Nurse With Wound, Factory Floor, and Junun, among latest acts for Convergence

Convergence 2016

Thursday 10th to Sunday 20th March 2016
various venues, Shoreditch, East London, EC2A 3PQ, England MAP
varies depending upon event

Last updated: Wed 27th Jan 2016

Nurse With Wound, Factory Floor, Junun ft. Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood & the Rajasthan Express, Dan Deacon, Anna von Hausswolff, Colin Stetson, Shit Robot, Karen Gwyer, and Kara-Lis Coverdale & Simbiosi are the latest acts confirmed for the 2nd Convergence - a series of events focusing on innovative musicians using technology in a pioneering way, and brings together an array of musicians, artists, educators and technologists from Thursday 10th to Sunday 20th March 2016 at various venues across East London, at venues including Village Underground and St John-at-Hackney Church.

They join the previously announced of Montreal, Lamb, The Gaslamp Killer, !!!, Omar Souleyman, Clap! Clap!, Simbiosi, Larry Gus, KUTMAH, The Herbaliser’s Night of Future-Funk featuring Rodney P, and The Correspondents.

In 2016, Convergence takes its first step as a producer of bespoke concerts. Pieces of a Man: The Gil Scott-Heron Project is a celebration of the life and legacy of the legendary American soul and jazz poet, musician, and author, through a day of talks, screenings and performances. The day culminates in a live performance featuring guest vocalists Jamie Woon, Kwabs, Loyle Carner, Gwilym Gold, and Nadine Shah, and a house band that will comprise of leading artists in contemporary music and electronica - more names to be announced soon.

Speaking about the live show, Musical Director Dave Okumu said, "I feel incredibly excited and honoured to have been asked to take part in celebrating and reflecting on the work of Gil Scott-Heron. To me, he was and remains a deeply empathetic, visionary artist who wasn't afraid of converting personal or political conversations into a mass cultural form. Musically, I've been meditating on the idea that he was part of a wider oral tradition and that his contribution helped birth a whole new genre of music. Without Gil Scott-Heron, hip hop would not be what it is today. I'm interested in exploring ways of recontextualizing his songs and poetry in a musical landscape that may not have come into existence without him. I'll draw on the rich heritage of hip hop, funk, blues, soul, jazz and electronica, as well as finding inspiration in what is happening in music today."

Glenn Max, Festival Director said, "While there is no single theme to this year’s array of installations, talks, and concerts, a recurring idea is the re-materialisation of culture beyond its digital vaporisation. Technology provides all of the instruments for innovation but -- for it to mean something to our human culture -- we need the disruptive ingenuity and emotional investment of artists."

"Technology wants us to be clean, carefully quantised and perfectly composed, but it is when artists break the rules that we are compelled and delighted. We want our relationship with music and art to be messy, tangled and sprawling. Convergence is a many-headed beast led by heroic innovators, fiery personalities and evocative voices that are masters, rather than slaves, to the algorithm."

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Ticket prices vary depending upon event.

Convergence will also hold Convergence Sessions - a series of discussions and workshops taking place at Kachette in Old Street, the daytime sessions will explore two main themes: Future of music industry and audio production and *Innovation in multimedia, digital art, and live music visuals.

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