Soundwaves Festival 2008
Brighton & Hove 13 - 29 June
Soundwaves Festival had a very successful first outing with fantastic concerts by some of today's most exciting performers, composers and improvisers. Read on to get a taste of what happened in 2007.
The festival kicked off with Alexander's Annexe who, with their innovative mix of instrumental performance, electronics and sound artistry, throw off the shackles of genre. The exciting vocal ensemble EXAUDI presented an explosive evening of music for three sopranos and cello. Fat Battery visted from Norway to delight with their experimental improvisations, and Peter Sheppard Skærved and Aaron Shorr performed music for violin and piano by Turkish and British composers. The Kürbis Ensemble celebrated Howard Skempton's 60th birthday, playing his music alongside works by Morton Feldman and Cornelius Cardew, and the Fidelio Trio gave the UK premiere of South African Kevin Volans' Piano Trio alongside works by Ravel, Joe Cutler and Rolf Hind.
There were more than a dozen world or UK premieres, including the world premiere of Martha Gunn by Michael Finnissy which was performed on the seafront in beach huts.
The popular Sussex group Talkestra presented a programme of music influenced by rock and other contemporary genres. Other local involvement includeed composers' collective New Music Brighton who teamed up with Brake Drum Assembly percussion quartet; the University of Sussex 21st Century Music Ensemble; the Ben Oliver Quartet; students from Boundstone Community College in Lancing in a concert featuring the international ensemble, Lontano, and the improvisation group IN SAND and other members of the Safehouse collective. Amateur musicians took part in an open mic night and an Allcomers Day.
This was a very exciting start to the festival and we will be bringing you another great programme of events in 2008.
