Gather Round: All Sounds at All Saints
‘The key is to try going to the things that you think aren’t for you – hopefully you’ll come away pleasantly surprised!’ – Nabihah Iqbal
Join us for an electrifying series of new music performances by boundary-breaking artists, curated by our multi-talented Guest Director, musician, DJ and broadcaster Nabihah Iqbal. Taking place in the majestic and beautiful All Saints Church, All Sounds at All Saints celebrates the diversity of music, in all its forms. Each event features the next generation of classically trained musicians who have been raised on a diverse sonic diet of sounds from across the globe. Showcasing a broad range of musical influences, they are forging new paths and blurring the boundaries of musical genres.
For the first show, Mercury Prize-nominee and MOBO Jazz Act of the Year Shabaka Hutchings (Sons of Kemet, The Comet is Coming) trades his usual saxophone for the Japanese shakuhachi flute, alongside various other wooden flutes he's been collecting throughout his world travels, to explore rhythms and musical patterns. The event also features a performance from virtuoso Otto Hashmi, who blends hedonistic dance music with classical recorder harmonies to trigger what he calls a ‘recorder dance apocalypse’!
Where did the idea or inspiration come from for your show?
Otto Hashmi: ‘In the wake of the 2020 pandemic, I found the return of nightlife a fascinating moment. Going to clubs in 2021 felt almost like a religious experience, where scenes and cliques momentarily melted away through the novelty of being back in a shared experience. I found this contrast in the wake of global doom, financial and political instability a fascinating concept – the ability to dance in the face of lost hope.’
Next in Byrne/O'Connell/Rogerson, Liam Byrne, leading performer of ‘very old and very new music’; Radiohead favourite Clare O’Connell; and Brian Eno collaborator Tom Rogerson come together on the viol de gamba (six-stringed member of the violin family), cello, piano, keyboards and electronics to weave contemporary improvisation together with 16th century pieces, creating a unique fusion of traditional and modern sounds.
What do you hope people will take away from your show?
Tom Rogerson: ‘Being improvised, the music has space to move in lots of directions, but it tends to end up quite transcendent. I love hearing the connection between the 16th/17th century pieces and how they can be made to sound as modern and 'ambient' as anything we're trying to do now.’
Cellist and singer/producer/songwriter Lucinda Chua, known for her work with FKA twigs, blends R&B and chamber pop in a performance of her debut album YIAN. Joining her for the event is Bristol-based producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist t l k, whose work has been described as 'truly transportive' by BBC6 Music. t l k matches raw vocals with piano, strings and electronic textures and will perform her ethereal EP Primed for Loss.
Improvising string duo Balladeste combine several genres of music - Indian classical, contemporary classical and minimalism to create a deep listening experience for their audience. There will also be performances from noted modern classical composer James Maloney, known for his work with Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; and solo artist and pianist Pelin Pelin, who fuses soulful vocals with improvised piano and punky club production.
What do you hope people will take away from your show/event after they have seen or experienced it?
Pelin Pelin: ‘Sometimes my music feels like a confounding kick in the teeth-, sometimes it’s broody and romantic, sometimes a bit theatrical. My hope is that people come out of the show feeling that all those layers are good if they are from the heart and honest; that they know I meant what I said and what I played and that’s why they could feel it.’
In addition to the innovative music coming to Brighton Festival as part of All Sounds at All Saints, Nabihah will bring her own live experimental music project SUROOR to Brighton for the very first time in a live collaboration with sound artist and musician Raheel Khan, musician Paul Purgas and multi-disciplinary artist Imran Perretta.
All Sounds at All Saints, 9-12 May, All Saints.
Click here to find out more and buy tickets.