Moving on Music Festival 21-27 March 2011
6 February 2012
www.culturenorthernireland.org - official online media partner of Moving on Music Festival 2011
Belfast is set to come alive with the sound of all kinds of music from 21st-27th March, when the Moving on Music festival returns to the city for its fourth year. Across seven action-packed days, in a wide range of venues, the 2011 instalment of this annual festival will showcase everything from folk, to funk, to film, with lots more in between!
Since its establishment in 1995, Moving on Music has grown to become one of the leading promoters of electronic, jazz, folk, traditional, classical and world music in Northern Ireland. The organisation is dedicated to ideals of innovation and originality and is committed to championing new developments in music. Through its annual festival, Moving on Music gives a stage to some of the best local and international artists making music today and provides unique opportunities for audiences from Belfast and beyond, to experience music that they may not often get the chance to hear.
The Moving on Music festival has expanded significantly since its inaugural offering in 2008. This year’s event is no exception, with Moving on Music joining forces with QFT for the first time, to screen a series of innovative films, including ‘Genius Within: The Inner Life of Geoff Gould’, (21st and 22nd March) ‘Pianomania’ (23rd March) and 'Tom Zé: Liberated Astronaut' (24th March).
The live music on offer at the 2011 Moving on Music festival kicks off on Tuesday 22nd March at Sandy Row Community Centre with a very special event involving young people from the Sandy Row area of Belfast, who will perform new songs and pieces of music that they have created. A CD featuring these New Songs From Sandy Row will also be launched at this event.
This event is the culmination of a project that has been running since November 2010 and has seen groups of 8-18 year olds link up with professional musicians to learn more about areas such as performance, song-writing, percussion and guitar. This project is supported by Belfast City Council’s Development and Outreach Initiative and is presented in association with Sandy Row Community Forum, Sandy Row Residents Association and Charter Youth Club.
An enchanting evening follows on Wednesday 23rd March at the Black Box, when Glasgow-based musician Alasdair Roberts takes to the stage. Alasdair is a singer, guitarist, and interpreter of traditional songs and writer of new songs. He has worked with a wide variety of collaborators from many different musical and artistic backgrounds and has been involved in a diverse range of events, such as BBC Electric Proms in 2007 and a Hal Wilner curated tribute to Neil Young in 2010. Alasdair Roberts will be supported by County Armagh multi-instrumentalist and song-writer Barry Kerr, who is a well known face on Belfast’s traditional music scene.
Throughout the year, Moving on Music works closely with staff and students at Queen’s University School of Music and Sonic Arts. Therefore, it is very fitting that this year’s Moving on Music festival will feature a free lunchtime event on Thursday 24th March, that will showcase new works by PhD composers from the School. This event will take place at the space age Sonic Arts Research Centre at 1.10pm (patrons are advised to arrive early to secure a seat).
Audiences will be spoilt for choice on the evening of Thursday 24th March, as legendary musician Skip ‘Little Axe’ McDonald brings his sensational show to the Black Box whilst Belfast-born violinist Darragh Morgan, will be appearing at the Harty Room with his fantastic Fidelio Trio.
Skip ‘Little Axe’ McDonald has worked with musicians as diverse as Grandmaster Flash, Robert Plant and Megadeath. He made his name as an integral part of the Sugar Hill house band, playing on many influential early rap classics. ‘Little Axe’ is Skip’s return to the blues he grew up with. The sound is raw, stripped down and intense. Skip will be accompanied by virtuoso blues harmonica player Alan Glen, who has performed with The Yardbirds. Support comes from Belfast-based musician Isobel Anderson.
Classical music act Fidelio Trio, features Belfast-born violinist Darragh Morgan, Cork-born pianist Mary Dullea and cellist Robin Michael. The trio are skilled interpreters of new music, but are also at home with classical, romantic repertoire. This show will feature works by Ravel, Korngold and two new commissions by Northern Ireland composers, Philip Hammond and Stephen Gardner. These new commissions have been supported by the National Lottery, through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
Virtuoso Brazilian performer Joyce makes a rare Irish appearance at the Black Box on Friday 25th March. This singer, composer and guitarist is one of the great musical treasures of Brazil. Her sound combines Brazilian rhythms, jazz harmonies and intelligent lyrics through a wonderfully expressive voice.
Two energetic shows featuring the Ross Ainslie/Jarlath Henderson Trio will take place at Spectrum Centre (Shankill Road) on Friday 25th March and An Droichead (Cooke Street, off Ormeau Road) on Saturday 26th March. Ross Ainslie (Scottish, bagpipes, whistles) and Jarlath Henderson (uilleann pipes, whistles) first started playing together in 2003 and Armagh’s William Kennedy Piping Festival and have since joined forces to create a pipe sound that pushes the boundaries of what both Irish and Scottish instruments can achieve together.
Enigmatic Berlin duo Hype Williams will appear at the Black Box, Belfast on Saturday 26th March. The pair’s live shows are often mysterious propositions that blur the lines between music, media and art! Hype Williams will be joined by Belfast acts Not Squares and Third Man Theme.
The Moving on Music fittingly festival concludes on Sunday evening with one of the most popular duos on the vibrant English folk scene - Spiers & Boden who promise to get everyone up dancing with their unique blend of high-octane tunes and traditional song – with a contemporary twist!
The Moving On Music Festival 2011 is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Department of Social Development, Belfast City Council and PRS Foundation For New Music.