MIX-UP 02.08.12: CAULBEARERS - ALABASTER DE PLUME - DENIS JONES & PICKPOCKET NETWORK

• CAULBEARERS Archaic funk fables and soul migrations. Bitter sweet songs of the self, soul and society played by an eight-piece, heavy-groove Manchester band. Originally formed by friends and members of Hulme-based music collective, Single Cell, to bring the songs and ideas of producer/singer Damien Mahoney to the live stage. Soon joined by Julie Gordon on vocals (RSL, Rae and Christian, Happy Mondays), the band developed a reputation for high-octane, incendiary live performances. The current line up includes members of acts such as Cherry Ghost, The Earlies and Beats and Pieces Big Band. Long overdue, and with a wealth of material to work on, Caulbearers are due to start recording their first album this month, with debut EP 'More Lie Deep released in 2011, and earlier contributions to the Single Cell compilation album 'Six Rivers'. "If Grace Jones and Massive Attack were one being, it would sound like Caulbearers. Stay tuned or be left behind. A great gig followed by a better EP.” Quenched Music “Great music, delivered with real power and style” George Monbiot, The Guardian “Caulbearers are arguably Manchester’s best kept secret and deserve far more recognition than they currently enjoy. Melding folk, soul, jazz and a host of world music influences into a hypnotic and captivating soundscape; careening between haunting melancholy and upliftingly funky from song to song, we could talk about them all day but the only word that truly applies is mind-blowing” JAM magazine 2011, issue 2. “A beguiling, bittersweet soul-funk maelstrom that sweeps through Sly And The Family Stone, The Specials and Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions; a band spinning musical plates with remarkable, dextrous ease: cross-stitching genres, assimilating myriad influences, improvising segments at will” David Sue, Manchester Evening News ALABASTER DE PLUME “You know when you’re ugly You don’t always know you’re stupid” Alabaster dePlume delights in his own confusion. He embraces it. It makes him look a bit pretentious, sometimes, but in the end, it is deeply sincere. He seems to feel he ought to share certain things, just in case everyone else was just too afraid to mention it first. He’s been described as “Harrowingly funny.” He works with Debt Records in his hometown Manchester, has toured Germany and France, and performs around the UK in festivals, bars and concert halls, such as Band on the Wall in Manchester. Alabaster will be accompanied by John Ellis, Ellis Davies and Paddy Steer. "I had to keep laughing or I think my heart would've exploded" - one audience member on Alabaster's full ensemble show. DENIS JONES AND THE PICKPOCKET NETWORK Denis Jones is a self-taught guitarist and songwriter from Lancashire, UK. Having begun his musical life as a singer-songwriter in the classic UK mould of the likes of John Martyn, he has over the last three years developed a show-stopping live performance based around the core of his exceptional and unique guitar-playing style and rich, soulful voice. Utilising a loop station and all manner of samplers and effects, Denis creates vast, complex orchestrations of beat-box rhythms, multi-layered vocals and other-wordly sounds which veer from subtle heart-wrenching folk and blues to heavy bass-driven electronica. Denis has collaborated with many high profile artists from all over Europe. He has worked with John Ellis and Luke Flowers (Cinematic Orchestra), Jon Thorne (Lamb), Matt Halsall (Gondwana Records) and Henry Da Massa (Micah P Hinson), all of whom appear on Denis’s recordings. He has played as far afield as Lithuania, Georgia and Croatia, as well as festival shows in the UK including Secret Garden Party, Glastonbury, End of The Road, Great Escape, Big Chill and Futuresonic. He has supported Amp Fiddler at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Efterklang at Bush Hall, Chris Corsano, Kieran Hebden and Steve Reid and many more. His performance at Futuresonic in May 2008 resulted in an invitation for Denis to be the inaugural member of the new Futuresonic artist development program, FuturesFamily, which culminated in a specially curated performance at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester for 2009’s Futuresonic festival alongside Murcof and Johann Johannsson. Denis’s debut album, Humdrum Virtue, was released in 2007 in a unique limited edition industrial packaging, designed by Denis himself, selling out rapidly and leading to the re-issue of the album in a slightly more conventional, but still striking packaging. Tracks from the album have been included on compilations in Europe and Canada. Denis's second album, "Red + Yellow=" is out now, along with a limited edition 10" vinyl EP including remixes by Graham Massey (808 State) and Paddy Steer (Homelife). Joining Denis for MIX-UP is The Pickpocket Network with who he has been regularly collaborating, writing new material and joining him for many of his more recent live performances. “Scuzzy Mancunian blues at it’s richest and, most intriguing.” The Guardian “Logical, eardrum-massaging, heart-stirring sonic harmony” Drowned In Sound “There’s something about his willingness to experiment, his bravery and risk-taking that makes him stand slightly aside from the now dissolving world of folktronica” Boomkat ABOUT MIX-UP: Mix-Up is a monthly night hosted by The Magic Hat Ensemble, 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 measly fiver. 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 websitehttp://www.mixupmcr.com/ Please, please show your support for the night by joining our Mix-Up Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-Hat-Ensemble-presents-Mix-Up/177181375690177 It will be great to see some familiar faces and hopefully some unfamiliar ones on the night.

