Soundtrap II: Leafcutter John
Beaconsfield Arts Center, South London
(until july 22nd)
I arranged to meet Daniel Figgis and Deirdre Behan at Beaconsfield, the just-south-of-the-river arts centre where, at exactly this time last year, Daniel did a sound installation, "Soundtrap" which was the first of a series of aural commissions embarked upon by Beaconsfield. Soundtrap is a portfolio scheme for new sonic works undertaken by Beaconsfield, a space dedicated to ideas and ideals which fall somewhere between being an arts lab, a sound lab, and a focused gallery.
The occasion of Daniel's return visit to Beaconsfield was the launch of Soundtrap II: Leafcutter John, which runs in the space until 22 July. Leafcutter John will be in concert there on Saturday 7 July. Entry to Soundtrap II is free and tickets for the concert (plus opening hours and location) can be found at www.beaconsfield.ltd.uk.
Leafcutter John has linked the old wooden floors of the Beaconsfield building to software specially written to coax out sonic stories, old and new, re-told with the arrival of each visitor.
Soundtrap involves a residency by Leafcutter John, a concert, a limited edition CD, broadcasts on Resonance 104.4 FM, live web streaming on www.beaconsfield.ltd.uk , also at www.leafcutterjohn.com with downloadable MP3's.
Beaconsfield describes itself as being a streamlined resource for the development and presentation of contemporary art which seeks to fill a niche between the institution, the commercial and the alternative. Their Mother of All Parties event last year was attended by the great and the good of various London avant scenes, and by lots of staffers from The Wire.
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Joe Ambrose's next book, Chelsea Hotel Manhattan, is being published by Headpress.
