Kings Place: Recent Episodes
Kings Place
A new monthly podcast from Kings Place contains details of upcoming events, news and exclusive interviews. Kings Place (London) is a new creative centre presenting music, spoken word, painting and sculpture from around the world with a water-side restaurant, cafe-bar and conference and events facilities.
Paul Cassidy, violist of the Brodsky Quartet, reads from his remarkable memoir, Get Beethoven, which traces his rise from a deprived area of Belfast to membership of an internationally-renowned quartet. Here he recalls his first experience of a youth orchestra in Omagh.
https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/autobiography/get-beethoven/
paulcassidy.org
Dryburn Moor is a treeless Northumbrian landscape and the gathering songs are mostly delivered from the wing. Curlews describe low arcs announcing their names whilst lapwing and redshank waver and warble. The chorus peaks before sunrise as skylarks, Shakespeare’s ‘ploughmen’s clock’, rise up and disappear into the air as silver pinpoints of song.’ Listen to our Artist-in-Residence Chris Watson‘s latest podcast for Nature Unwrapped.
Find out more: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/digital/features/dances-in-the-dark-sound-installation-by-chris-watson/
Denied access to the wildernesses where he usually records, our Artist in residence Chris Watson has rediscovered the joy of a dawn chorus in his own back garden.
Hanging his microphone in an old apple tree, he catches a chorus of spectacular solos, by blackbird, dunnock, bluetit and wren.
In a new podcast for Nature Unwrapped, composer and sound recordist Chris Watson follows the overgrown railway path between Aldeburgh and Saxmundham, a favourite haunt of composer Benjamin Britten, recording an array of elemental, animal and bird sounds, including the outpouring of a nightingale.
The Old Railway Path was originally conceived as an installation in Hall One. In response to the current situation Chris Watson has created a narrated podcast for the Kings Place audience.
Estonian kannel zither player Mari Kalkun chats to Songlines Editor-in-Chief Simon Broughton about her instrument and the importance of singing in her native language. She performs as part of an exciting double bill at Songlines Encounters Festival 2019.
Thu 30 May, 8pm http://bit.ly/MariKalkun
Noh Reimagined (29 & 30 Jun), an exciting two-day festival celebrating the ancient art of Japanese Noh theatre, returns to Kings Place with performances, talks, workshops and installations. In this podcast, we speak to composer and co-founder of Clod Ensemble, Paul Clark, about their new piece 'Snow', which is inspired by the restless spirits in Noh theatre.
Sat 30 Jun
kingsplace.co.uk/noh
Celebrated sarodist Soumik Datta returns to Kings Place in June as part of Songlines Encounters Festival to explore the seasons and time-cycles of North Indian music. Songlines magazine Editor-in-Chief Simon Broughton interviews Soumik about the seasons and time-cycles of North Indian music, ahead of his upcoming performance on Sun 3 Jun.
31 May - 6 Jun 2018
bit.ly/2mC4sGJ
2018 sees Mercury-nominated Dinosaur back in action with some immensely colourful, new music – full of imagination and surprise. We interviewed BBC New Generation Artist 2015-17 trumpeter Laura Jurd about Dinosaur's highly anticipated second album Wonder Trail (to be released May 2018), the experience of playing live, boundaries in music and her approach to composition.
Thu 3 May
kingsplace.co.uk/dinosaur
Martin Feinstein’s acclaimed Bach Weekend returns to Kings Place as part of Time Unwrapped – the 10th edition of our award-winning Unwrapped series.
In the first half, we spoke with festival director Martin Feinstein about this year’s theme: Time Changes. In the second half, actor Geoffrey McGivern joined us to discuss his involvement in Bach: The Time Traveller, a dramatic recreation of Douglas Adams’ Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, on 13 April.
13–15 Apr
kingsplace.co.uk/bach
This is the eighth year of Songlines Encounters Festival and the most ambitious yet. It does what it has always done – bring high-quality artists from around the world championed by Songlines magazine to play music in the superb environment of Kings Place. Songlines Editor-in-Chief Simon Broughton interviews Tuuletar, a vocal folk-hop quartet, who are performing on Fri 1 June.
31 May - 6 Jun 2018
bit.ly/2mC4sGJ
Cryptic’s Sonica Festival, sonic art for the visually minded, returns to Kings Place on a ‘unique and fascinating journey into uncharted territory’ (The Telegraph), with a weekend of genre-defying live performance and installations including 176 live snails making music for Slow Pixel, a sensorial experiment in celebration of Time Unwrapped from French visual artists Elizabeth Saint-Jalmes and Cyril Leclerc.
20–21 Apr
kingsplace.co.uk/sonica
In March, we present Time & Tradition, a brand-new weekend series of concerts, storytelling and talks exploring the concept of time through traditional and contemporary folk music and ritual and seasonal customs. Highlights include Martin & Eliza Carthy, Peggy Seeger, Roy Bailey, Grace Petrie and Ewan McLennan
We chat to Alan Bearman Music, artistic associate of Kings Place, to gain an insight into the aims of the Festival. In the second half, we hear some music from young folk singer Rosie Hood.
16–18 Mar
kingsplace.co.uk/tt
Jewish Book returns to Kings Place! Join us for 80 inspiring talks, conversations, debates and performances with some of the world’s most interesting minds and exciting personalities. We spoke to Festival Director Lucy Silver and David Waller, author of The Reputation Game, about the upcoming Festival.
3 – 11 Mar
kingsplace.co.uk/jbw
Violinist Thomas Gould chats to our Creative Consultant, Helen Wallace, about his genre-defying 'Gould Standard' series, and shares his favourite Kings Place memories.
Next concerts on 15 Dec & 28 Feb kingsplace.co.uk/gouldstandard
London A Cappella Festival 2018 will include a much-anticipated performance from The Beatbox Collective. Ben Eshmade chats to three members of this vocal supergroup to find out more about their passion for beatboxing – including a special live demonstration.
24 – 27 Jan
kingsplace.co.uk/lacf
London A Cappella Festival 2018 will include a much-anticipated performance from The Beatbox Collective. Ben Eshmade chats to three members of this vocal supergroup to find out more about their passion for beatboxing – including a special live demonstration.
24 – 27 Jan kingsplace.co.uk/lacf
This autumn, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment launches a brand-new Sunday morning concert series for inquiring and curious minds. Ben Eshmade chats to the OAE's Chief Executive, Crispin Woodhead, and Professor Carlos Frenk who is part of the first concert on 22 Oct.
kingsplace.co.uk/bachcantatas
This autumn, the EFG London Jazz Festival returns for a special 25th anniversary edition. We spoke to jazz musicians Bill Laurance and Henri Texier about their much-anticipated gigs at Kings Place.
10 – 19 Nov kingsplace.co.uk/ljf
Following the enormous success of the London Podcast Festival in 2016, we’re excited to launch a spin-off series of themed mini-festivals. This year, London Podcast Festival presents... focuses on Wrestling! Festival programmers Zoë Jeyes and Frazer Mclean share their enthusiasm for this popular form of 'sports entertainment' in a conversation with Ben Eshmade.
Sat 9 Sep, Kings Place
kingsplace.co.uk/wrestling
The contemporary composer, teacher, pianist, accordionist and music publisher Howard Skempton celebrates his 70th birthday at Kings Place this October. Joined by conductor David Wordsworth, he chats to Helen Wallace about his diverse body of work and plans for the future.
Fri 13 Oct
kingsplace.co.uk/HowardSkempton
London Piano Festival (5-8 Oct) returns to Kings Place with an underlying Russian theme. Ben Eshmade chats to the acclaimed pianists Ilya Itin and Nelson Goerner about their exciting solo recitals.
kingsplace.co.uk/lpf
The acclaimed Eden Stell Guitar Duo return to Kings Place this summer to launch their new album Cançons i danses - the first guitar CD dedicated to the work of the Catalan composer Federico Mompou (1893–1987). Part of the IGF Guitar Summit 2017.
20 - 22 Jul
kingsplace.co.uk/IGFGS
Olivier Award-winning OperaUpClose return to Kings Place this summer with a new production of Poulenc and Cocteau’s astonishing La voix humaine – a raw and intimate one-woman opera.
2, 10 & 16 Jul and 6 & 20 Aug
kingsplace.co.uk/OperaUpClose
This summer, members of The Stax Music Academy travel from Memphis to the London stage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Stax/Volt European Tour. Find out how the Academy has inspired and changed the lives of many young people living in one of the most economically depressed zip codes in the United States.
Sat 15 Jul, 8pm
kingsplace.co.uk/StaxMusic
This June, Kings Place launches The Politics Festival – a weekend of pro-politics talks, debates, discussions and plenty of politics-related entertainment. The Festival's producer Zoë Jeyes talks to journalists and political commentators Steve Richards and Ian Birrell about some of the big topics and speakers featured this year.
23 – 25 June
kingsplace.co.uk/tpf
Poet in the City's Chief Executive Isobel Colchester chats to Ben Eshmade about the exciting programme of this year's Poetry & Lyrics Festival (9-10 June). In the second half, versatile vocalist Elaine Mitchener talks about her Cagean happening on 10 June.
Sat 10 June, 6.30pm
kingsplace.co.uk/JohnCage
Leading cellist Guy Johnston is joined by distinguished soprano Joan Rodgers in a Russian-themed programme which delves into the soulful songs of Rachmaninov, Scriabin, and the cosmopolitan Pauline Viardot. Part of the Cello Unwrapped series at Kings Place.
Fri 12 May kingsplace.co.uk/GuyJohnston
Songlines Magazine Editor Jo Frost talks to folk singer Sam Lee about his inspiring Vindauga / Windeye project, which explores the intersections between Norwegian, Scottish and English traditional music. Part of this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (1–3 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef
This is the final episode in our #SonglinesEncounters podcast series.
Ben Eshmade chats to Giuliano Modarelli and Al MacSween, founders of the international music collective Kefaya. They perform at this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (1–3 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef
This is the second episode in our #SonglinesEncounters podcast series.
Scottish-Canadian jazz singer Alison Burns and multi-award winning guitarist Martin Taylor celebrate the 100th anniversary of legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald. They explore Ella's Grammy-award winning collaboration with guitarist Joe Pass.
This is the final episode in our 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' podcast series.
Thu 18 May, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/EllaFitzgerald
The fourth episode in our 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' podcast series features Jerusalem-born singer Mor Karbasi. She talks about her diverse cultural influences and the liberating joy of singing.
