Press room

American singer-songwriter Caroline Rose returns to London in October for an orchestral performance at Milton Court Concert Hall joined by the London Contemporary Orchestra.

Rose's music has received widespread praise for its cinematic quality and innovative approach, especially on critically acclaimed albums including LONER, Superstar, and The Art of Forgetting. 

Joined by the London Contemporary Orchestra, with special arrangements newly orchestrated by Lena K. Simon, Rose will bring their distinctive sound to life in a whole new way. 

Praise for The Art of Forgetting

“Their strongest and most resonant record yet.”- Under The Radar 

Produced by the Barbican in association with Bird on the Wire

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SUPPORT ACTS ANNOUNCED

Highly esteemed kora player and singer Sona Jobarteh performs her expansive and ambitious sophomore album Badinyaa Kumoo (African Guild Records, 2022) and, following two sold out concerts at Milton Court in 2021, now makes her Barbican Hall debut as part of an international tour. 

One of five principal kora playing families from West Africa, Jobarteh stands on the mighty shoulders of her West African Griot musical tradition and is a living archive of the Gambian people. Between her use of Western instrumentation, keeping one ear on her family’s historic reputation and one ear on the future (and her heart in both places), Jobarteh is preparing a place today for the next generation. 

Jobarteh’s latest album Badinyaa Kumoo (Words of Unity) blends traditional music with blues and Afropop. With a plethora of new compositions, she explores the familial bond with her music and, through her performance, extends the invitation to audiences. inviting them in to reflect on the wider unity of humanity. 

Fronting her band as Africa’s first female griot kora virtuoso Jobarteh’s performance springs directly from tradition, with vocals performed in Mandinka alongside djembé and calabash. 

Support comes from Gambiana – a trio consisting of Jobarteh's son Sidiki Jobarteh, her cousin Musa-Filly Jobarteh and Carllo Yaboy.

“Sona Jobarteh is Africa’s first female griot kora virtuoso, and also a fine singer and composer, blending traditional music, blues and Afropop to impressive effect” - The Guardian 

Produced by the Barbican 

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Full press release here

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Irish singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer James Vincent McMorrow is set to bring his introspective and genre-defying sound to the Barbican stage in June 2024. The performance, part of a European tour, is in support of his recently announced seventh full-length album, Wide Open, Horses (released on 14 June 2024, Nettwerk Music Group).   

Since his emergence in 2010, McMorrow has garnered over 1 billion streams across an expansive catalogue. Notable achievements include the BPI Gold certification of Higher Love in the UK, ARIA platinum certification in Australia and a number 1 album for We Move in his homeland Ireland. 

The forthcoming album, Wide Open, Horses was initially brought to life live, in a unique approach at The National Concert Hall in Dublin. He booked two nights, recorded a handful of lo-fi demos, practiced the material for a week, and then hit the stage. Phones weren’t allowed, but McMorrow recorded the performances to “see what worked and what didn’t work”. Galvanised by the performances, McMorrow took to the studio to assemble the album.    

Support comes from British singer-songwriter Issac Gracie. 

Produced by Barbican in association with FKP Scorpio  

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Full press release here