MIX-UP 05.07.12: NOON - WOLFSCARERS - HEY CARRIANNE

NOON Eating out hearts since 1928 and back by popular demand, Noon are a super-cocktail of space-boogie blues-soul. They will pound their awesomeness into your conscious and unconscious minds. They have shared stages with the likes of David 'Honeyboy' Edwards and Dr. John Wether. With the jungle-disco drums of David Schelctreimen, the nu battle-jazz guitar of Ellis Davies or the cyber-soul harmonica and vocals of Rik Warren, there is something about this band that gets feet moving and minds exploding. HEY  CARRIANNE (Solo Set) Fresh from a tidy slot supporting James Vincent McMorrow at this year’s Liverpool Sound City festival, Hey Carrianne is definitely one to keep your eyes on this year. Carrianne Hayden, singer / songwriter of Hey Carrianne plays a solo set for us at Mix-Up. Weaving frank storytelling and beautiful melodic ramblings with memorable guitar motifs, she creates a brand of pop that's sugared with Folk, Indie and Blues. With too many influences to list, try to imagine the love child Tracy Chapman and James Mercer would have after a long hot summer with both members of the Black Keys and a tonguing from Beth Gibbons…then you're just round the corner. WOLFSCARERS Wolfscarers is the saxophone duet of Keith Jafrate (tenor,alto) & Simon Prince (tenor & flutes). Playing in & around the improvised & experimental music clubs of Manchester,Sheffield & Liverpool since 2010,WOLFSCARERS make spontaneous extended soundscapes with,sometimes,a little jazz,a little new music,some beautiful sound poems & some shouting.They recorded the CDR 'THROAT' for THE NOISE UPSTAIRS in 2011 ABOUT MIX-UP: Mix-Up is a monthly night hosted by The Magic Hat Ensemble, 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 measly fiver. 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 websitehttp://www.mixupmcr.com/ Please, please show your support for the night by joining our Mix-Up Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-Hat-Ensemble-presents-Mix-Up/177181375690177 It will be great to see some familiar faces and hopefully some unfamiliar ones on the night!

MIX-UP 07.06.12: STUART MCCALLUM - NAKED ISLAND - SHATNER'S BASSOON

Stuart McCallum

From jazz beginnings to DJ culture, Stuart McCallum’s music is a distillation of influences, creating a sound that is concentrated and distinctive. Stuart’s music embraces simple, memorable melodies, bass lines and drum beats, with electronica and improvisation enriched by elegant orchestral writing.

Stuart has a wealth of experience in many different musical environments but perhaps is best known for his work with The Cinematic Orchestra. Since joining the band in 2004, Stuart has contributed to the writing of the band’s critically acclaimed albums, ‘Ma Fleur’ and ‘Live At The Royal Albert Hall’. In addition he has contributed to the award winning Disney nature documentary soundtrack, ‘The Crimson Wing’, and the remix of Radiohead’s ‘Exit Music For A Film’ for Radiohead’s remix compilation album, ‘Exit Music: Songs For Radio Heads’. He has performed at the Royal Albert Hall with the Heritage Orchestra and The London Metropolitan Orchestra, headlined The Big Chill in the UK, and played at Montreal Jazz Festival and Coachella festival in Palm Springs amongst others.