Sat 6 May, 8pm
kingsplace.co.uk/MorKarbasi
Simon Broughton, Editor-in-Chief of Songlines Magazine, chats to Bollywood Brass Band member Kay Charlton and South Indian violinist Jyotsna Srikanth, who perform at this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (1–3 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef
This is the first episode in our #SonglinesEncounters podcast series.
The third episode in our 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' podcast series features writer and comedian Amy Annette who celebrates the Kings Place premiere of her comedy talk show 'What Women Want' with special guests Jessie Cave, Lolly Adefope and Tom Allen. They’ll be talking misconceptions, misadventures, misogyny, and mystique (the feminine one).
Mon 24 Apr, 7.30pm
kingsplace.co.uk/WhatWomenWant
In the second episode of Kings Place's exciting 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' series, composer and robotic artist Sarah Angliss talks about her much-anticipated debut album as well as the human and non-human performers who will join the launch gig.
Thu 20 Apr, 8.15pm
kingsplace.co.uk/SarahAngliss
Simon Broughton, Editor-in-Chief of Songlines Magazine, chats to Bollywood Brass Band member Kay Charlton and South Indian violinist Jyotsna Srikanth, who perform at this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (1–3 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef
This is the first episode in our #SonglinesEncounters podcast series.
The third episode in our 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' podcast series features writer and comedian Amy Annette who celebrates the Kings Place premiere of her comedy talk show 'What Women Want' with special guests Jessie Cave, Lolly Adefope and Tom Allen. They’ll be talking misconceptions, misadventures, misogyny, and mystique (the feminine one).
All recordings of previous 'What Women Want' episodes used in this podcast are © Zak Annette.
Mon 24 Apr, 7.30pm kingsplace.co.uk/WhatWomenWant
Martin Feinstein’s acclaimed Bach Weekend returns to Kings Place with its unique combination of informality and outstanding performances. The line-up includes Swedish lutenist Jakob Lindberg and other renowned musicians and ensembles.
7–9 Apr
kingsplace.co.uk/bach
The first episode in Kings Place’s brand-new Strong Women, Strong Voices podcast series features Brighton-based folk musicians Kristin McClement and Emma Gatrill who perform live on International Women’s Day.
Wed 8 Mar, 8pm
kingsplace.co.uk/IWD
The new Beyond Cello division of the London Cello Society presents an exciting day of classes, concerts and an evening cabaret featuring stars from the world of ‘alternative cello’ including Shirley Smart and others. Part of the year-long Cello Unwrapped series at Kings Place.
Sun 12 Mar
kingsplace.co.uk/BeyondCello
Two exciting Kings Place debuts mark the centenary of the Russian Revolution: acclaimed pianist Alexander Karpeyev plays music of the Russian Silver Age on 13 Feb (kingsplace.co.uk/FinalFlowering).
The Hermes Experiment present a programme of musical responses to the Russian Revolution including new pieces by contemporary composers on 16 Feb (kingsplace.co.uk/HermesExperiment).
Six Guys. Five Different Countries. One Sound. And, they’re back. Online jazz sensations Accent have quickly established themselves as one of the must-see acts on the scene. They return to the London A Cappella Festival 2017 after popular demand.
Sat 28 Jan, 6.30pm
kingsplace.co.uk/Accent2017
Cloudmakers Trio (Jim Hart, Michael Janisch & Dave Smith) are joined by special guests, Austrian-born guitarist Hannes Riepler and French-based alto saxophonist Antonin Tri Hoang, in what will surely result in their strongest program of original, genre-twisting music to date.
Fri 13 January, 8pm
kingsplace.co.uk/CloudmakersTrio
ZRI present Schubert's String Quintet in C, reimagined to sound as radical as when it was first written. Bursting with gypsy and Hungarian themes, it is here rescored to include clarinet, santouri (cymbalom) and accordion, interleaved with traditional tunes.
Sat 17 Dec, 7.30pm & 10pm kingsplace.co.uk/ZRISchubert
Aurora Orchestra continues its extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime journey through the complete cycle of Mozart’s piano concertos, staged over five years (2016–20). The 2017 season features Imogen Cooper, Shai Wosner, the Labèque sisters, Tom Poster and other star pianists.
First concert on Sat 18 Mar, 6.15pm kingsplace.co.uk/MozartsPiano2017
Prog-popster The Anchoress (aka Catherine AD) celebrates the vinyl release of her debut album 'Confessions Of A Romance Novelist' with a special one-off live show at Kings Place.
Sat 17 Dec, 8pm
kingsplace.co.uk/Anchoress
Drawing the first year of the exciting Mozart’s Piano series to a close, Aurora Orchestra is joined by two recent winners of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition – Lara Melda and Martin James Bartlett – for a concert celebrating the exuberance, playfulness and imagination of Mozart’s childhood.
Fri 16 Dec, 7.30pm
kingsplace.co.uk/MozartsPiano
Following the recent success of their debut album ShadowLines, FLUX premiere a brand-new work: In Other Words. Combining music with dance, it explores our personal search for identity. FLUX leave audiences in awe of their multi-instrumental talents and combined virtuosity. With shades of Indie, Folk, Western and Indian Classical, their music take the listener on a cinematic journey.
Fri 4 Nov, 8pm
kingsplace.co.uk/InOtherWords
A strong sense of national character pervades French music throughout the ages. Lully, Charpentier, Couperin and Rameau are some of the composers who contributed to a rich period in France’s musical development. Curated by French Baroque specialist Eamonn Dougan, this series allows us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the musical opulence of the grand siècle of the French Baroque.
24–26 Nov
kingsplace.co.uk/FrenchBaroque
British vocalist Maggie Nicols, French bassist Joëlle Léandre and Swiss pianist Irène Schweizer formed Les Diaboliques in the early 90s – this is a rare opportunity to experience the artistry and intuitive chemistry of a seminal European ensemble.
kingsplace.co.uk/ljf
The English Chamber Orchestra, under its Charitable Trust’s new artistic director Lawrence Power, launches an exciting new season at Kings Place this autumn, featuring Christian Zacharias, Nicolas Altstaedt, Vilde Frang, Mark Padmore and Alison Balsom.
kingsplace.co.uk/ECO
Folk singer Nancy Kerr curates a series of events this December (1–3) exploring dialogues that spring from our environment and our relationships with, and within it, through literature, music and song.
She met up with author Rob Cowen (Common Ground) to discuss their upcoming concert, their personal relationships with nature and edgelands between urban and rural landscapes.
kingsplace.co.uk/nancykerr
The Swedish orchestra O/Modernt fuses Vivaldi with rock music, including Metallica, Muse and Pink Floyd as part of Kings Place’s Baroque Unwrapped series. Conductor / violinist Hugo Ticciati returns in 2017 for an inspiring concert with Kian Soltani and vocal ensemble VOCES8 as well as a special cross-cultural collaboration between O/Modernt, Matthew Barley, Sukhwinder Singh & Soumik Datta as part of the brand-new Cello Unwrapped series.
Fri 31 Mar 2017, 7.30pm
kingsplace.co.uk/VOCES8ensemble
Fri 20 Oct 2017, 7.30pm
kingsplace.co.uk/IndianInflections
Shlomo is a world record-breaking beatboxer who makes all kinds of music using just his mouth and a mic. Join this sonic superhero and become one of his sidekicks in a world of funny sounds, brilliant noises and cool music, whether you’re aged 1 or 101!
Sun 30 Oct, 10.30am & 12.30pm | Sun 18 Dec, 10.30am
kingsplace.co.uk/BeatboxingAdventure
The UK’s greatest (and only) improvising opera company is back at Kings Place with no score, no story and no safety net. What they perform is up to you!
Thu 13 Oct, 8pm
kingsplace.co.uk/ImproperaReturns
For musicians from Mozart to the great virtuosi of the 19th century, travel was a way of life. As part of Aurora's monumental five-year project, French pianist Cédric Tiberghien joins the orchestra for a programme that brings to life the wealth of music and tales inspired by the Mozart families' Grand Tours.
Sat 17 Sep, 7.30pm
kingsplace.co.uk/MozartsPiano
The UK’s greatest (and only) improvising opera company is back at Kings Place with no score, no story and no safety net. What they perform is up to you!
Thu 13 Oct, 8pm kingsplace.co.uk/ImproperaReturns
Kings Place welcomes the first-ever London Piano Festival: a brand-new celebration of the piano curated by star pianists Katya Apekisheva and Charles Owen. Events range from Classical concerts to Contemporary Jazz, with Spoken Word and Family events too, featuring the acclaimed pianists Alfred Brendel, Kathryn Stott, Stephen Kovacevich, Martin Roscoe, Noriko Ogawa and Julian Joseph.
7–9 Oct
kingsplace.co.uk/lpf
Kings Place’s seasonal feast of art and music features classical concerts, jazz and folk gigs, fun family events, comedy nights, inspiring talks, boat trips on the canal and much more for as little as £6.50 a ticket – with many events completely free.
9-11 Sep
kingsplace.co.uk/festival
Antonio Forcione, known as the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar’, looks back on his thirty-year career, whilst giving plenty of invaluable advice on how to be a more creative guitar player, with live demonstrations and performances of his own compositions. He will run a course and give a concert with support from Will McNicol as part of the IGF Guitar Summit 2016 (21–24 Jul) at Kings Place.
21–22 Jul
kingsplace.co.uk/AntonioForcione
Steve Abbott, lead singer of the band UK Decay in 1979–1983, gives a breakdown of 'Tenderness and Rage', the finale event of Poetry & Lyrics Festival (10–11 Jun) which celebrates the poetry of punk with musicians who birthed the movement and transformed the landscape of lyrics with their blistering new approach. Join The Adverts’ TV Smith, Pauline Murray of Penetration and Crass’ Penny Rimbaud to explore Punk’s lyrical heart (with live acoustic performances). Steve Lamacq hosts.
Sat 11 Jun, 9.30pm
kingsplace.co.uk/TendernessRage
Simon Broughton, Editor-in-Chief of Songlines Magazine, chats to Bex Burch and Dan Nicholls of dynamic quintet Vula Viel, who perform at this year’s Songlines Encounters Festival at Kings Place (2–4 June). kingsplace.co.uk/sef2016
Violinist Krysia Osostowicz and pianist Daniel Tong discuss their Beethoven cycle with a difference.
