Courtesy of Asta Magg.
With any musical movement, it takes a community of dedicated musicians to make it thrive. We may hear of particular iconic figures who transcend the form no doubt, but there are technicians and bands of musicians who push genres forward and really help to establish the rhythmic sounds that we grow to love. Celebrating five decades in the music industry, having started life in one of the world’s most influential musical cities – Chicago, legendary musician, writer and publisher LT Beauchamp has really helped to shape the jazz genre, having contributed heavily to Art Ensemble of Chicago’s Certain Blacks’ album in 1970 amongst other feats, and having received the 2016 Reykjavik Blues Society Honorary Membership Award. Performing a musical set with a Q&A segment and other surprises on Friday 17th February as part of cultural organisation, Certain Blacks’ Heroes Festival to be staged at Rich Mix, LT Beauchamp tells us more about what to expect from this very exciting, one off event.
With awards’ season well and truly underway, we’re yet again introduced to an array of mainstream and independent works deserving of acknowledgement for the effort put in both onscreen and behind the scenes. Marking Floodlight Pictures – Ross White and Tom Berkeley’s second collaboration (the first, Roy, seeing them make the shortlist of the 75th BAFTA Awards), An Irish Goodbye sees them contend for a spot on the final nominee list of the 95th Academy Awards, due to take place on Sunday 12th March, with the final shortlist drawn up on Tuesday 24th January. Ahead of the final nominee announcement, Ross and Tom tell us more about their heartwarming film – an exploration of estranged brothers Lorcan and Turlough who are forced to reunite following the death of their mother. Lorcan, who has Down Syndrome is left in Turlough’s care, but will only agree to leave the family farm once they have completed every single wish on their mother’s unfulfilled bucket list.
With awards’ season well and truly underway, we’re yet again introduced to an array of mainstream and independent works deserving of acknowledgement for the effort put in both onscreen and behind the scenes. Having won gold at the Student Academy Awards for his short film Almost Home, director Nils Keller returns to contend for the main prize in the ‘Live Action Short Film’ category this year, on Sunday 12th March, with the final nomination list revealed on Tuesday 24th January. A coming of age sci-fi film that shares a story of a teenager who beats the odds, however faces a dangerous destiny, Almost Home is a worthy contender. Ahead of this year’s ceremony, Nils tells us more about exploring the film’s narrative further, working with the cast and creative team to realise the filmic vision and what it means to be acknowledged by the Academy!
Founded a decade ago in 2012 to platform the work of marginalised artists, performance venue Ugly Duck, located in Bermondsey – South East London, has been at the forefront of working with performance artists who are not afraid of exploring lesser talked about themes. Their @Disturbance Festival, now in its 4th year specifically created to showcase LGBTQ+ artists and stories. Set to show Simple Relations No.4, a performance made for camera that queers the use of everyday objects to explore the complexities of living in a gender fluid body in the Southern United States as part of Ugly Duck’s 10th year anniversary on the 10th, 11th and 12th of November, video artist Sandrine Schaefer tells us what inspired them to explore the show’s themes further, how they’ve approached creating the filmed performance and what can be expected!
