So, last night was my second ever gig, and also my second Awakenings performance – some five and a half years after my previous show. I was a little worried as to how well the set would be received, given that, although Jez keeps a broad, varied and interesting selection of performers on the Awakenings line-ups, there are usually a fair few more traditional/retro electronic musicians (and probably fans!) than modern and contemporary sounding artists. Despite all this, I got a lot of very positive responses from the show and I think it went rather well. Most of the set was quite rhythmic – I prefer working with loops and rhythms when doing live performances – and consisted largely of drastically altered versions of album tracks. “Hilariously”, not one note of released music was actually performed, with music from the imminent Safernoc appearing alongside some tracks I’ve worked on since then which will appear, in one form or another, over the next year. I was also lucky enough to play alongside Nick Robinson again, whose guitar loop-based set was possibly even better than last time, and Endgame who improvised an hour of otherworldly experimental sound which words won’t do a good job of describing. The variation and quality on show is a testament to Jez’s organisational skills and the Awakenings series as a whole. My setlist, for those interested:
Send More Bees
Night Train
Constructing Destruction
Enofa
May
Memories of Sharnford and Sapcote
Aqueduct
The whole experience was lovely, and I had a nice time with Jez and Ben in the evening and this morning. Great stuff. Videos to come soon! I’m waiting on confirmation of Safernoc right now so the next few days should see it out – finally!
enofa 