They invited ten composers to write short companion pieces, one to go with each of Beethoven’s ten sonatas for violin and piano, creating a dialogue with Beethoven, a conversation between past and present.
Chaired by Helen Wallace and joined by two of the composers, David Matthews and Elspeth Brooke, Krysia and Dan delve into the fascinating world of Beethoven's sonatas, all the while encouraging us to not be intimidated by his greatness...
14 & 15 May; 15 – 17 Oct | Tickets from £9.50
kingsplace.co.uk/beethovenplus
Antonio Forcione, known as the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the acoustic guitar’, looks back on his thirty-year career, whilst giving plenty of invaluable advice on how to be a more creative guitar player, with live demonstrations and performances of his own compositions. He will run a course and give a concert with support from Will McNicol as part of the IGF Guitar Summit 2016 (21–24 Jul) at Kings Place.
21–22 Jul kingsplace.co.uk/AntonioForcione
Roman Mints (Viola d’amore), Olga Martynova (harpsichord), Andrey Doynikov & Dmitri Vlassik (percussion)
Roman Mints & Katya Apekisheva's new double album of Schnittke's works for violin and piano will be released on Quartz Music at the end of May. This is a preview track.
They celebrate the CD launch with a concert at Kings Place on 26 May: kingsplace.co.uk/RomanMints
Columnist and broadcaster, Steve Richards, presents his latest behind the scenes tour on the eve of the London Mayoral Election and other big elections around the UK. What will happen in the elections? How is Jeremy Corbyn performing as a leader? Will the UK leave the EU and Scotland leave the UK?
Soprano Venera Gimadieva and pianist Roger Vignoles perform Tchaikovsky's Lullaby on BBC Radio 3's In Tune, Monday 18 January 2016.
Violinist Krysia Osostowicz and pianist Daniel Tong discuss their Beethoven cycle with a difference, which continues this October.
They invited ten composers to write short companion pieces, one to go with each of Beethoven’s ten sonatas for violin and piano, creating a dialogue with Beethoven, a conversation between past and present.
Chaired by Helen Wallace and joined by two of the composers, David Matthews and Elspeth Brooke, Krysia and Dan delve into the fascinating world of Beethoven's sonatas, all the while encouraging us to not be intimidated by his greatness...
15 – 17 Oct | Tickets from £9.50 kingsplace.co.uk/beethovenplus
Nominated for BBC R2 Folk Awards 2015 in the Best Album category, TINCIAN is the second release by 9Bach, the Welsh group formed by Lisa Jen and Martin Hoyland. It’s an atmospheric, emotional record that reflects their home environment of Gerlan, North Wales.
Lisa and Martin joined us to discuss the story behind 9Bach's unique sound and being nominated for 'Best Album' at this year's BBC R2 Folk Awards.
9Bach: 'TINCIAN' + support from Twelfth Day
Saturday 18 April, 8pm | Kings Place | Tickets £12.50
kingsplace.co.uk/9Bach
Chris T-T ('One of the great underground artists of our time' Jon Snow; 'Genius, a modern-day William Blake' Sunday Times) and Gill Sandell ('This is gorgeous!' Bob Harris; 'A beautiful sounding record' Cerys Matthews) launch their first album as a duo, 'Walk Away, Walk Away'.
The album is an atmospheric collection of noir songs from across pop, rock and folk traditions and generations, themed around travel and absence; separation and journey; ancient pathways and empty freeways, covering artists from Willie Nelson and Joni Mitchell to Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Voice Of The Beehive.
20 February, 8pm | Kings Place
Tickets £12.50
www.kingsplace.co.uk/walkaway
Tuukka Haapaniemi from Finland's Club For Five, talks to Kings Place about what a cappella is all about.
With soulful grooves, world-class vocals and exquisite harmonies, Club For Five has won the hearts of audiences and acclaim of critics making them a phenomenon on the world stage. They perform at this year's London A Cappella Festival.
London A Cappella Festival
28 - 31 Jan | Kings Place
www.kingsplace.co.uk/LACF2015
London International Festival of Exploratory Music (LIFEM) 29 October - 1 November Kings Place, London
LIFEM is back, this time focusing on Africa and South America. On this podcast we spoke to two of the performers; the ‘Diva of the Sudanese desert’ Amira Kheir and jazz singer Carmen Souza who launches her new live album as part of the festival.
This year LIFEM presents new shows and line-ups by Badi Assad (Brazil), Ami Koita (Mali), Amira Kheir (Sudan) and Carmen Souza (Cape Verde).
Read more and book at www.kingsplace.co.uk/lifem
Celebrating their 25th anniversary London Guitar Festival present the Eden Stell Guitar Duo with a concert and launch of their new abum for BGS Records devoted to the music of Federico Mompou. Internationally renowned for their dynamism, innovation and breathtaking virtuosity the Eden Stell Guitar Duo have 'breathed new life into the world of the classical guitar' (Rotterdam Dagblad).
They joined us in Hall One to discuss their 25 years together, what's to come in their special anniversary concert, the challenges of memorizing music and why guitars are like whisky!
Eden Stell Guitar Duo 25th Anniversary Concert Sat 25 Oct, 7.30pm | Kings Place | Tickets from £9.50 http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/edenstell25
A mini-series curated by Eliza Carthy celebrating the power and expressiveness of the human voice. The ‘Songs for the Voiceless’ Album Launch (feat. Bella Hardy, Jackie Oates & more) is followed by a special concert by Martin & Eliza Carthy. The Arms Wide Orchestra finale unites Eliza Carthy, Olivia Chaney, Lisa Knapp, Emily Portman & more with electronics from Simon Richmond & Laurence Hunt.
Eliza Carthy: Arms Wide, Head Back, Look Forward 6 - 8 Nov | Kings Place | Tickets from £9.50 http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/eliza
Forged in the fires of the two World Wars, Sir Andrzej Panufnik’s compositional output is inextricably linked with the major social and political events of the 20th century. Born in Warsaw at the onset of the First World War, he lived through the German occupation of the city in the Second World War and participated in musical resistance activities with the composer Lutosławski. Over the course of the conflict, Panufnik lost many of his closest relatives and saw his compositions consumed by the fires of the Warsaw Uprising. Initially fêted by the socialist government, he was unwilling to compose the suitably ‘patriotic’ music demanded of him by the regime and was forced to make a dramatic escape to Britain in 1954.
This Centenary Celebration will present chamber works spanning his life – from his piano trio (1934), reconstructed after the war, to his three string quartets (written between 1976 and 1990) to be performed by the Brodsky Quartet, ‘Artists in Residence’ at Kings Place. The programmes will include complementary pieces by his daughter Roxanna including the London Première of a new quartet especially written for the Brodsky Quartet. The Celebration will culminate with a 1930s Warsaw Cabaret evening, led by Jacqui Dankworth and Charlie Wood.
Panufnik 100: A Family Celebration
30 November 2014 | Kings Place
Tickets from £6.50
kingsplace.co.uk/panufnik100
The Brodsky Quartet, Jacqui Dankworth, Charlie Wood, Clare Hammond, Heather Shipp, Robert Smissen, Richard May, Norman Lebrecht and The Panufnik Family celebrate the centenary of Polish composer and conductor Andrzej Panufnik.
They will present chamber works spanning his life – from his piano trio (1934), reconstructed after the war, to his three string quartets (written between 1976 and 1990).
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/panufnik100
Internationally acclaimed American pianist Jeffrey Siegel returns to Kings Place for the Fifth Anniversary Season of his popular Keyboard Conversations® programmes.
His brilliantly polished concert-with-commentary format combines captivating remarks with world-class performances, and concludes with a fast-paced Q & A.
These programmes enrich the listening experience for the seasoned music lover, while the aspiring music lover discovers delightful, instant access to masterpieces of the piano repertoire.
We caught up with him to find out more...
5 Oct 2014 - Gershwin & Friends 1 Feb 2015 - Russian Rapture: Tchaikovsky & Rachmaninov 31 May 2015 - Franz Schubert in the Age of the Sound Bite http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/coffeeconcerts Tickets £14.50 (incl. tea or coffee) / £9.50 Savers
Singer-songwriter Holly Williams, the granddaughter/daughter of Hank Williams, Sr. & Hank Williams, Jr. respectfully, comes to Kings Place later this month to showcase her new album 'The Highway'. 'Sure to go down as one of the year's best country albums' People Magazine
We caught up with her over the phone to discuss life, touring and songwriting...
Holly Williams: The Highway Monday 23 June, 8pm | Hall One £14.50 Online / Savers £9.50 kingsplace.co.uk/hollywilliams
Dvořák was one of the most natural melodists in musical history and almost every note of his music is imbued with the characteristic folk song and dance rhythms of his native country.
For this mini-festival, curator Daniel Tong has assembled a thrilling line-up of musicians to present lesser-known Dvořák masterpieces alongside old favourites.
We chatted to Dan backstage at Kings Place about his plans...
Dvořák Explored 27 - 29 November 2014 Tickets from £9.50 http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/dvorakexplored
Songlines Encounters Festival 2014 is a musical travelogue of undiscovered melodies and musicians from around the world.
Songlines Magazine's Editor in Chief, Simon Broughton, spoke to two of the six artists in the line-up, Turkish Kurdish vocalist Çiğdem Aslan and fiery violinist Anna Phoebe, about what they'll be bringing to the Festival...
Songlines Encounters Festival 2014 5-7 June | Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/sef2014 Tickets from £9.50
Cellist, baritone and actor Matthew Sharp brings a host of theatric-musical events to his RE:naissance week... Shakespeare-and Marlowe-inspired pieces, a family concert, a ravishing recital with percussion and the Sacconi Quartet, and the London premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s Cello Concerto.
We caught up with Matthew and Errollyn in Hall One for a chat and bit of music...
RE:naissance | 1-3 May http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/renaissance Tickets from £9.50
A mini-series co-curated by acclaimed songwriters Alasdair Roberts and Emily Portman, reflecting the darker and more leftfield elements in contemporary folk music. They are noted for their eloquent and literary take on song-writing, inspired by tradition – forging new and exploratory paths into rich new musical territories.
Emily Portman, Alasdair Roberts and Debs Newbold told us about the upcoming feast of wordsmiths and wild and weird worlds...
