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Joining Khyam Allami are two of the most inventive and talented Arabic musicians; Palestinian composer and vocalist Tamer Abu Ghazaleh and Egyptian electronica musician Maurice Louca, alongside a band of musicians from both traditional and contemporary Arabic music disciplines, including Ayman Mabrouk (Egypt) on Percussion, Khaled Yassine (Lebanon) on Percussion, Khaled Omran (Syria) on Bass and Yarob Smarait (Jordan) on Violin.

“[Khyam Allami] epitomises the best of the new generation of oud players whose roots lie in the Eastern tradition but who also judiciously draw on a wider range of contemporary influences… his compositions are utterly bewitching.”
5/5 – Songlines – Top of the World

http://www.alifensemble.com/

 

Simon Fox is an acoustic meddler, with work ranging from traditional folk songs to more challenging sonic experiments. his songs, performed under various fox monikers, show a more personal, reflective side, with deceptively rich arrangements, a disarming wit and a flair for creating intimate moods. recordings feature simon playing a wide variety of instruments, including guitars, banjo, percussion, keyboards, theremin, mandolin, even occasional brass and woodwind.

http://www.worldoffox.com/

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Autumn Almanac is a four-day celebration of Birmingham’s creative life showcasing the city’s artists, filmmakers and musicians. Ikon’s gallery spaces will exclusively exhibit works created in Birmingham, also hosting some of our best- known music festivals and organisations in a programme of live performances.

 

 At the heart of Capsule’s activity is the support of Birmingham based talent, and for this exciting event at IKON we will present works from the artist Andrew Moscardo-Parker and the ensemble Ore.

Andrew Moscardo-Parker performs as Lash Frenzy. Central to his sound work is a rejection of narrative and a focus upon the present, the ‘now’. At Supersonic Festival 2011 Andrew collaborated with German artist Christian Jendreiko to create the 24 hour performance Velzuvial, where artists were invited to improvise and collaborate over a 24 hour period. His work as Lash Frency explores the action of playing, turning performances into immersive, participatory events. For this performance, Andrew will be paying tribute to Birmingham musical history, as the piece will work around the first 3 notes of the song ‘Black Sabbath’. These particular 3 notes are called Tritones and were known in Medieval times as the ‘Devil’s Intervals’.

Ore are a drone doom tuba group. The Sound of Ore can be heard where classical, experimental and metal musics engage. The material is rare; a synthesis of musical elements. Ore forge the power and depth of brass with the care of craftsmen. It is the sound of Birmingham: its industrial heritage, metal-working origins and creative innovation.

 

Interview with Sam Underwood about the Ore project here – http://www.supersonicfestival.com

 

For the full Autumn Almanac programme, which includes a night of film hosted by 7 inch cinema and music from the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group go here http://www.ikon-gallery.co.uk