through the noise announces over 50 new noisenights for Autumn 2024 season

Highlights include:

• 52 new noisenights across 22 towns and cities announced today, reaching up to 30,000 people across the UK and Europe

• Guest soloists include Mariam Batsashvili, Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Alan Keary, Seckou Keita, Anastasia Kobekina, Pavel Kolesnikov and Natalie Tenenbaum

• Ensembles include Idrîsî Ensemble, Seckou Keita Homeland Band, Sidiki Dembele Ensemble and Tangram Sound

• First noisenights in Southampton, Lincoln, Oxford, Norwich, Cambridge and Aberdeen

through the noise presents informal crowdfunded classical gigs to local communities across the UK and beyond. Founded just over three years ago by Jack Bazalgette and Jack Crozier, the company has swiftly evolved into a transformative cultural force dedicated to making its shows accessible and vibrant, fostering meaningful local relationships with venues that are not traditionally associated with classical music and showcasing artists who rarely perform in the UK.

Today, they unveil plans for 52 new noisenights, featuring acclaimed international classical soloists performing in nightclubs and grassroots venues across 22 UK and European cities. The Autumn lineup includes 6 extensive tours and 5 exclusive solo dates, spanning from 4 September to 7 December 2024.

 This Autumn’s newly announced line-up includes a home-coming tour with Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, featuring two shows at London nightclub KOKO and a performance at Nottingham’s famous 2000 capacity stadium, Rock City; two tours showcasing the traditional music of West African with acclaimed musicians Sidiki Dembélé and Seckou Keita; a journey into the UNESCO-protected polyphonic sounds of the mediaeval Mediterranean with Idrîsî Ensemble; and a spotlight on pianists, including Mariam Batsashvili, Natalie Tenenbaum, and Pavel Kolesnikov.

Artists making their noisenight debut are Mariam Batsashvili, Natalie Tenenbaum, Anastasia Kobekina, Idrîsî Ensemble, and Tangram Sound. Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason also make their first appearance as a duo.

Venues hosting their very first noisenight, with many of them marking their debut classical gig, are: Papillon, Southampton; Islington Assembly Hall, Stoke Newington Old Church and Village Underground,  London; Southside, Lincoln; The Bullingdon, Oxford; Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich; OGV Podium, Glasgow;  Cambridge Junction and The Portland Arms, Cambridge; The Caves, Edinburgh; The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen; The Foundry, FØRGE, and Peddler Warehouse, Sheffield; Rock City, Nottingham; Bodies in Space and C12, Brussels; SWX, Bristol.

through the noise Artistic Director, Jack Bazalgette commented: “We’ve pulled out all the stops for this season, which will see us host a selection of the world’s greatest soloists and ensembles across a very busy three months later this year. We’re always trying to find ways to give new and diverse audiences access to the magical world of global classical music and this release does just that, with tickets for all our gigs starting at £15 and averaging at only £21. We’re particularly excited to be heading to six new cities and to meet new communities as far apart as Southampton and Aberdeen. There truly is something for everyone in this programme, from Bach and contemporary classical music with Anastasia Kobekina, to the sound of medieval Corsican choirs and polyrhythmic Senegalese grooves. We hope you find something for you. See you on the road!”

Sidiki Dembélé Ensemble (4 – 19 September)

Djembe and ngoni virtuoso Sidiki Dembélé celebrates the music of his homeland with a set ranging from musical prayers to traditional dances. Originally from Côte d’Ivoire and hailing from a well-known Malian Griot family, this performance will see Sidiki collaborate with top musicians from Senegal and beyond. Singer Mariatou Dembélé joins the ensemble specially from Abidjan to lead the show, after her guest appearance at Sidiki’s sold-out performance at The Jazz Café earlier this year. The tour will include Papillon, Southampton (4 September); Islington Assembly Hall, London (5 September); Faith in Strangers, Margate (7 September); Concorde 2, Brighton (12 September); New Morning, Paris (13 September); The White Hotel, Salford (15 September); The Leadmill, Sheffield (17 September); Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (18 September); and Southside, Lincoln (19 September).

Seckou Keita (10 – 20 September)

Seckou Keita is a renowned Kora virtuoso who stands as a luminary amongst African traditional musicians. Hailing from Southern Senegal, he has been dubbed as ‘the Hendrix of the Kora’ due to his innovative approach and exceptional skill. As a member of a Griot family, Seckou is a hereditary musician and master of his art. He is one of the leaders of the newest generation of traditional African musicians, fusing ancient forms and instruments with those of other cultures. Performances include The Bullingdon, Oxford (10 September); Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich (11 September); La Belle Angele, Edinburgh (12 September); OGV Podium, Glasgow (13 September); The Globe, Cardiff (18 September); New Morning, Paris (19 September); and Cambridge Junction J2, Cambridge (20 September).

Mariam Batsashvili (24 September)

Award-winning Georgian pianist and BBC New Generation Artist Mariam Batsashvili brings her unique playing to a solo show at Leeds’ Belgrave Music Hall on 24 September. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Mariam won the 10th Franz Liszt Piano Competition in Utrecht in 2014, was a ‘Rising Star’ of the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) and a BBC Young Generation Artist between 2017-19. After adjudicating this year’s Leeds International Piano competition, Mariam will perform a solo programme for this show – her final solo performance in the UK this year.

Natalie Tenenbaum (24 September)

Following sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall and on Broadway, composer, pianist, music producer/director and singer-songwriter Natalie Tenenbaum presents her genre-defying show at OSLO Hackney in London on 24 September. In a show the breaks the boundaries between classical composition, popular storytelling and improvisational jazz, Natalie will present her own compositions alongside re-imaginings of Igor Stravinsky, Chopin, and J.S. Bach.