‘Distilled’, Stuart’s third solo album is the culmination of Stuart’s guitar playing, production and composition. The sonic palette of instruments and electronics used is a development from his 2 previous solo albums ‘Echo Architect’ and ‘Stuart McCallum’. Stuart’s guitar playing is the main feature of the music - the vocalist in the instrumental lineup. His interest in exploring different sounds from both electric and acoustic guitars is apparent in the music, from the innovative use of delays and filters, to hitting the guitars with hands and drumsticks! The guitar plays alongside electronic and acoustic drums, double bass, keyboards, synths, percussion, harp, celeste, strings, woodwinds and horns.


Naked Island


Kirk McElhinney (Vocal/Guitar/Songwriting)
Pete Turner (Double Bass)
Sam Draper (Drums).

Naked Island are a recently formed Manchester based folk/blues trio who focus on authenticity and energy within their live performances.

They have already discovered their unique sound with Kirk's raw vocal delivery and intricate finger picking stlyle on guitar, backed up with a tight rhythm section of Pete and Sam who's jazz influence is subtly melded in to the Naked Island pot. With tunes ranging from fast bluegrass and folk ballads to more experimental 7/4 instrumentals, Naked Island are vastly becoming an exciting new live outfit. The guys have already performed at the Deaf Institute in Manchester and the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge and have a couple of festivals lined up for the summer. One of which being the ever growing 'Solfest' in Cumbria.

They are currently recording their debut album "Circle" with Manchester's legendary pianist/composer/arranger John Ellis at Limehouse studio.


Shatner’s Bassoon

Shatner’s Bassoon, a band of six Leeds based improvisers influenced by William Shatner’s monologues and the perils of jazz induced trances, describe their disjointed sound as Improvised Rock-Puke. They’re playing with musical clichés and conventions to produce music which negotiates a path from the sinister to the humorous and surreal.

Johnny Richards – Keyboards,
Michael Bardon – Bass/Electronics
Craig Scott – Guitar/Electronics
Ollie Dover – Tenor Sax
Joost Hendricks – Drums
Andy Lisle - Drums

ABOUT MIX-UP:

Mix-Up is a monthly night hosted by The Magic Hat Ensemble, 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 measly fiver.

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 websitehttp://www.mixupmcr.com/

Please, please show your support for the night by joining our Mix-Up Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-Hat-Ensemble-presents-Mix-Up/177181375690177

It will be great to see some familiar faces and hopefully some unfamiliar ones on the night!

MIX-UP 05.04.12: DUM DÁ - VOODOO BOULEVARD - CHRIS ILLINGWORTH & GUESTS

DUM DÁ

Dum Dá were formed after they met at the second ever MIX-UP. The group consists of vocalist Riognach Connolly, guitarist Ellis Davies (Honeyfeet), bassist Nick Blacka (The Magic Hat Ensemble) and drummer Rob Turner (The Magic Hat Ensemble, Gogo Penguin). 

Drawing on various different styles and influences the band merge folk, blues, jazz, hip hop and funk with a heavy dose of improvisation thrown in for good measure.

VOODOO BOULEVARD

A newly formed trio fronted by Grenville Harrop (Cherry Ghost, Caulbearers). Expect a riff driven, modern, American influenced mix of blues and original material. Come and see for yourself.

 CHRIS ILLINGWORTH & GUESTS

Those of you who were lucky enough to be at last November's MIX-UP will have seen Chris performing with Gogo Penguin, a modern jazz trio taking inspiration from Aphex Twin, Esbjorn Svensson and Sigor Ros, amongst others. The trio have recently signed to ace independant Manchester jazz label Gondwana Records.

A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, Chris regularly performs solo classical piano recitals. For April's MIX-UP he will be performing both solo and with some very special guests.

'Component II - The City at Dusk' written by Ben Gaunt.
A solo piano composition written about life in the city. This piece has been inspired by William Baines, a Yorkshire composer born in 1899, who died aged 23. Baines wrote over 150 solo piano works.

'Piano Phase' by Steve Reich, written in 1967.
A piece for two pianos. Reich's phasing works generally have two identical lines of music, which begin by playing synchronously, but slowly become out of phase with one another when one of them slightly speeds up. Reich had previously applied this technique only to sounds recorded on magnetic tape, but experimenting in his studio, he found it was possible for humans to replicate the effect.

