This weekend, Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th April, a host of tQ-favourite artists will participate in the New Music Biennial 2022, happening in Coventry as part of its stint as the UK’s City of Culture. Paul Purgas, AFRODEUTSCHE, Keeley Forsyth, Coby Sey, Anna Meredith, Jennifer Walshe and Gazelle Twin are among the names involved in the event, which is being produced as a collaboration between the PRS Foundation and London’s Southbank Centre. All the events taking place this weekend in Coventry are free, and the festival moves to London between Friday 1st and Sunday 3rd July. The festival features ten brand new works selected from an open call and ten pre-existing New Music Biennial works.
There will be new work by Yazz Ahmed, Paul Purgas, AFRODEUTSCHE, Martin Green, Rakhi Singh / Vessel, Keeley Forsyth, Coby Sey, Roopa Panesar, Toby Young and Philip Herbert, with Anna Meredith, Brian Irvine and Jennifer Walshe, Daniel Elms, Errollyn Wallen, Philip Venables and David Hoyle Aidan O’Rourke and Kit Downes, Jason Yarde, Jessica Curry, Arlene Sierra and Gazelle Twin all playing existing pieces and music.
Artists were invited consider the troubled times we live in and “create a response – exploring the fantastical, imaginative and transformational shift music can affect in confronting these threats and challenges whilst bringing joy and excitement.”
We recommend looking out for Paul Purgas’ Tape Music commissioned by our friends at Supersonic Festival, It by Rakhi Singh, Vessel & NYX Electronic Drone Choir, Bog Body by Keeley Forsyth and Gazelle Twin’s The Power and the Glory. The New Music Show on BBC Radio 3 will broadcast all the works – check BBC Sounds for more info.
You can listen to playlists of artists related to this tenth anniversary of the New Music Biennal here and get free tickets for Coventry here and the London leg at the Southbank Centre here.