Alan Keary + Dudu Kouate + Seb Rochford (30 September – 2 October)

Multi-instrumentalist Shunya (aka Alan Keary) is joined by iconic drummer Seb Rochford and Senegalese percussionist Dudu Kouate for an improvised show, touring to nearly 20 venues across the UK and Europe. Shunya, Seb and Dudu are all solo artists in their own right. When Shunya isn’t playing around the world with genre-defying cellist/singer Abel Selaocoe, he’s crafting his own sound using distorted violins and drum machines. When Seb Rochford isn’t collaborating with Brian Eno you’ll find him on stage doing experimental solo drum sets. When Dudu Kouate isn’t shredding with legendary free jazz group Art Ensemble Of Chicago he’s likely at home inventing new instruments that sound like alien birds. The show will encompass all three musicians’ individuality – glueing it together via improvisation and on the spot re-imaginings of each artists’ pre-existing songs. Expect unhinged electronics, free jazz, meditative sound-worlds, contemporary classical compositions, and West African grooves. Performances include New Morning, Paris (30 September);  Bodies in Space, Brussels (1 October); Norwich Arts Centre, Norwich (3 October); Village Underground, London; Concorde 2, Brighton (6 October); Future Yard, Birkenhead (7 October); The Bullingdon, Oxford (8 October); The Cluny, Newcastle (9 October); The Caves, Edinburgh (10 October); The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen (11 October); Strange Brew, Bristol (13 October); Rescue Rooms, Nottingham (14 October); The Portland Arms, Cambridge (15 October); Sidney & Matilda, Sheffield (16 October); Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds (17 October); Hare & Hounds, Birmingham (19 October); and The White Hotel, Salford (20 October).

Anastasia Kobekina (8 October)

Anastasia Kobekina brings her original compositions, new music and selections from Bach’s cello suites to OSLO Hackney in London on 8 October. Anastasia will make her noisenights debut on a 1698 Stradivarius cello, featuring music for cello and voice written by a selection of her favourite composers alongside original compositions. In the past few years Anastasia has risen to international stardom after acclaimed performances with the great orchestras of the world including the Tonhalle Zurich, the Czech Philharmonic and the National Orchestra d’lle de France.

Idrîsî Ensemble (17 October)

Idrîsî Ensemble offer a rare opportunity to dive into the UNESCO-protected polyphonic sounds of the mediaeval Mediterranean at Stoke Newington Old Church in London on 17 October. The collective of folk, jazz, classical and soul singers are inspired by groundbreaking research into the music of Corsica, Sardinia, Greece and Rome and have received widespread praise for their impassioned live performances which focus on the music of the trobairitz – female poets and musicians of 13th-Century Occitania.

Pavel Kolesnikov (16 October)  

Pavel Kolesnikov reprises his unique interpretation of Bach’s Goldberg Variations after 5-star reviews from The Guardian, The Arts Desk and The Telegraph. Pavel has been heralded for his ‘intensely personal interpretation, often daring in their originality (Critics’ Circle) and imaginative and thought-provoking programming which offers the listener a fresh, often unexpected perspective on familiar pieces. Performances include FØRGE, Sheffield (16 October) and further dates to be announced.

Tangram Sound (7 November)

Trailblazing music collective Tangram present Nature Echo in collaboration with performance artist Echo Morgan. Combining visual design with music for ice blocks, plastic bags and Chinese and Western instruments, they will take audiences on a journey navigating the fragile and destructive relationship between humans and our environment. Tangram's performances have been described as "truly innovative" (2023 RPS Award nomination) and "highly imaginative [with] truly limitless virtuosity​" (I CARE IF YOU LISTEN). Venue to be announced.

Seckou Keita: Homeland (2 – 21 November)

“Master of the Kora” (The Guardian) Seckou Keita presents his groundbreaking Homeland project for the first time, bringing together seven of West Africa’s greatest living performers for a show filled with new reworkings of ancient traditions and culture. Seckou is on a mission to explore what it means to be a modern global citizen while living with seven centuries of musical heritage between his fingers, and this new show will range from original compositions and poetry to sacred prayers and raucous dance. Performances include The Foundry, Sheffield (2 November); KOKO, London (3 November); SWX, Bristol (12 November); and C12, Brussels (21 November).

Sheku and Isata (26 November – 3 December)

Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason return to noisenights for a unique tour of music for piano and cello. Taking classical music to some of the nation’s most iconic gig venues for the first time, expect to hear a selection of newly commissioned works, well-loved music, and original arrangements by Sheku and Isata themselves. The tour includes a special home-coming show at Nottingham’s 2000 capacity stadium, Rock City, as well as an educational programme that will see Isata and Sheku present local school’s workshops alongside their public shows.  Performances include Stylus, Leeds (26 November);Hangar 34, Liverpool (28 November); Peddler Warehouse, Sheffield (29 November); KOKO, London (1 December); Boiler Shop, Newcastle (2 December); and Rock City, Nottingham (3 December).

Rosie Bennet (24 November)

Rosie Bennet is making waves in the classical guitar world for her unique career which has seen her give 60 concerts across the El Camino De Santiago, work with Brian May, and give concerts at Wigmore Hall. Rosie started out at the Yehudi Menuhin School on a scholarship funded by the Rolling Stones, but is now recognised as an unique voice in the international guitar world, performing at festivals worldwide and hosting her genre-crossing Fret Not podcast. This will be Rosie’s noisenights debut, and will feature the music by Paco de Lucia, Albeniz, Tedesco and more on the stage of OSLO Hackney (24 November)..