Outlandish Nights 27 - 29 March | Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/ON Tickets from £9.50
Hailed as 'England’s new jazz superstar', singer-pianist Anthony Strong comes to Kings Place in March as part of jazz week 'AIR Sessions', curated by Air Artist Agency. The line-up also features Julia Biel, Magnus Öström, Troyka, Marius Neset, Michael Wollny, Daniel Herskedal, and Tamar Halperin. He'll be playing tracks from his debut album 'Stepping Out'.
'A major talent hotly tipped to take his place in the retro-contemporary jazz pantheon alongside Jamie Cullum and Michael Bublé' (Metro)
Voices: Julia Biel + Anthony Strong Band Thursday 13 March, 8pm | Kings Place, Hall One http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/airsessions Tickets from £9.50
Knowing our lives have been consumed by mechanical air - an automated sound track, the white noise of technology - performance artist Michael Mayhew and avant-garde experimental flautist Gavin Osborn go in search for a sense of awe: air conditioning, escalators, computer fans, cars, jets ripping blue skies with trails of white.
Collaborators Michael Mayhew and Gavin Osborn told us about the project...
Mechanical Air: A Hyper~Graphic Score Sunday 16 February, 4pm | Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/mechanicalair
American country singer and songwriter Suzy Bogguss shot to fame in the 1990s, releasing one platinum and three gold albums and six top-ten singles, and winning the Academy of Country Music's award for Top New Female Vocalist and the Country Music Association's Horizon Award. Her new 2014 album, Lucky, is a collection of songs from the pen of country music legend Merle Haggard.
An Evening with Suzy Bogguss Wednesday 16 April 8pm | Hall One, Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/lucky
Celebrating its 5th year, the London A Cappella Festival 2014 offers an unrivalled opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of a cappella. In this landmark year, we welcome more international headliners and industry experts than ever before to celebrate the very best of the vocal world, from spine-tingling Russian orthodox chant to inimitable funk fusions and cutting edge beatbox. Offering a jam-packed schedule of diverse performances, workshops, talks and free interactive events, the London A Cappella Festival brings all things vocal under one roof.
Deke Sharon of The House Jacks and Musical Director of blockbuster 'Pitch Perfect' spoke to us about his a cappella sound.
London A Cappella Festival 2014 22 January, LSO St Luke's 23-25 January, Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/LACF2014 Tickets from £9.50
Haiku Salut are an instrumental trio from the Derbyshire Dales who describe themselves as a 'Baroque-Pop-Folktronic-Neo-Classical-Something-Or-Other'. Influenced by the evocative film soundtracks of Yann Tiersen and Benoît Charest, the genre-melting electronica of Ametsub and early Múm, and the impressionistic writing of Haruki Murakami, the band’s debut album Tricolore came out last year, to critical acclaim (★★★★ The Guardian, Uncut, Drowned In Sound, Artrocker, Rock’N’Reel & more).
Ed Dowie has composed scores for theatre and short films and has two solo EPs 'Unpacking My Library', released in response to the Paravion Press publication of a Walter Benjamin essay of the same name and 'The Adjustable Arm', released in 2013.
Haikut Salut + Ed Dowie Friday 21 February, 8pm Folk Union | Hall Two, Kings Place, London http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/haikusalut
Americana is an increasingly influential style of music that encompasses many key elements of American roots music – folk, blues, country, bluegrass and rock, for starters – but it lives in a world apart from the pure forms of these genres.
Over three evenings the recently formed Americana Music Association UK will present some of the very best Americana music, featuring top artists from North America together with a selection of the finest UK based bands that have been bitten by the Americana bug.
13 - 15 February at Kings Place Tickets from £9.50 http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/americana
Drawing on Christmas songs from a range of sources, Bella Hardy's Bright Morning Star tour features a repertoire of seasonal treats, from the carols of her north Derbyshire home like Down In Yon Forest to the slightly less traditional Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas! Join in the seasonal cheer at Kings Place in the company of Bella and special guests Anna Massie and Chris Sherburn.
Bella Hardy: Bright Morning Star | Saturday 14 December, 2013 | Tickets from £9.50 http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/bellahardy Part of Custom Made Winter festival, also featuring The Albion Xmas Show, Norma Waterson & Eliza Carthy with the Gift Band, and Kan: http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/CMW
Manchester based quartet, Mercury's unashamed rock 'n' roll aesthetic draws influences from a wide spectrum of musical genres such as as Classical Avant-Garde, ECM jazz, Dub-Step and Grunge. Mercury constantly endeavour to find new ways to interpret the traditional roles within the Jazz Quartet format. This is improvised jazz music from a different place, looking back whilst striding confidently forward.
Saxophonist Tom Thorpe spoke to us about how they came together as a quartet, their sound and what you can expect from their gig at Kings Place on 14 December...
Mercury Quartet | Saturday 14 December 2013, 8:00pm http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/mercury
One of the UK's most celebrated young composers, Anna Meredith, was commissioned by one of the world's most gifted recorder players, Erik Bosgraaf, with the support of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust, to write a new piece. Inspired by the folding of paper, Anna created five miniatures for recorder and ensemble, each based on an origami base-fold. She chats to Ben Eschmade about how it all came about...
Aurora Orchestra with Erik Bosgraaf: Songs without Words Saturday 19 October 2013, 7.30pm http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/origami
International recording artist, freelance bassist, composer, bandleader, educator and producer Michael Janisch, founder of Whirlwind Recordings, chats to Ben Eshmade about the inaugural Whirlwind Festival, a celebration of the finest jazz artists on his label.
Whirlwind Festival | 10-12 October @ Kings Place www.kingsplace.co.uk/whirlwind
Wayne McGregor | Random Dance presents Random Works with Leafcutter John & members of Aurora Orchestra Kings Place 20 & 21 September 2013
Internationally-acclaimed choreographer Wayne McGregor CBE curates an evening of short dance pieces created by choreographers currently working closely with him, including members of his own world class company Wayne McGregor | Random Dance.
Developed in collaboration with Aurora Orchestra, the project features a brand-new score from electronics pioneer Leafcutter John and Aurora Principal Viola Max Baillie, commissioned by Kings Place.
We spoke to choreographer Catarina Carvalho and composer and Aurora’s Principal Violist Max Baillie for our latest podcast which features an exclusive preview of the music!
Read more and book tickets...
Folk in a Box comes to Kings Place Festival! 13 - 15 Sep Free Entry
Folk in a Box is a free and unique one-on-one music venue and performance space which is the brainchild of musicians Emily Barker and Dom Coyote.
One audience member is allowed in at a time. The door is closed behind them. They are given one song, performed by one musician. Once inside you will be treated to your very own, very intimate concert experience with a mystery artist.
Read more...
Clara Sanabras & Friends Scattered Flight Launch + Q&A with Simon Schama Kings Place Friday 20 September
Clara Sanabras spoke to us about her upcoming album launch at Kings Place. On the night she will be joined by Elysian Quartet, Harvey Brough, Fred Thomas and other guests.
Plus, in keeping with the theme of Spanish Exile, renowned historian Simon Schama joins Sanbras for a pre-concert conversation plus Q&A.
Her new album produced by Harvey Brough (Harvey & The Wallbangers) and recorded by Peter Schwier (Dexys) features stellar guests including Eliseo Parra, Cobla Sant Jordi, Elysian Quartet; some of whom will join her tonight.
Read more and book tickets...
More about Clara..
Lead singer with The Lord of the Rings in Concert, Clara Sanabras is highly in demand: her voice features in top Hollywood soundtracks such as The Hobbit, Snow White & the Huntsman, The Hunger Games. Hailed by James Horner of Titanic fame, she has also sung/collaborated with Jarvis Cocker, The Count & Sinden, Luke Concannon (Nizlopi), Natacha Atlas and performed internationally in venues from Glastonbury to Sydney Opera house, recorded for Harmonia Mundi, DECCA, BBC, sung and acted at The Globe and National Theatres. After the success of her critically-acclaimed film score credits and world tours, Sanabras returns to her roots with an elegy to exile, told in Spanish, Catalan, French and English.
The Piano-Yoga® Certificate Foundation Course & Course One Kings Place 29 September - 1 December
After the highly-successful launch of the Piano-Yoga® retreats at Kings Place in May 2011 – described as ‘inspiring’ by Music Teacher Magazine and ‘refreshingly unusual’ by International Piano Magazine – visionary Russian virtuoso pianist GéNIA returns with the new Piano-Yoga® Certificate Courses.
The Piano-Yoga® Certificate Foundation Course and The Piano-Yoga® Certificate Course One to give pianists from advanced-beginner to advanced level everything they need to transform their playing whilst enhancing their well-being. Take a listen to this podcast as GéNIA explains more...
Read more and book your place now __________
‘The 21st-century answer to playing the piano.’ Yoga & Health ‘Union of the pianist and the pianist’s soul with the piano.’ Piano Journal ‘GéNIA emphasises the joy and satisfaction of playing at any level.’ International Piano Magazine
Jimi Tenor Kings Place Friday 1 November 2013
We caught up with Jimi Tenor ahead of his rare London appearance as part of LIFEM 2013 - The Finnish Line.
'I’m delighted to be part of LIFEM celebrating Finnish music in London. This time I will revisit my catalogue all the way from the WARP years into new material from my up coming album released later this year. Very Exciting!' - Jimi Tenor
Book tickets for Jimi Tenor now... _________________________________________________________________
Plus download our LIFEM 2013 - The Finnish Line EP for FREE featuring tracks from the artists playing and sign-up for free films including the London Premiere of Jimi Tenor: Sähkö The Movie _________________________________________________________________
LIFEM 2013 FULL LINE-UP
Värttinä - 30th Anniversary Celebration
Kimmo Pohjonen: Soundbreaker (documentary film)<.a>
Maria Kalaniemi & Timo Alakotila: UK Premiere
Jimi Tenor: Sähkö The Movie (documentary film) - London Premiere
Jimi Tenor
Tsuumi Sound System
Alamaailman Vasarat: UK Premiere
Iiro Rantala'The festival looks terrific!'
- John L. Walters, The Guardian
'Now in its fifth year Kings Place is incredibly proud to have supported LIFEM from the start. The festival continues to bring new audiences year-on-year with its exciting programme of groundbreaking international artists.' - Peter Millican, Kings Place
Scene Norway 2 15 - 17 November
Curated by Fiona Talkington of Radio 3’s Late Junction, Scene Norway is welcomed back to Kings Place with artist-in residence Nils Petter Molvær. We caught up with him to talk about the Festival and more..
