The Raise Your Voice Ensemble perform new works from Manchester’s rich and varied offering of composers, mixing acoustic instruments and electronic sound, as part of the FutureEverything Festival Showcase. Come and experience challenging and original music in the relaxed atmosphere of Centro Bar in the Northern Quarter (next door to Matt & Phred’s). Followed later by chilled DJ sets from Al Sonar (of Hit&Run).

Line-up

• Passacaglie, for cello and electronics — Martin Suckling
• I Don’t Know What To Do With My Life, for clarinet and kick drum — Luke-Matthew Iveson
• The Golden Lion Hotel, for percussion and electronics — Chris Swithinbank
• Avian Riots, for ensemble — Tom Coult
• Richter VS Dragon, for ensemble and backing track — Steve Pycroft
• Aqueleyo-yo, for string quartet — José Guillermo Puello
• Dubsteps, for string quartet — John Davies

Venue

Centro Bar
74, Tib Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, M4 1LG, UK (View map)

More about the people involved

Tom Coult is a third year student at Manchester University, and will begin a Masters course next year. ‘The Candle’ is being performed on 16th May in York and 8th June at the RNCM. He has composed a score for a 2009 production of Sinbad at the Camden Roundhouse and music used in ‘Is This Love?’, a 2008 short film.

Luke-Matthew Iveson (b.1990, Manchester) currently studies at Birmingham Conservatoire, for a BMus in composition, under the tuition of Joe Cutler and many visiting tutors. His works have been performed by the CHROMA Ensemble, Sarah Leonard & Robin Michael, Rowland Sutherland and the East Midlands CoMA Ensemble. Luke enjoys working with theatre and external arts such as dance, arts and literature. His theatre piece Ophelia:the death of was awarded joint Second Prize and the Audience Prize in the 2009 Philip Bates Prize. The Nutritional Value of Dreams was recently workshopped by Louis Andriessen.

José Guillermo Puello is a Dominican composer currently doing a Masters in Composition at Manchester University under the supervision of Camden Reeves, having done his undergraduate degree in Music at The University of Birmingham. He is currently working on merging Latin-American rhythms with Western contemporary harmonies. On the 21st of May, 2010, Manchester Camerata will perform Cojuelo Spirit at the Bridgewater Hall.

Steve Pycroft is a freelance drummer, percussionist and composer living and working in Manchester. He graduated with a Masters in Composition from the University of Manchester in 2009, studying with Camden Reeves.

Al Sonar is one of the new breed of Manchester-based talent that has surfaced on the DJ scene. As resident for Hit&Run his “Deep” style of set has been instrumental in creating the warm vibe at the night. Originally from London, he moved to Manchester in 1999 and has run a host of different Drum and Bass events. Al has worked as a tour manager and sound engineer for Manchester based Ska-Punk band, Sonic Boom Six. This has seen him touring the majority of mainland Europe and working as a freelance sound engineer in the UK.

Martin Suckling writes music, plays the violin, recently moved to Manchester and consequently spends a lot of time on trains.  He is currently writing some songs for the London Sinfonietta.  These other folks have also played his music: LSO, BBC Scottish SO, DSO Berlin, Grimethorpe Colliery Band, RSC, Britten Sinfonia, Aronowitz Ensemble.

Chris Swithinbank is currently completing a Masters in Composition at the University of Manchester with the generous support of a Harry Clough Bursary. He works with both acoustic instruments and electronic sounds and has recently had works performed at New Music North West, MANTIS Festival and Wrexham Arts Festival. Upcoming premières include Wegen & Waldstille for Psappha and Mikrokonzert: I Swear I Saw the Sun Falling to be performed by Vaganza at York Spring Festival of New Music in May and at the RNCM in June.

Links

• FutureEverything Listing
• Last.fm
• MySpace
• Facebook
• Sound and Music

Composer Martin Suckling whose cello and electronics piece, Passacaglie, we are performing at our night on Friday 14 May gave an interview to Classic FM last week about his music and current projects, including Raise Your Voice. Listen to and download the interview here. He mentions Raise Your Voice right at the end, but have a listen to the whole thing and get a feel for one of the seven composers we’ll be showcasing in May.

We are delighted to be able to announce that our next event will take place as part of the FutureEverything Festival Showcase, 12–15 May 2010. For the past 15 years, FutureEverything (formerly Futuresonic) has curated an internationally renowned festival of art, music and ideas in Manchester. During the festival, the Showcase presents a programme of independently run music and art events across the city, promoting new and ground-breaking talent.

As part of the Showcase a limited number of events are awarded funding assessed by a jury of industry experts and we are honoured to be among this year’s recipients. The money will help us realise the event and also ensure that we can continue to develop in exciting directions. FutureEverything will also welcome us into their community of creative people, providing us with support and advice as we grow.

Following on from our successful launch last weekend this is great news, hopefully helping us sustain the quality and enthusiasm we aspire to.