM BRICK at The Luminaire, London
Qu Junktions Summer Smoothie
Thu 17 August: A HAWK AND A HACKSAW + SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN at Seymours Family Club, Bristol
Delicate and divine songs, fantastic soundscapes and musical rides to other worlds
Sat 9th September: MI & L'AU + TOM BROSSEAU at The Cube Microplex, Bristol
Stomp, sway and swoon to these men with guitars
Sat 16th