Also playing are Spin Marvel, Sidsel Endresen, folk violinist Annbjørg Lien, Hilde Marie Kjersem making her London debut, Jan Bang featuring in Not So Silent Movies... and an associated exhibition by Ørnulf Opdahl curated by Kings Place Gallery. Sound for all concerts by Johnny Skalleberg.
Scene Norway 2 is curated by Fiona Talkington and part of EFG London Jazz Festival Kings Place Residency
Read more and book tickets...
Iiro Rantala Kings Place Saturday 2 November 2013 / 9.30pm
After touring the world for 18 years with Trio Töykeät, Finnish piano virtuoso Iiro Rantala is refreshingly still at the forefront of international pianism.
He performs a delightfully diverse repertoire. From improvisations on Bach’s Goldberg Variations, performing with cross-over classical musicians such Rajaton, as a tango duo with world renowned virtuoso violinist Pekka Kuusisto to his own crystalline compositions. Rantala offers an evening of music not to be missed.
Read more and book tickets...
Part of LIFEM 2013 - The Finnish Line
We caught up with producer, composer and musician John Metcalfe ahead of his curation at Kings Place which runs from 11 to 13 May 2013.
As well as curating, John will perform with John Metcalfe Band, featuring Simon Richmond (Imagined Village), Ali Friend (Red Snapper) and Louisa Fuller (Duke Quartet).
This special concert will create an environment where all unnecessary stimuli are excised to allow greater focus on the music and to explore the relationship between performer and audience when the lights are switched off.
Support comes from The New Radiophonic Workshop, who were re-born last year from the BBC Radiophonic Workshop - responsible for the iconic Doctor Who theme music.
Also in the series are the London premiere of Thomas Dolby's new short film and Goldfrapp's Will Gregory with his Moog Ensemble, featuring Portishead's Adrian Utley. Read more and book tickets...
Bruce Brubaker Kings Place, London Sunday 19 May, 4pm
On Sunday 19 May pianist Bruce Brubaker presents the UK Premiere of Nico Muhly's Drones & Piano at Kings Place. Listen to a sample of the album ahead of the show.
Read more and book tickets...
Full programme: Philip Glass Mad Rush Nico Muhly Drones & Piano (UK premiere) Philip Glass Etudes 4 & 5 (1994 versions) Missy Mazzoli Orizzonte (‘Horizon’) Bruce Brubaker Stolen Symphonies (live piano improvisation with music by Tristan Perich, Leif Inge & Francesco Tristano) Alvin Curran Hope Street Tunnel Blues III (UK premiere)
Listen to Parts 1 to V
Thanks to Bedroom Community and Macbeth Media Relations for the recordings.
Stephan Micus in Concert: Transcultural Kings Place 10 April 2013
German-born Stephan Micus has been travelling the world since he first journeyed to the Orient aged 16. Fascinated by the variety of musical cultures, he has mastered numerous traditional instruments, many of them unknown in the Western world. He makes never-before-seen instrument combinations, developing fresh musical possibilities.
We spoke to Stephan about his instruments and which of them he'll bring to Kings Place...
Read more and book tickets on the Kings Place website now...
**Carthy, Hardy, Farrell & Young with Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight
Kings Place
Wed 13 Mar We spoke on the phone to Mercury Award Nominated Eliza Carthy who is bringing her new all female fiddle project - Carthy, Hardy, Farrell & Young to Hall One as part of a double bill alongside her cousins Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight.**
They play in the Hidden Treasure series alongside Martin Simpson, Roy Bailey with Tony Benn, Brass Monkey and Mawkin.
Read more...
Martin Simpson: Exclusive Album Preview ShowKings Place Friday 15 March
Martin Simpson's new album Vagrant Stanzas is released this summer by Topic Records. Martin kindly shared this track The Green Linnet to get us all in the mood. Enjoy!
Martin performs an album preview show at Kings Place as part of the Hidden Treasure Festival which also features Brass Monkey, a double bill from Carthy, Hardy, Farrell & Young with Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight, Tony Benn & Roy Bailey and Mawkin
Read more...
Manu Delago Collaborations Kings Place 5 - 6 April 2013
Virtuoso hang player and percussionist Manu Delago, takes a break from Björk's Biophilia tour to curate a unique collaborative mini-series at Kings Place which boasts the UK premiere of his work for hang and the Icelandic choir Gradule Nobili, two adventurous drummers and their bands, Knalpot and Circle of Sound and the launch of Manu Delago Handmade's new album, Bigger Than Home.
We spoke to Manu and Bernhard Schimpelsberger from Circle of Sound about the ideas behind the series...
Read more and book tickets on the Kings Place website now...
Bad breath? Up the duff with a man old enough to be your Dad? Rachel can help. Come along to Kings Place on Thursday 7 March to have your problems Stubbed Out.
Rachel told us more about her remarkable gift for healing...
Read more and buy tickets...
The Stranger The Better is a three day mini-festival of modern-day existential songwriting, programmed by The Local and held at Kings Place in January 2013.
To find out more we spoke to Nick Talbot of Gravenhurst, Oly Ralfe of Ralfe Band and Howard Monk of The Local
Thur 10 Jan Teitur (with string quartet) + Singing Adams + Abi Wade Fri 11 Jan Gravenhurst + Ralfe Band Sat 12 Jan Meursault + Sons of Noel and Adrian + Woodpecker Wooliams Find out more about The Stranger The Better...
GMF London Jazz Workshop and Music Festival Kings Place 28 March - 1 April
GMF London Jazz Workshop and Music Festival is a unique five day event combining a rich and varied array of concerts with a holistic programme of intensive workshops for developing musicianship skills and awareness, all given by world class performers and teachers.
Running alongside the workshops are a series of fantastic public concerts featuring Bobby Watson, Claire Martin, Bruce Barth and many many more..
Read more and book..
**Marcus Roberts Residency Part of the London Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 3
Kings Place 15 to 17 November 2012**
Marcus Roberts curates a scintillating series. His own consummate trio deliver a celebration of Monk and Coltrane. New Orleans meets Harlem looks back at Bud Powell, Earl Hines and Jelly Roll Morton while the Saturday night finale finds Roberts’ Big Band playing Basie, Ellington and his own works.
Also coming to Kings Place as part of London Jazz Festival are Jazz Records Request, Henri Texier, Kairos 4Tet and Jazz for Toddlers
We caught up with Marcus Roberts to talk about what he has in store..
Read more and book tickets..
Elgar Explored: Daniel Tong & Friends 8 - 10 November
The name Elgar tends to evoke his large-scale public, patriotic works, and impressive symphonies and concertos, but this programme from pianist Daniel Tong’s Wye Valley Festival focuses on his passionate chamber music, from the melancholy String Quartet to the suave pieces for violin, the stylish Serenade for Strings and the Introduction and Allegro.
We spoke to Daniel Tong & Laura Samuel ahead of Elgar Explored:
Read more..
LIFEM: SOUNDS FROM THE ARCTIC COOL Wed 31 Oct - Sat 3 Nov
We spoke to Sámi joik singer Wimme Saari about his upcoming performance as part of The London International Festival of Exploratory Music (LIFEM) which returns to Kings Place with a fascinating line-up of Scandinavian groups.
Also taking part in the Festival are Norway’s Deaf Center, the arctic electronica of Biosphere and Gothenburg-based EF, with their epic, post-rock soundscapes. Plus award-winning Swedish singer Frida Hyvönen and RinneRadio from Finland: Equal parts sexy trance jazz and surreal dance music.
Read more and book tickets
Familiar to many thousands of music fans as the front man in the Scottish rock band Idlewild, Roddy Woomble is also a celebrated solo songwriter and performer.
Roddy Woomble Band performs at Kings Place on Wednesday 17 October 2012 as part of a week curated by folk legends Lau.
Read more and buy tickets...
Ahead of her performances at Kings Place Festival 2012, we spoke to Sukie Smith about her band Madam, their new album, and collaborating with Emma Tricca.
Madam with Emma Tricca: Gone Before Morning - Sunday 16 September
Read more...
www.kingsplace.co.uk/festival
Throughout the 20th Century serious, and not so serious, composers flirted with cabaret and jazz. Serious Cabaret is the new CD by Mary Carewe and Philip Mayers and also describes their unique take on cabaret.
‘Mary Carewe hits the ideal balance between cabaret style (with a touch of the old-fashioned belter) and art-song style...’ The Guardian
Mary performs two shows at Kings Place Festival 2012, with a mix of classic 1920s Berlin cabaret, art and theatre songs and contemporary classical repertoire.
Serious Cabaret: Leaving Berlin
Serious Cabaret: Over The Piano
www.kingsplace.co.uk/festival
Norwegian Tubist Daniel Herskedal talks about his new album 'Neck of the Woods', working with saxophonist Marius Neset, his compositional influences and what he's got coming up.
Neck of the Woods is released worldwide from 27th August 2012 on Edition Records.
Daniel and Marius peform at Kings Place Festival - 16th September
Written in 1607, Monteverdi's ground-breaking L'Orfeo, Favola in Musica fuses the tragical tradition of Greek antiquity and the Baroque's revolutionary expressive palette.
We caught up with David Bates, director of La Nuova Musica, who perform L'Orfeo, Favola in Musica at Kings Place on 23 June 2012.
Read more...
"Jeffrey Siegel's 'Keyboard Conversations' programme is unique, informative and very entertaining. A piano virtuoso and first class communicator, Jeffrey Siegel makes you leave the theatre hungry for more music." David Suchet
Jeffrey Siegel has a somewhat different approach to most pianists. Not only does he perform works but he offers an insightful commentary so that everyone in the audience can enjoy the music - for all ages from 6 to 106!
We caught up with him to talk about his vision as well as the theme for his upcoming concert: A Musical Love Triangle - Brahms and the Schumanns
Kings Place Wednesday 30 May
Read more..
Experimental folk multi-instrumentalist Rachael Dadd talks to Kings Place about living her life between Japan and England, her music and her busy lifestyle of constant touring, writing, sewing and creating.
We caught up with Rachael in Japan ahead of her show here at Kings Place on Friday 22 June. Alas over the phone rather than in person which caused much disappointment in the Kings Place office.
Find out more..
ensemblebash are twenty! And to celebrate they are presenting a retrospective of the last two decades over a series of shows at Kings Place.
