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The Lark Ascending: People, Music, Landscape

Arthur Jeffes, Vashti Bunyan, Optimo (Espacio)...

,Barbican Hall
Artwork showing five multi-coloured swallows flying over a black and green background.

Richard King’s book The Lark Ascending is re-told through a seamless blend of music, visuals, spoken word and dance from a cross-genre group of artists.

Take a pilgrimage into rural Britain in search of its musical identity, celebrating the communal experience of gathering together under open skies as performances from musicians featured in the book are punctuated by readings from it and video direction by Rob St John.

Firstly, a new arrangement of Vaughan Williams’s piece which gave the book its name – a profound communion with nature – is performed by Daniel Pioro, James McVinnie, Liam Byrne, and Clare O’Connell. Elsewhere, Vashti Bunyan offers a short set of songs from across her career; Arthur Jeffes performs a selection of Penguin Cafe Orchestra material; Deep Throat Choir sing a selection of material from the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp Songbook, Rob St John performs solo, and Glaswegian club heroes Optimo (Espacio) close the evening paying tribute to 80s rave culture.

Tagged with: Contemporary music

This concert is dedicated to the memory of Andrew Weatherall

 

This concert will start at the advertised time and set times will be confirmed closer to the event

Produced by the Barbican

Performers

Arthur Jeffes
Vashti Bunyan
Liam Byrne
Deep Throat Choir
James McVinnie
Clare O’Connell
Optimo (Espacio)
Daniel Pioro
Rob St John
‘Less a book and more a poetic time-travelling device.‘
Jeremy Deller
‘A valuably original book‘
Observer
‘This is a book to set you thinking and maybe don the headphones and the Gore-Tex, and stride out, modish and unashamed.‘
Stuart Maconie, Mail on Sunday
‘Exceptional‘
Irish Times

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