After a year off thanks to you-know-what, it was great to kick off 2022 with our Battle of the Bands competition at MOTH Club. Congratulations to Rothko Collective for their winning set! Their dynamic performance featured Caroline Shaw’s Boris Kerner for cello and flower pots, which segued seamlessly into their original composition Origami. Special mention to runners-up Red Panel, who impressed with their captivating set of original works written by ensemble members Kieran Timbrell and Patrick Hegarty.
Other sets varied from dreamy string improv to bopping electronica from Balladeste, Friendly Boots, Joanne Chiang and East London Sound Ensemble.
We are incredibly grateful to our expert panel – Rebeca Omordia, Mira Calix, Alan Davey, Natalia Franklin Pierce and Gabriel Prokofiev – who had the immensely difficult job of choosing a champion. And finally, a huge thank you to PRS Foundation, PPL, Youth Music UK and Samuel Gardner Memorial Trust who made the night possible and enabled us to offer our performers professional fees.
Check out some highlights from the night below – all photos courtesy of Dimitri Djuric.