In their upcoming performance they celebrate Cage@100, playing a selection of his seminal works for percussion, Third Construction, Credo in US and Double Music, written in conjunction with Lou Harrison.
We talk to Chris Brannick from ensemblebash ahead of their upcoming show at Kings Place
Kings Place Monday 7 May Book tickets and read more here
Oh and in case you are wondering, Chris is holding a donkey's jawbone in the picture!
If you are serious about your playing the four day Jazz workshop is the ideal way to spend the Easter break this April.
But there is more! The Easter Jazz Festival runs alongside the workshops and is open to everybody. Don't miss performances from Deborah Brown, Peter King, a triple bill of top pianists Frank Harrison, Kit Downes, Jason Rebello and Bruce Barth plus films and free events.
Find out more about the Easter Jazz Workshop and Festival 6-9 April 2012 Kings Place
We interviewed Harry Christophers, Director of The Sixteen, ahead of their performances as part of the Brahms Unwrapped series at Kings Place.
15 March The Sixteen sings Brahms & Schumann 16 March The Sixteen sings Brahms 17 March The Sixteen sings Brahms: A German Requiem Part of Brahms Unwrapped at Kings Place
The "ludicrously underrated" (The Sunday Telegraph) Jack Cheshire assembles his full band for what promises to be a memorable performance.
Jack Cheshire performs at Kings Place on Friday 30 March
Ahead of their live shows at Kings Place on 11 and 12 April 2012, we interviewed Tim Daniels and Tom Reynolds from The Complete Guide to Everything, iTunes chart topping comedy podcast.
www.tcgte.com www.kingsplace.co.uk
A trio of Jazz talents Jay Phelps, Soweto Kinch and Alex Wilson collaborate on-stage together over three nights to produce a unique series of performances.
Kings Place 26 - 28 January 2012
Find out more about eXplorations with Soweto Kinch, Jay Phelps & Alex Wilson on the Kings Place website
Martin Simpson talks about his music, teaching, and Purpose and Grace, the mini-festival he is curating at Kings Place.
Tony Benn & Roy Bailey: The Writing on the Wall Martin Simpson with June Tabor & Dick Gaughan Chris Wood in concert Ruth Theodore Band + Nancy Wallace & Jason Steel Martin Simpson & Guests: Bright Phoebus Workshops Purpose and Grace runs from 8 to 11 February 2012. Read more..
Kings Place spoke to the fascinating Dave Richardson from The Boys of The Lough ahead of their performance at Kings Place on Friday 9 December. This is a rare UK appearance, absolutely not to be missed, from the Boys who play great traditional music played straight from the shoulder. Tickets for The Boys of the Lough are available now.
‘Traditional heroes.’ The Irish Times ‘Musically splendid – legends.’ The Boston Globe ‘A sophisticated, subtly coloured ensemble... highly developed individual skills.’ New York Times
This show is part of the Roots and Branches series which also features:
Thur 8 Dec Scotland's Finest with Emily Smith Band + Chris Stout & Catriona McKay Fri 9 Dec Emily Portman Trio: Old Stories with New Skin Sat 10 Dec Alistair Anderson & Annie Whitehead: Airplay
In anticipation of their performance as part of London A Cappella Festival (12th – 14th January 2012) at Kings Place we interview Kasper Ramstrom from FORK. In the Scandinavian rock show that reinvents a cappella, FORK fuse world-class vocals, comedy, extravagant fashion and groundbreaking sounds. Performing rock and pop covers FORK recreate everything from the pumping baselines to the rock guitar riffs into a magnificent show.
The London A Cappella Festival runs annually at Kings Place and welcomes some of the finest international talent of the a cappella world. www.londonacappellafestival.co.uk
Voted one of the top three guitarists in the world by Guitar Player magazine, Juan Martín spoke to Kings Place ahead of his performance at the London Guitar Festival in the Fall 2011 on Wednesday 26 October. The last few tickets are available from the Kings Place website www.kingsplace.co.uk
Kings Place spoke to acclaimed conductor and flautist Jaime Martin ahead of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields performance at Kings Place on 14 October 2011. Divertimento in F, K138 Flute Concerto No. 1 in G, K313 Oboe Concerto in C, K314 (Flute Concerto No. 2 in D, K314 arr. for oboe and orch. by Mozart) Symphony No. 38 in D, K504 Prague Read more and book http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on-book-tickets/hall-one/the-academy-of-st-martin-in-the-fields-the-prague-symphony Interview by Ben Eshmade
Ivana Gavrić talks about her new disc, Janáček, and playing with Aurora Orchestra.
www.kingsplace.co.uk
Ayanna Witter-Johnson talks about he new EP, moving to America and her many collaborations
www.kingsplace.co.uk
Pianist Robert Mitchell talks about his music, and many collaborations.
www.kingsplace.co.uk
Ahead of his show at Kings Place Festival 2011 we talk to talented guitarist, singer and songwriter Kris Drevertalks about his work with Eamonn Coyne. www.kingsplace.co.uk/festival
Can you master rhythm, treble and bass? We are looking for the most talented mash-uppers out there.
Mozart [un]RAPPED is a freestyling competition allowing you to put your mark on Mozart, using the RJDJ iPhone/Android app or the online widget.
For your chance to remix Hard Core Mozart (or any of the other Mozart [un]RAPPED tracks) visit www.kingsplace-unwrapped.co.uk
Can you master rhythm, treble and bass? We are looking for the most talented mash-uppers out there.
Mozart [un]RAPPED is a freestyling competition allowing you to put your mark on Mozart, using the RJDJ iPhone/Android app or the online widget.
For your chance to remix The Mozart Joint (or any of the other Mozart [un]RAPPED tracks) visit www.kingsplace-unwrapped.co.uk
Can you master rhythm, treble and bass? We are looking for the most talented mash-uppers out there.
Mozart [un]RAPPED is a freestyling competition allowing you to put your mark on Mozart, using the RJDJ iPhone/Android app or the online widget.
For your chance to remix Mo Wolf (or any of the other Mozart [un]RAPPED tracks) visit www.kingsplace-unwrapped.co.uk
Paper Cinema is a highly original theatre company that breaths new life into fairytale narratives on stage before your very eyes. Projections of intricate marionettes play against a white screen, while improvised live music adds even more atmosphere. We chat to creator Nic Rawling about 'Rock Charmer' the show they are performing at Kings Place on Saturday 11th June as part of Fairy Tales & Monsters Mini Festival: http://bit.ly/kZK4yA
Joan Rodgers is one of Britain's best loved singers. We interview her to discuss her singing and her upcoming performance at Kings Place. Singing a selection of Shostakovich pieces she appears at 7.30pm on Friday 13th May as part of the Goodbye Stalin! week. For more details and to book your tickets click here.
As part of the Seeing is Believing mini-series to be held at Kings Place, we interview America's outstanding young composer, Nico Muhly. The concerts take place from 5th-7th May 2011. To find more information and to book your tickets click here: http://bit.ly/fPFv1l
Roopa Panesar is widely regarded as the leading UK female sitarist. Here she talks about the sitar, Darbar Festival and featuring on the 'West is West' soundtrack! Hear her perform live as part of Darbar 2011 on Sunday 24th April at 6.0pm: http://bit.ly/fXb6Ul
Leon McCawley embarks on a sonata marathon between the 15 - 17 April 2011 as part of week 4 of Mozart Unwrapped a year long series featuring 45 concerts of musical genius throughout 2011 at Kings Place. See what he had to say about it! More on week 4: http://bit.ly/fio3aQ and Mozart Unwrapped: http://bit.ly/gH1d5e
A mesmerising interview with French cellist, Sonia Wieder-Atherton, who takes her instrument on a journey through time and space at Kings Place 17 - 19 March: http://bit.ly/eodo6S
Fiona Talkington (presenter of BBC Radio 3's Late Junction) is passionate about Estonian music. She curates Eesti Fest at Kings Place from 21st to 26th February: http://bit.ly/i33OWn ... hear all about it!
we bring together all our podcasts from January - includes interviews from Tasmin Little, Denes Varjon, Bellatrix from the Boxettes, The Swingle Singers and Chris Wood...
The World's most accomplished Sho player Mayumi Miyata plays with soloists from London Sinfonietta at Kings Place on Thursday 3 March as part of Hibiki: Resonances from Japan http://bit.ly/hB4OcP
Kings Place talks to the inimitable folk artist Chris Wood... Commonplace: 9 - 12 February at Kings Place Love, Loss tragedy and tales... In search of anon and the folk tradition a mini-festival curated by Chris Wood and Karine Polwart with Alan Bearman Music
http://bit.ly/gWrIbL
Where she talks, amongst other things, about a mad dance brought upon by a poisonous spider and a devilish dream that inspired the perfect violin solo….. Tasmin Little: Violin Journeys runs from 3 - 5 February at Kings Place: http://bit.ly/dAqYwS www.tasminlittle.net http://www.partnersintime.eu/
Ben Eshmade talks to One of Hungary's renowned pianists, Dénes Várjon, who showcases a spectacular selection of Liszt's music which was influenced by the countries he travelled through. He appears as part of the Liszt Bicentenary at Kings Place which runs from 26th - 29th January 2011: http://bit.ly/hgCKd8
Just before the London A Cappella Festival 2011 kicks off we talk to beatbox female World champion Bellatix of the Boxettes and the legendary Swingle Singers about vocalising, the festival and Glee!
Mozart Unwrapped launches - 40 concerts of musical genius begin on New Year's Eve 2010. Peter Millican, CEO of Kings Place and the man behind the season, tells us all about this year long celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
This week at Kings Place Joglaresa present an effervescent Anglo-Irish collaboration of ancient and spellbinding Christmas songs ringing with echoes of winter pagan festivities from across the centuries. Here is 'Blow Northern' ‘Thrilling and haunting' The Times http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/weekly-themes/joglaresa www.joglaresa.com
Nostalgia, melancholia and giggles. Plus a live acoustic track recorded in the bathroom. Emily Barker hails from a tiny rural backwater in the remote south west of Western Australia. Q Magazine describes her music as “Stripped free of studio frippery and all the better for its carefree simplicity” **** have a listen. Emily will be joining us at Kings Place for the Arctic Circle Christmas Concert on the 17th December.
We chat to Alistair Anderson, who curates the upcoming week 'Feast of Folk' (9th - 1th Dec) at Kings Place: Three concerts, by legendary performers which will explore both the roots and the newer branches of the traditional folk song.
