Drone Ensemble set up in Studio 1.17 for rehearsals

In preparation for the next Drone Ensemble performance on Saturday 18th August (details to follow shortly), we have moved the majority of the new instruments into Studio 1.17, where they will remain until the performance. This will allow us to be able to go straight into playing during our rehearsals as opposed to spending a large portion of time moving and setting up the instruments.

We had a great experimental session and found that, due to the acoustics in the space, it is extremely easy for the space to be filled with sound. We have therefore decided to minimise the number of instruments that are played at once so that we can hear the subtleties of each.

Next Drone Ensemble performance - UnEARTH at Alphabetti Theatre on Friday 29th July, 7-11pm

The Drone Ensemble are delighted to have been invited by (The Occasion Collective - TOC) to perform at UnEARTH, an evening of experimental and electronic music at Alphabetti Theatre on Friday 29th July.



"UnEarth will showcase some of Newcastle's most interesting experimental and electronic musicians. From artists pushing the boundaries of live coding, improvisation and a number of creators building their own instruments, UnEarth is sure to be a highlight of the summer. Expect to experience the power of the acoustic drone and get your grove on to some seriously dancey vibes."



For more information please visit

https://www.facebook.com/events/1256973927675640/

We are not yet sure what the setup will be, nor the duration of our set, but as we will have a limited number of drone performers (folk are on holiday) we are thinking of keeping it relatively simple, with a much smaller range of instruments. We met up to prepare the instruments and have a rehearsal. It was sounding great!

More photos of setting up Circus Between Worlds

I was recently sent some additional photos taken by Mark Pinder from the Circus Between Worlds event. Here are a selection of images from the setting up of the Circus and rehearsals.

Neil and I consult the running order

Pardon?

Along with Deanna Smith and Sarah Grundy, and I was one of the performers in Deanna's performance.

Sarah, Dee and me cosy in Dee's costume

Three heads popping out of a black tent-like costume

Here we go!

Me and Dee waiting for our cue 

Charlie Dearnley kindly assisted me with my performance.

Where is it?

Charlie fills his bucket

Ooh! That's a good stretch!

If only this would stay on my head

Ready for action

In action

All images copyright of Mark Pinder, 2016

Project Title: Walker & Bromwich

’

s Circus between Worlds

Or: Circus between Worlds, a project by Zoe Walker and Neil

Bromwich

At: Glasgow International, Gi2016

Circus between Worlds, a project by Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich

At Glasgow International, Gi2016

Project Title: Walker & Bromwich

’

s Circus between Worlds

Or: Circus between Worlds, a project by Zoe Walker and Neil

Bromwich

At: Glasgow International, Gi2016

Project Title: Walker & Bromwich

’

s Circus between Worlds

Or: Circus between Worlds, a project by Zoe Walker and Neil

Bromwich

At: Glasgow International, Gi2016

A Bad Hand, Folding: A Live Rehearsal

A Bad Hand, Folding: A Live Rehearsal

Featuring versions by:
Faye Green & Beth Ramsay
Giles Bailey
Paul Becker & Francesco Pedraglio

Music by Dawn Bothwell.

Last night I went to the Culture Lab for A Bad Hand, Folding: A Live Rehearsal. I did not know what to expect, and the event was like nothing else I have ever experienced.

It was like sitting in on a practice session as the group tested out different ideas, sometimes stopping in the middle of some spoken word, other times waiting until the end of a section in order to have a chat about what was working/not working.

It made me question the role of the audience. We were not acknowledged, except at the start when they explained that this was not something that they had finished, and therefore that we should be patient with them. Were we there to give them an idea of what it would be like to have an audience? At times I wondered whether some of the performers were off-put by having an audience there, and them having to critique their own performance.

It was really interesting to spectate, what seemed to me to be a kind of critique session for a spoken word performance. As this is not my area of practice, I learned a lot about what they thought was not working within the performance, and different ways they could change and approach their work.

It would be fascinating to see the final outcome, and see how far it has moved on since the rehearsal.