7.30pm DOORS
8pm MUSIC
Programme
James McIlwrath
This piece isn’t about teeth – James McIlwrath
Bastard Assignments
Will – Edward Henderson
Chihiro Ono
HachiRen – Chihiro Ono
with works by J S Bach, George Antheil and Giacinto Scelsi
Bastard Assignments
FEED – Josh Spear
Searing strings, mind-bending noises and absurd theatricals come together – we’re bringing together some of our favourite experimental artists at IKLECTIK this autumn.
Kicking off the evening, performer-composer James McIlwrath returns from his victory at Battle of the Bands in early 2020. He’ll be performing his original work This piece isn’t about teeth; an eclectic and confrontational piece which precariously balances grotesque visuals, humour and discomfort.
Later in the evening, violinist and experimental sound artist Chihiro Ono will be performing a set of music for solo violin, intertwining early music with her own compositions and improvisations.
Experimental and theatrically absurd, Bastard Assignments are a composer-performer collective renowned for their high-energy and genre-bending performances. Following James’ set, they’ll perform Edward Henderson’s Will – a meditative instrumental work moving seamlessly between composed and improvised music. In stark contrast, the quartet will close the night with Josh Spear’s FEED, a theatrical work combining visuals, movement and lip-syncing, resulting in what the ensemble describes as a ‘high-octane werewolf piece’.
IKLECTIK
TICKETS £8 (CONCESSION*), £12 (ADVANCE), £15 (ON THE DOOR)
*concessions include students with valid NUS card, JSA, ESA and the over 60s.
Covid-19
The safety of our audience, artists and staff always comes first. We are constantly reviewing the situation regarding Covid-19 in line with government guidelines and will take extra measures to keep everybody safe where necessary. Click here for IKLECTIK's covid policy. Please send any queries to sophie@nonclassical.co.uk.
Accessibility
Wheelchair access IKLECTIK is accessible from 2 entrances: the back door has step free access and has direct access from the parking. The front door is accessible and is equipped with a mobile ramp. The front door is close to an accessible toilet (step free access). The front door is wide enough to comfortably accommodate a standard and non-standard wheelchair and there is sufficient space to move around, with a good sight line and no steps to navigate. The back door is wide enough to comfortably accommodate a standard wheelchair (70cm).
Accessible toilets The toilet is accessible from our front door. The door is wide enough to accommodate a standard and non-standard wheelchair with room for turning space, grab rails and transfer space.
Seating Our seatings are not fixed, so we can accommodate our guests according to different needs. We offer a variety of seating options that enable people to choose the most comfortable option for them. The design and plan of our events can be easily adapted and to ensure that all visitors can safely and easily move around.
Contact We encourage people with access requirements who want to attend to get in touch prior to the event sending an email to info@iklectikartlab.com and copying in sophie@nonclassical.co.uk to discuss how we can best support them on the day and their preference regarding the seating.
About the Artists
Bastard Assignmets
Bastard Assignments are Timothy Cape, Edward Henderson, Caitlin Rowley and Josh Spear, four composer-performers making work that explores experimental music and performativity. They work collaboratively and have developed a shared creative practice that encompasses concert music, movement work, online pieces, text and improvisation. Bastard Assignments organise performances in London and show work across the UK and internationally.
In 2020 they performed at the Royal Academy of Music in Oslo and then embarked on an exploratory body of work called Lockdown Jams. These were pieces made remotely over the internet both Bastard Assignments and a wide range of practitioners who they commissioned.
In 2019 they performed at the Aldeburgh Festival, Spor Festival, and Konsertserien Periferien in Oslo, alongside two showcase performances in London and multiple appearances on BBC Radio 3. 2018’s highlights included touring to the USA to work with Mocrep in Chicago. Bastard Assignments were a resident ensemble on Snape Maltings’ Open Space scheme from 2017-2019.
Previous years have seen Bastard Assignments perform at hcmf//, Royal Academy of Arts, LCMF, Weisslich, in Copenhagen and Århus with AUT, Frontiers Festival in Birmingham, Virtually Reality in Manchester and Nonclassical. Their performances at Southbank Centre and Wellcome Collection were broadcast live on BBC Radio 3’s Hear and Now programme.
Chihiro Ono
Born in Chiba, Japan, Chihiro Ono is a London-based Japanese violinist, specialising in classical, contemporary, experimental music and sound art. She has been performing at major festivals and venues across UK and the worldwide, with classical, contemporary and experimental groups including Apartment House, ARCO, CHROMA, Ensemble Modern.
Alongside performing, Chihiro’s work as a sound artist has let to her producing works for radio, theatre and film productions. Her work draws on influences from a rich variety repertoire, encompassing folklore, field recording, improvisation and more.
Her debut release HachiRen for solo violin with field-recording was released on Nonclassical earlier in 2021.
James McIlwrath
James McIlwrath is an experimental composer-performer based in Stirchley, Birmingham. He is a PhD student working with experimental theatre company Stan’s Cafe, having studied music at the University of York and experimental performance at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. James is the director of a m o k: an experimental music and performance platform based in York, and was selected as one of Sound and Music's composer-curators in 2019.
James have made music for people to sing on their bikes, music for people in boxes after a dream about boxes and an opera about a tin can. He won our Battle of the Bands contest in 2020 and has performed with fellow composer-performer Neil Luck live onstage at the BBC Proms. James is part of two music duos; flxnflx with Maya-Leigh Rosenwasser and egnairio with Raymond Brien.
Nonclassical gratefully acknowledges the support of PRS Foundation, Arts Council England and DCMS Culture Recovery Fund. Nonclassical is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Partner supported by PPL and in association with Youth Music UK.