Alistair will be performing 'Steel Skies' on the 10th. Steel Skies was hailed as a 'landmark' in 1982 and is now said to have 'gained even more significance... the complete entity is so impressive ... Anderson's melodies take your breath away' fRoots
Audio Trailer for Dark fairy Tales special on Resonance FM. Dark Fairytales comes to Kings Place on 13 December as part of Words on Monday. Writer and director Anjan Saha teams up with projectionist Al Livingstone to present a magical enchanted world.
Find out more: http://bit.ly/goEdFv
In this month’s Kings Place Podcast Ben Eshmade chats to three performers from a diverse selection of events at Kings Place in November. Firstly, the accidental creator of the technology behind Rock Band and Guitar Hero: Tod Machover, who will be appearing at 'Faster Than Sound', a truly unique event that is one of the three highlights from Aldeburgh Festival KP on Saturday 13th. Ben also interviews Reid Anderson of Bad Plus who's week as part of the London Jazz Festival includes their first ever appearance with Django Bates. Finally Ben catches up with soprano Claire Booth will be performing Berio and Poulenc as part of the multi-media Transition_projects week on the 25th November.
Tickets for all events are available from £9.50 online at www.kingsplace.co.uk
Jim Cuomo will be performing this track at the event Sargasso C: Jim Cuomo and the 8-BIT REtroVOLUTION at Kings Place on the 29th November 2010: http://bit.ly/bgS5JM
We speak to Mikhail Karikis about his forthcoming Exploded Opera Xenon and its accompanying event Love Songs for Broken Machines - an aural treat! http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/weekly-themes?theme=140
The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and London Sinfonietta about their REMIX series at Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/weekly-themes?theme=142
Abram Wilson discusses his jazz education and his soundtrack to Spike Lee's Mo'Better Blues at The Base at Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/the-base-/abram-wilson-presents-mo-better-blues
Folk legend Peggy Seeger talks about her musical career ahead of a special performance during Folk Union http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/folk-union/peggy-seeger
Tickets for all events are available from £9.50 online at www.kingsplace.co.uk
Pianists Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva discuss Mozart’s piano duets with Helen Wallace ahead of their performances of ‘Piano Music for Four Hands’ during Mozart Unwrapped on 2011.
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/mozart-unwrapped
Schumann Bicentenary: A Celebration September 27 -- October 2 2010
Pianist Lucy Parham performs Schumann's Des Abends Op.12 and Intermezzo in E flat minor Op.26; she discusses her love of Schumann's music and the inspiration behind some unusual and entertaining musical events during this celebratory week of concerts.
With Helen Wallace.
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/weekly-themes?theme=144
In the run up to the third annual Kings Place Festival we speak to Levon Chilingirian about his performances with the Millennium Quartet, Guardian Editor Alan Rusbridger talks about life in the newsroom and Bristol's Eyebrow discuss the virtues of their music.
Tickets for all events at the Kings Place Festival 2010 are just £4.50 online
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival
Mellow Baku performs during Tilt at the Kings Place Festival 2009 - she returns this year!
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/tilt-london-liming-spoken-word
Curated by Melanie Abrahams, arts entrepreneur and producer
Tilt presents three infectious evenings of entertainment, stimulation and wordplay, with events that show how spoken word can complement, rub against and enhance other art forms - on this occasion live art, comedy and carnival.
Luke Wright, Laura Dockrill, Zena Edwards, Charlie Dark, Mellow Baku
Mellow Baku weaves rich musical prose relating stories of transformation, consciousness and relationships. From musical beginnings in a commune where she learned songwriting and guitar, she is inspired by the messages of conscious Reggae, the ethos of Jazz, and experiences of personal faith. She has worked with many artists including Jean Binta Breeze and Michie One, at venues including the Barbican, Jazz Cafe, North Sea Jazz Festival and the Knitting Factory in New York.
Charlie Dark is a dynamic writer, producer, DJ and performer specialising in poetry and the communication of stories. With a reputation for fusing the boundaries of wordplay, music and imagery he has instigated and hosted numerous music and word happenings including Blacktronica at the ICA, Rice and Peas and activities for the Red Bull Academy. He is founder of the urban Nike-supported running club Run Dem Crew and continues to perform and DJ actively.
Laura Dockrill is a poet and illustrator from South London cited as ‘one of the Top 20 hot faces to watch for 2009' (Elle). She has performed all over the UK on radio and TV including Radio 1 and News Night, and at festivals including Glastonbury, Latitude and Reading and has supported Kate Nash, Martha Wainwright and Phil Jupitus. Author of Mistakes The Background and Ugly Shy Girl, she is writing a book of poems and short stories. She is curator of the groundbreaking Word Orchestra and this year is writing and directing a show, launching her greetings card range, Snatches, and performing a debut children's show, GLUEMOUTH.
Luke Wright has been described as ‘the best young performance poet around', (The Observer) and ‘visceral, poignant and riotously funny' (The Scotsman). He is host and curator of Latitude's Poetry Arena and a resident poet on Radio 4's Saturday Live. His Valentine's Day special on Channel 4 attracted over a million viewers. His debut collection is called High Performance.
Zena Edwards is a poet and performer who uses song, movement and global influences as a jump-off for her words. She fuses poetry and music, incorporating traditional Africaninstruments (kalimba and kora) and digital technology to create her own sound tracks for poems and stories and has performed worldwide. She has written, performed and toured acclaimed one-woman shows including Security and Broken Words, and produced work for BBC radio and short films for Sky Digital. She has produced two CDs, entitled Healing Pool and Mine 4 Life.
Curated by Melanie Abrahams Recipient of a ‘Women to Watch 2010' award for her work in literature and the arts, Melanie Abrahams has been the vision behind a number of groundbreaking spoken word projects. She has developed initiatives to support writers and producers, and has founded two companies over ten years, renaissance one and Tilt (‘Spoken Word Pioneer, C4'). She curates, writes and presents actively and is developing a new spoken word festival. www.ontilt.org.
The Dante Quartet return to the Kings Place Festival 2010 to perform Debussy
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/dante-quartet-the-harlequin-colours-of-debussy
The Dante Quartet is now familiar to Kings Place audiences after its stunning Czech Mates week this spring and performance of Ravel's quartet earlier this year. The Quartet (whose name was chosen to reflect the idea of a great and challenging journey) return to complete a Franco-Belgian cycle with the string quartets of Debussy, Fauré and Franck. Winners of BBC Music Magazine Chamber Award 2009 for their Fauré/Franck recording on Hyperion, the Dantes have gained equally enthusiastic reviews for their ‘powerful, passionate yet completely controlled performance' of the Debussy. Each of these three composers wrote only one string quartet. Opening with Franck's radiant D major Quartet, written in the late flowering of age, the evening continues with Debussy's youthful Quartet and goes into the night with two masterpieces of Fauré's elusive late style: the second Violin Sonata and the marvellous String Quartet, his swan song.
‘One of the UK's finest quartets... for sheer refinement, sweetness and unanimity of purpose, these performances strike me as exceptional.' Financial Times
Dante Quartet Krysia Osostowicz violin Giles Francis violin Judith Busbridge viola Bernard Gregor-Smith cello Simon Crawford-Phillips piano
Claude Debussy (1862-1918) Sonata for cello and piano String Quartet in G minor
Dante Quartet with Simon Crawford-Phillips piano
Debussy's Cello Sonata was composed in 1915, as the first of a projected set of Six Sonatas for various instruments - though he was to write only two more before his death. The Prologue has opening and closing sections balancing declamation and lyricism, around an accelerating central episode. The Serenade evokes the guitar-playing Pierrots and Harlequins in the paintings of Watteau, with a middle section of flickering pizzicato half-light and a subdued reprise. This leads into the urgent Finale, in which slow interludes refer back to the previous movements - though in an understated, elusive fashion characteristic of this subtle piece.
Such ‘cyclic' cross-references are much more overt in Debussy's only String Quartet, a glorious early work from 1893 (by which time he was already at work on the opera Pelléas et Mélisande). The opening phrase, with its strong rhythmic profile and distinctive melodic contour, constitutes a motto theme which in various guises crops up throughout the fluent first movement, dominates the scherzo, with its exotic pizzicato colouring, forms the increasingly impassioned melody which rises up in the centre of the slow movement between serene, muted outer sections, and permeates the finale, from its gradually accelerating introduction to its exultant major-key coda.
The London Sinfonietta perform music from Debussy and Takemitsu at the Kings Place Festival 2009
London Sinfonietta at the Kings Place Festival 2010
London Sinfonietta, one of the world's elite contemporary music ensembles, will surprise and stimulate in a showcase of modern chamber music from across Europe. Following from this summer's spirited Experiment! week at Kings Place, the Sinfonietta bring three programmes which encapsulate its reputation for virtuosity, ambitious programming and pushing boundaries.
‘As the world panics and looks for safe havens for its money, it's good to see the London Sinfonietta aren't losing their nerve.' Daily Telegraph
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/london-sinfonietta-chamber-music-by-igor-stravins http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/london-sinfonietta-chamber-music-by-thomas-ades http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/london-sinfonietta-sinfonietta-shorts
Tickets are just £4.50 online!
Wordsmith Charlie Dark performs at the Kings Place Festival 2009 as part of the London Liming collective.
Charlie returns to this year's festival once again with Tilt's London Liming: Where spoken word meets carnival.
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/tilt-london-liming-spoken-word
Tilt presents three infectious evenings of entertainment, stimulation and wordplay, with events that show how spoken word can complement, rub against and enhance other art forms - on this occasion live art, comedy and carnival.
Luke Wright, Laura Dockrill, Zena Edwards, Charlie Dark, Mellow Baku
Mellow Baku weaves rich musical prose relating stories of transformation, consciousness and relationships. From musical beginnings in a commune where she learned songwriting and guitar, she is inspired by the messages of conscious Reggae, the ethos of Jazz, and experiences of personal faith. She has worked with many artists including Jean Binta Breeze and Michie One, at venues including the Barbican, Jazz Cafe, North Sea Jazz Festival and the Knitting Factory in New York.
Charlie Dark is a dynamic writer, producer, DJ and performer specialising in poetry and the communication of stories. With a reputation for fusing the boundaries of wordplay, music and imagery he has instigated and hosted numerous music and word happenings including Blacktronica at the ICA, Rice and Peas and activities for the Red Bull Academy. He is founder of the urban Nike-supported running club Run Dem Crew and continues to perform and DJ actively.
