Events

Matthew Herbert, a unique figure in modern music, will headline a major concert at the Barbican Centre in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the British Council on Monday 26 October 2009.

The first half of the evening will feature three exciting international encounters especially created for this event:
Guillemots vs Penguins – avant-indie band Guillemots working with ArthurJeffes of Music from the Penguin Café.
Karine Polwart and Ruba Saqr – Scottish vocalist Karine Polwart meets Jordanian singer Rub Saqr.
Justin Adams – a new collaboration to be announced.

The second half of the evening will feature the Matthew Herbert Big Band, and community choir with singer Eska Mtungwazi, in a performance specially created for the celebration.

Matthew Herbert is an alchemist of avant-garde sound in the tradition stretching from Stockhausen to Aphex Twin. He combines a playful pop sensibility with a strictly imposed experimental agenda, sampling sounds including anything from breaking glass, crumpled crisp packets, washing machines, toasters and toothbrushes, set alongside live music. He has remixed and collaborated with artists including Antony Hegarty, R.E.M., Serge Gainsbourg, Yoko Ono, John Cale, Björk, most recently producing the 2009 Mercury Music Prize nominated band, The Invisible. He is currently writing the music for a revival of the Horvath play Judgement Day at the Almeida.

The British Council’s Music Department is internationally renowned for its work with musicians from the UK and internationally. Cathy Graham, Head of Music, The British Council, said: “This is a rare opportunity for us to share with UK audiences the diversity of the work the British Council engages in, and the story of the power of music to communicate and inspire across boundaries. In marking the 75th birthday year of the British Council, we would like to thank the artists from around the globe with whom we have worked for the last 75 years and commit with renewed energy to the next 75.”

The event is produced by Serious www.serious.org.uk