Usurp Chance Tour

Usurp Art presents two dynamic, ensemble performances, exploring perceptual concepts of chance, time, listening and humour, and the breadth and parameters of improvisational approaches in new music.

“Indeterminacy” was originally recorded in 1959, with John Cage reading aloud 90 stories, each lasting one minute. For this performance, Stewart Leeassumes Cage’s role accompanied by contemporary pianists, Tania Chen andSteve Beresford improvising on pianos and objects. “Humour and existentialist melancholy co-exist, perching on a knife-edge.” Gramophone.

“The Conspirators of Pleasure” featuring Poulomi Desai (augmented sitar),Simon Underwood (modified, toys + electronics) and Seth Ayyaz ( daaf + electronics), create improvised soundscapes, twisting technology and transforming organic sounds into eerie calls with intense waves of noise, pulsating rhythms and melancholic, lyrical interplay.

The performances draw upon contemporary narratives of, the role of the performer as composer; control, response and liberation in shared music-making, and, extricate the sonic and political potency of instruments, subaltern identities and recycled objects. For the Derby and London performances, The Conspirators of Pleasure will be joined by VJ, Reynir Hutber with live, sound-triggered visuals created by Reynir and Poulomi. Produced by Usurp Art Gallery in partnership with Sound and Music. Programmed by Poulomi Desai.

Tour Dates & Venues

15th March – 8.30pm
Format Festival – Quad
The Chocolate Factory, Derby
£10.00
£8 when entering code Soundandmusic
01332 290606
www.derbyquad.co.uk

18th March  –  7.30pm
Ikon Gallery & Birmingham Contemporary Music Group
CBSO Centre, Birmingham
£8.00 / £6.00 concs
£6 when entering code SamplerUsurp
0121 345 0491
www.bcmg.org.uk

22nd March-8pm
The Cube, Bristol
Sorry Sold Out
0117 907 4190
www.cubecinema.com

25th March  –  8pm
Komedia Brighton
£10.00 advance / £12.00 at door
£8 when entering code 20%usurp
0845 293 8480

28th March-8pm
Rodewald Suite
Liverpool Philharmonic
Sorry Sold Out
0151 709 3789
www.liverpoolphil.com

26th April  –  8pm
Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich
£12.00 / £10.00 concs
01603 660352
www.norwichartscentre.co.uk

8th May  –  8pm
Rich Mix, London
£8 / £6 concs
020 7613 7498
www.richmix.org.uk