Laura Dockrill is a poet and illustrator from South London cited as ‘one of the Top 20 hot faces to watch for 2009' (Elle). She has performed all over the UK on radio and TV including Radio 1 and News Night, and at festivals including Glastonbury, Latitude and Reading and has supported Kate Nash, Martha Wainwright and Phil Jupitus. Author of Mistakes The Background and Ugly Shy Girl, she is writing a book of poems and short stories. She is curator of the groundbreaking Word Orchestra and this year is writing and directing a show, launching her greetings card range, Snatches, and performing a debut children's show, GLUEMOUTH.
Luke Wright has been described as ‘the best young performance poet around', (The Observer) and ‘visceral, poignant and riotously funny' (The Scotsman). He is host and curator of Latitude's Poetry Arena and a resident poet on Radio 4's Saturday Live. His Valentine's Day special on Channel 4 attracted over a million viewers. His debut collection is called High Performance.
Zena Edwards is a poet and performer who uses song, movement and global influences as a jump-off for her words. She fuses poetry and music, incorporating traditional Africaninstruments (kalimba and kora) and digital technology to create her own sound tracks for poems and stories and has performed worldwide. She has written, performed and toured acclaimed one-woman shows including Security and Broken Words, and produced work for BBC radio and short films for Sky Digital. She has produced two CDs, entitled Healing Pool and Mine 4 Life.
Curated by Melanie Abrahams Recipient of a ‘Women to Watch 2010' award for her work in literature and the arts, Melanie Abrahams has been the vision behind a number of groundbreaking spoken word projects. She has developed initiatives to support writers and producers, and has founded two companies over ten years, renaissance one and Tilt (‘Spoken Word Pioneer, C4'). She curates, writes and presents actively and is developing a new spoken word festival. www.ontilt.org.
The Endymion Ensemble perform during the Kings Place Festival 2009.
Kings Place Festival 2010 performances - Saturday 11th September 11.15am and 12.30pm
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/endymion-for-anton-stadler
The world-class chamber ensemble Endymion always strives to bring the greatest chamber music past and present to a wide audience. Known for the vitality, virtuosity and innovation of its players, Endymion has already made an impact at Kings Place by giving the first public performance in Hall One at the opening Festival in 2008, with a new piece by Simon Holt. Last summer Endymion celebrated 30 years with a major new music project, Sound Census, showcasing 27 premieres during a week of concerts here. This year their festival programmes epitomise the character of Endymion's music-making, contrasting two of the most emotional and engaging classics of the repertoire by Mozart and Brahms with an intriguing recent work by composer and artistic director Philip Venables.
‘The brilliant Endymion' The Sunday Times
Endymion Mark van de Wiel clarinet Krysia Osostowicz & Clara Biss violin Asdis Valdimarsdottir viola Jane Salmon cello
Phillip Venables K, a prelude to Mozart's Clarinet Quintet W A Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A major, K581
Philip Venables's K is a tribute and prelude to Mozart's Clarinet Quintet, which follows in this programme. It takes the first two bars of the Quintet and, in the composer's words, ‘pulls them apart, exposing, reworking, fragmenting, reflecting and elaborating their harmony and gesture'. The fragment on which the piece is based is heard towards the end. Mozart fell in love with the voice-like sound of the clarinet relatively late in life. Clarinet virtuoso Anton Stadler was the catalyst for this passion and inspired both the Clarinet Concerto and this Clarinet Quintet. The first of the Quintet's four movements sets the mood with its charming, conversational exchange between the clarinet and string quartet. The second movement is strikingly similar to the slow movement of the concerto, with the clarinet's lyrical qualities to the fore. A delightful minuet with two trios follows before the theme and variations of the final movement in which Mozart experiments further with all the possible combinations of instruments in a finale of striking inventiveness.
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/endymion-for-richard-muhlfeld
Brahms Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
Brahms's Clarinet Quintet has much in common with the Clarinet Quintet by Mozart (heard earlier this morning). Like Mozart, Brahms's late conversion to the clarinet was inspired by a virtuoso, Richard Muhlfeld, for whom he also wrote his two masterful clarinet sonatas. Muhlfield premiered the work with a quartet led by violinist Joseph Joachim, Brahms's long-time friend and collaborator.
As a tribute to Mozart's Quintet, Brahms's follows a similar four-movement structure. The first movement, like many of Brahms's late works, has a brooding, autumnal quality. The second movement shows Brahms at his most expansive and lyrical, with the strings subtly playing on the colours and harmonic flavour of the clarinet melody. The short third movement, with its gently meandering melodies, is one of the few lighter moments in the work. Following Mozart's example, Brahms finishes with a theme and variations but where Mozart's is playful and charming, Brahms's is searching and darkly romantic.
We gear up for our forthcoming festival taking place September 9 - 12 by interviewing some of the performers taking part! Lore Lixenberg discusses the human voice; Phil Venables speaks about his Junk Band and their take on Steve Reich's Clapping Music and blues man John Crampton returns to Kings Place after his sold out show last year. Enjoy! http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival
Chris Wood performs at the Kings Place Festival 2010 on Thursday September 9th at 9.30pm in Hall One. Tickets £4.50 online
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/kings-place-festival/in-the-english-tradition-chris-wood
Singer of the Year and Best Album, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2009, Chris Wood is an uncompromising songwriter whose music reveals his love for the unofficial history of the English-speaking people. With gentle intelligence he weaves the tradition with his own contemporary parables. His writing has been said to share the same timeless quality as Richard Thompson at his best.
‘The finest and most original singer-songwriter to have emerged from the British folk scene since Richard Thompson.' Guardian
This summer we meet some of the artists and curators performing at the Kings Place Festival 2010 include the Swingle Singers, Homelife, Sam Lee and Dune Music's Jennie Cashman. We also speak to Gallery Director of Pangolin London Polly Bielecka.
Celebrating Argentina 200 curator Alberto Portugheis talks to Ben Eshmade about the legend that is Piazzolla and Argentinian music at Kings Place!
Summer Time! We celebrate the sunshine with an interview from Argentinian pianist Alberto Portugheis, Poet in the City's Graham Henderson, William Howard and Simon Blendis from the Schubert Ensemble discuss the music of Saint-Saen and the Kings Place Music Foundation Outreach Co-ordinator, Joanie Magill and Apples & Snakes Education Manager, Lisa Mead discuss the forthcoming Family Weekend Kings Place On Sea!
This May on the Kings Place Podcast you can find out more about London Sinfonietta's Experiment! We also have a chat with very very lovely Norma Winstone, take a closer look at the forthcoming Sound and Silents series from Birds Eye View and get ready for the final week of our Chopin Unwrapped series with Martino Tirimo.
Blips and Static by Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy will be performed at Kings Place during the Out Hear series on May 10th by Ensemble Scratch the Surface.
The work is an ironic nod to the glitches and static which invade our audio technologies and disrupt our listening experiences.
Find out more and buy tickets here...
http://www.kingsplace.co.uk/music/out-hear/ensemble-scratch-the-surface
Listen to a performance from Aurora Orchestra at Kings Place that was recorded during their From Vienna to Weimar series of concerts in January 2010. They will be returning in 2011 to be part of our Mozart Unwrapped series!
Franz Schreker (1878–1934) might be regarded as exemplifying the very late-Romanticism that composers such as Hindemith and Weill were determined to leave behind. Yet Weill actually held Schreker in high esteem and was at one point hoping to study with him. The Chamber Symphony of 1916 was commissioned for the centenary of the Vienna Academy where Schreker had been teaching since 1912. Some of the musical material originates in an unfinished operatic project from these years, Die tönenden Sphären (The Sounding Spheres): it seems likely that the magical, shimmering opening of the Chamber Symphony was destined to play a musico-symbolic role similar to that found in Schreker’s other operas (Fritz’s elusive ‘distant sound’ in Der ferne Klang, for example). Like Schoenberg’s Kammersymphonie Op. 9, the work compresses the separate movements of a traditional symphony into a single larger one – but the similarities end there. Compared to Schoenberg’s densely written, contrapuntally saturated score, the Schreker inhabits an impressionistic, almost dream-like world in which a continuous process of thematic transformation and restatement is realized in orchestral textures of beguiling beauty and iridescence. Notes by Lloyd Moore
John L Walters interviews Byron Wallen and Cleveland Watkiss ahead of their joint performance as part of the contemporary music series 'Out Hear' at Kings Place.
We burst into summer with interviews from Folkworks' Kathryn Tickell, comedian Tom Deacon, William Norris and Alison Berry from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and finally Songlines editor Simon Broughton shares his thoughts on this weekend's Darbar Festival – enjoy!
Extracts from Matthew Barley's new CD of John Metcalfe compositions, 'Constant Filter' featuring pianist Ashley Wass. 'Constant Filter' will be launched during the Matthew Barley plays John Metcalfe series of concerts taking place May 13 - 16 at Kings Place http://www.kingsplace.co.uk
Extracts from Matthew Barley's new CD of John Metcalfe compositions, 'Constant Filter'. 'Constant Filter' will be launched during the Matthew Barley plays John Metcalfe series of concerts taking place May 13 - 16 at Kings Place. www.kingsplace.co.uk
Cellist Matthew Barley discusses his new release of John Metcalfe compositions 'Constant Filter'. Constant Filter will be launched at Kings Place during his series of concerts 'Matthew Barley plays John Metcalfe' from May 13 - 15 2010.
This month's podcast featuring interviews with Andy Sheppard, Daryl Buckley from ELISION, Out Hear's Elaine Higgins andSandeep Virdee, organiser of the Darbar Festival 2010!
John Crampton's set, as played at Kings Place Festival 2009 on Friday 4th September, at 19:30 in the St Pancras room.
Raga Lalita-Gauri is named after the manifestations of the Divine Mother or Shakti. Filled with pathos and depth, it is one of the most beautiful sunset ragas. The composition is set to a 14-beat time cycle called ada chautaal followed by a fast composition set to a 16-beat time cycle called teentaal.
Played at Kings Place Festival 2009, at 19:00 on Saturday, 5th of September in Hall One, as part of the "Indian Legends: an evening with AMaan and Ayaan Ali Khan" evening.
Whole concert, as played on the opening day of the Kings Place Festival, Friday 4th September 2009 at 20:30 in Hall Two as part of the Traditional Folk Innovators evening.