'Opposite Keyboards' by Avner Hanani, written in 2005.
Avner is a composer who studied at the RNCM in Manchester. His compositions are often heavily inspired by Steve Reich's music. This particular piece is for two pianos and synth. The two pianos play melodies which are 'opposite rhythmically' to each other (both play only crotchets and quavers always opposite to each other), whilst the synth adds harmony inbetween.

ABOUT MIX-UP:

Mix-Up is a monthly night hosted by The Magic Hat Ensemble, 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 measly fiver.

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 websitehttp://www.mixupmcr.com/

Please, please show your support for the night by joining our Mix-Up Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-Hat-Ensemble-presents-Mix-Up/177181375690177

It will be great to see some familiar faces and hopefully some unfamiliar ones on the night!

MIX-UP 01.03.12: PAOLO DIAS DUARTE WITH THE MIX-UP BIG BAND - ZOE CHIOTIS BAND - DANIEL WEAVER

MARCH 1ST LINE-UP:



PAOLO DIAS DUARTE WITH THE MIX-UP BIG BAND



London based Portugese guitarist/composer Paulo Dias Duarte will be leading the newly formed MIX-UP Big Band especially for our night in March. Paulo is the leader of The Overground Collective, a traditional big band playing original compositions mixing all forms of jazz from its most traditional form to its most sophisticated aspects of free form and free improvisation. The group was formed as a result of a residency made at Trem Azul (home of Clean Feed Records) in Lisbon in August 2010. The project was premiered in London last October and since then has been running simultaneously in London and Lisbon. 



ZOE CHIOTIS BAND



A collection of Zoe’s original songs which merge folk/blues influences from her eastern European roots with hints of farther flung world music traditions... the band explores the haunting, shimmery side of harmony and tonality, knitted into spacious, hypnotic groove, whilst lyrically, the songs express emotions that result from living as a modern human still tied to the umbilical cord of nature.

DANIEL WEAVER



Armed with a guitar, a voice, a limitless imagination, and a yearning to explore, Daniel's solo show is a blend of cabaret, movement, noise and improv. Daniel composes for theatre, circus and dance, choreographs, leads weekly improv workshops and performs from time to time with 'Gommorrahh' a rhythm-noise duet and 'Sodom' an acoustic song project. His approach is modern, uncompromising and absorbing.

"My music is characterised by its investigative nature." Daniel Weaver

ABOUT MIX-UP:

Mix-Up is a monthly night hosted by The Magic Hat Ensemble, 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 measly fiver.

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. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-Hat-Ensemble-presents-Mix-Up/177181375690177

It will be great to see some familiar faces and hopefully some unfamiliar ones on the night!

MIX-UP 02.02.12: DEAD RETRO BAND - RACHAEL & THE RED SOCKS - GYPSIES OF BOHEMIA

• Mix-Up is back for 2012! This month's bands are: Dead Retro Band No Nonsense sounds from the Dirty Dustbowl. Gritty Roots, Anarchic Americana, Soulful Sleaze, Pshycobilly Skank, Bittersweet Blues The Dead Retro Band bring together some of the finest session players in the UK around vocalist Vela Vox to deliver an extraordinary blend or Raucous Roots, Soulful Blues and Anarchic Americana. Collectively these musicians shared the stage and studio with Corrine Bailey Rae, Robert Plant, Lilly Allen, Nico, Chuck Berry, Cinematic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra, Richard Hawley and Tom Jones to name just a few. Now they bring their amazing ability to the music they love around the captivating American vocalist Vela Vox. From No-Nonsense Rock N’ Roll through Barn Shaking Blues to the sweetest Ballads the repertoire captures the essence of the Retro Diaspora. Vela Vox - Vocals Martin Cox – Double Bass John Ellis – Keys Billy Buckley – Guitar Eryl Roberts – Drums Rachael Gladwin Rachael Gladwin is a singing, songwriting, contemporary harpist. Rachael's music draws on influences from around the world and tumbles out with edges of folk and jazz. Her songs are lyrical and original, described by Sir Paul McCartney as 'beautiful melodies, lovely folky vibe, great feel.' Her upbeat songs 'are not averse to a spot of strangeness, and her love songs have their own beauty', all accompanied by some nimble fingered harp playing. Rachael will be performing songs off her debut album, Melodies and Time, described by All About Jazz as 'a rewarding debut, high on imagery and emotional connection... an essential buy'. Gypsies of Bohemia Manchester based Gypsies of Bohemia are an acoustic jazz quartet specialising in the jazz manouche style pioneered by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli of the Hot Club de France in 1930-40's. The group was formed in 2005 by Manchester's leading exponent of the manouche guitar style Jamie Wallace and fellow guitarist Matthew Whitaker, singer and songwriter for much loved Manchester based group Whiskeycats. Now augmented to a four piece with the addition of Frank Grime on bass and Graham Clark on violin, the group have set themselves apart from the typical gypsy jazz combos through their unique approach to repertoire. Alongside classic choices from the gypsy jazz genre sit clever re-workings of modern day pop songs. Expect anything from Britney Spears to Radiohead! Their performances can conjure the mellow atmosphere of a parisian cafe or capture the hedonistic mood of a foot-stomping camp fire jam session, all delivered with virtuosity and a real sense of swing. About Mix-Up: Mix-Up is a monthly night hosted by The Magic Hat Ensemble, 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 measly fiver. 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 when on our Mix-Up Blog http://www.magichatmixup.blogspot.com/ which will be regularly updated as new information comes in. Please, please show your support for the night by joining our Mix-Up Facebook group. http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-Hat-Ensemble-presents-Mix-Up/177181375690177 It will be great to see some familiar faces and hopefully some unfamiliar ones on the night!

