HENGE
"Rude bass, heavy drums and spaced-out synthesisers - these are the characteristic sounds of cosmic dross; a form of music indigenous to the planet Xylanthia (located in the Sirius Star System) and brought to Earth for the first time by Henge. In their unique take on this obscure art-form Henge explore astral and existential themes in an almost human-like manner. Playing electronic instruments live and without the aid of computers, their music takes on the form of quirky songs that encourage the listener to consider the immensity of the Universe and ultimately cherish the sacred soil of planet Earth." - review taken from SpaceTimeOut
TIPPING POINT
Whilst touring and recording extensively with the Mercury, MOBO and Jazz FM nominated Roller Trio, saxophonist James Mainwaring has been writing and rehearsing his new project Tipping Point. With an ongoing interest in collaboration, he formed this monster line-up to explore his complex, melodic and experimental compositions, unleashing it onto the UK scene with the Emerging Excellence Award and support from Jazz Services Recording.
With improvised music legend Matthew Bourne (Fender Rhodes) and some of the UK’s most individual instrumentalists; Michael Bardon (double bass) and Joost Hendrickx (drums), the compositions naturally become launch pads for telepathic improvisations that move through playful melodies, reflective ambience and intense aggression.
Members of the band have previously collaborated on projects such as; Dave Kane’s Rabbit Project, Stoop Quintet, Tokyo Doorbells, the Fusebox Orchestra, Shatners Bassoon and Mainwaring/Bardon/Horne amongst many others. It was whilst studying at Leeds College of Music when Mainwaring, Bardon and Hendrickx met and were tutored by Bourne, a pianist whose innovative approach to improvisation and teaching proved to be a great influence on them as well as Leeds’ unique, forward-thinking scene as a whole.
Toying with language internalised from a vast range of music such as jazz, contemporary classical and north Indian classical, Tipping Point aims to evoke playfulness, mindfulness, darkness and the extremes of emotion that fester in the corners of a mind held hostage in a stagnant society, inviting the listener on a journey that confronts their inner demons.
RORY CHARLES
Rory Charles is a Manchester based musician. Known to many as the wild eyed front man of local psychedelic synth pop group The Age Of Glass, but possibly to a few more as the "Ginger Bearded Busker of St Ann's square who sings like a girl" (Dave:- The Big Issue, [salesman]).
Having spent a couple of years cemented to a particular war memorial, come rain, come snow, Rory had time to develop his style.. (Deep breath) ...a delightfully submerging combination of hypnotic fingerpicking and soulful dynamic vocal acrobatics. Rory often trapezes the upper echelons of the male vocal range with all the agility of an ill mannered Russian gymnast. He's also been known to don the odd leotard. This is where the comparison ends if you wish. (And relax)
For Mix Up Rory is joining forces with fellow musician Marc Constantine whose unique electric guitar accompaniment, awash with effects, and delicately tamed with borderline freakish technical wizardry. Constantine's style has been described as the unlikely sound of throwing a Gibson, (Marshall stack and all) over an event horizon and stretched out across the sublime enclave of an emotive audio singularity in which literally anything can spontaneously occur and often does much to the delight of any participating ear that finds itself in local orbit. At least that's the description that shall be used from now on. Perhaps.
In other words one of 'em sings like a girl while playing acoustic and the other plays electric like an alien. Jobs a goodun, if you're into that sort of ting.
ABOUT MIX UP
Mix Up is a monthly live music night which as the name suggests features three musical acts across different styles and forms.
Held on the first Thursday of the month at The Klondyke Club in Levenshulme (1 Burnage Range, third road on the left from Levenshulme Station off Albert Road, walking towards Burnage – call 0161 224 4122) the night promises to offer three quality bands, all for a nominal entry fee.
MIX UP is a cracking night of live music featuring the cream of Manchester’s music scene. We will soon be confirming further acts for future nights.
You can keep up to date with who’s playing and when on our website http://www.mixupmcr.com/
Please, please show your support for the night by joining our Mix-Up Facebook group. https://www.facebook.com/
It will be great to see some familiar faces and hopefully some unfamiliar ones on the night!