MIX-UP 01.12.11: MATTHEW HALSALL - SPARROW COLLECTIVE - JASON SINGH

Matthew Halsall

Needing little introduction, Manchester based, DJ, bandleader and trumpeter Matthew Halsall has undoubtedly become the UK’s leading figure in spiritual and modal jazz music in recent years. Taking influence from his love of the transcendental, Alice and John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, as well as the glories of '60s British jazz. His albums 'Sending My Love', 'Colour Yes' and 'On The Go' have won him a legion of fans across the world and acclaim from the likes of Gilles Peterson, Jamie Cullum, Mr Scruff, Radio 3's Late Junction, MOJO, BBC Music Magazine and even BBC 6 Music.

With an ever growing fanbase and list of accolades as long as your arm, including a MOBO Award nomination, Mix-Up is happy to welcome Matthew as he debuts brand new material from this new project.

"If I could watch any jazz band in the UK, any, I would choose Matthew Halsall's band, just love what he's been doing for the last few years... It's always high level, spiritual jazz music" - Gilles Peterson Worldwide on BBC Radio 1

Sparrow Collective

sparrow |ˈsparō|
noun
1 a small finchlike Old World bird related to the weaverbirds, typically with brown and gray plumage.
• Family Passeridae (or Ploceidae): four genera, in particular Passer, and many species, e.g., the cosmopolitan house sparrow ( P. domesticus).

sparrow collective |ˈsparō kəˈlektiv|
noun
1. a group of songwriters, principally from the british isles
• in a climate that favours species from overseas, particularly those with exotic plumage, the collective was set up to widen the public interest in & to celebrate english songwriting.

With one wing in the candle flame and the other sweeping the sky, tonight's featured songwriters are Kirsty Mcgee and Quiet Loner.

Jason Singh

Jason Singh is a multi-disciplinary artist who creates and facilitates work through the mediums of sound, music, photography, poetry and moving image.

As well as having a solo career as a Human Beatboxer/Vocal Sculptor he also works with organisations to further develop Beatboxing/Vocal Sculpting as an art form of free expression, some of these include the PRSF, National Portrait Gallery, BFI, Tunbridge Wells Museum, Virasat Foundation, Rajasthan International Folk Festival, Jaipur Literature Festival, Royal Albert Hall, V&A Museum, Sampler Culture Clash, Glastonbury Festival, The Sage Gateshead, Sing Up, BBC, Aldeburgh Music/Snape Maltings Concert Hall and Whitworth Art Gallery to name but a few.

Being a keen musical collaborator he has performed alongside musician and composer Nitin Sawhney. Jason has worked with Sawhney on a number of music festivals, club nights and also features on his album "Philtre". His past and present musical collaborations also include Susheela Raman, Soumik Datta, Seb Rochford (Polar Bear/Acoustic Ladyland), The Safires, Shivamani, Matthew Halsall, Marco Fadda, and Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra).

The 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.