SENSE OF SOUND A CAPPELLA FESTIVAL HAILED A SUCCESS

Sense of Sound, organisers of the Voices Festival of a cappella singing, has hailed the event a great success.

Over the course of the weekend, the city of Liverpool was filled with the sound of a cappella singing in all its forms. From the uplifting and powerful sound of choral singing, to the music of Joni Mitchell the incredible talent of a world-renowned beat-boxer and even Mongolian Throat Singing, all capped off with a Big Sing at the Bluecoat which closed the festival.

Voices began with an innovative national conference into the effects of singing on health, at which the groundwork for an open forum sharing ideas and best practice in the field was laid, following presentations from key industry professionals including Phoene Cave (Nordoff Robins) and Trish Vella-Burrows (Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Music, Arts & Health).

The conference was followed by a weekend of performances, with standing room only available at both Friday evening’s tribute to Joni Mitchell, which featured Connie Lush and Saturday 

evening’s concert, performed by world renowned beat-boxer Shlomo. Over a dozen choirs performed to a busy bluecoat hub on Saturday afternoon and a huge crowd packed out the space to take part in Sunday evening’s Big Sing. 

Saphena Aziz, Director at Sense of Sound and Festival Organiser said “We had a fabulous time organising this year’s Voices Festival and I can’t believe how much of a success the weekend was. I’d like to thank all of those people who were involved, the choir and to those who came along to enjoy a performance or a workshop over the course of the weekend as your support means so much to us. Plans are already in the making for next year’s festival, which will be even bigger and better, taking place throughout the city.”

Voices Festival was presented by arts organisation, Sense of Sound and arts venue, the Black-E. Sense of Sound is one of the most unique and inspirational companies in the UK today. Led by four female directors; Jennifer John, Saphena Aziz, Juliet Russell – recently a voice coach for BBC One’s upcoming talent show ‘The Voice’ -  and Perri Alleyne-Hughes, the organisation aims to create and produce amazing ways to celebrate singing and the Voices Festival  was no exception.

The Voices Festival was produced by Sense of Sound and the Black-E, more information can be found at www.senseofsound.net. 

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Raise your voice - a cappella countdown begins in Liverpool

Sense of sound voices festival in Liverpool begins this week

Sense of Sound and the Black-E present

VOICES FESTIVAL – THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS!

Three Day Festival Celebrating A Cappella Singing

Set to Wow City of Liverpool This Weekend

The countdown to Liverpool’s biggest a cappella celebration, the Voices Festival, has begun – This weekend (Friday 16 March to Sunday 18 March) the city of Liverpool will be filled with the sound of singing in all its forms. From the uplifting and powerful sound of choral singing, to the incredible talent of a world-renowned beat-boxer, Voices Festival will wow audiences of all ages at the Black-E and Bluecoat arts venues.

Voices Festival is presented by Sense of Sound and, the Black-E. Sense of Sound is one of the most unique and inspirational companies in the UK today. Led by four female directors; Jennifer John, Saphena Aziz, Juliet Russell – recently a voice coach for BBC One’s upcoming talent show ‘The Voice’ -  and Perri Alleyne-Hughes, the organisation aims to create and produce amazing ways to celebrate singing and the Voices Festival is no exception.

The festival kicks off on Friday 16 March with a National Conference for Singing and Health featuring a number of presentations from key UK vocal experts. The conference will discuss the positive links between singing and physical and mental health and wellbeing and will provide an opportunity to share best practice and discover the latest breakthroughs.

The conference is the perfect event for health educators and researchers, speech therapists, vocal coaches, singers and anyone with an interest in singing or health.

Featuring presentations from Nordoff Robbins Speech Therapist, Phoene Cave, Victoria Hume - Arts Manager at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Dane Chalfin - A Director of the British Voice Association and one of the UK's leading professional vocal coaches and voice rehabilitation experts and Trish Vella-Burrows , Assistant Director  of the Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Music, Arts & Health.

Friday evening will then see Voices Festival start the weekend in style with a stunning concert celebrating the legendary artist, Joni Mitchell. The concert will feature special guest star, Connie Lush, and the fantastic Sense of Sound Singers. Described as one of the most influential recording artists of the 20^th Century, Joni Mitchell’s music has touched millions of people the world over. This poignant concert performance will offer an opportunity to see why, as Mitchell’s unforgettable songs including ‘Big Yellow Taxi,’ ‘Both Sides Now’ and ‘A Case of You’ are performed in  unique a cappella arrangements.

Saturday 17 March has an exciting day of performances and interactive events for singing enthusiasts, starting with a series of performances from choirs across the region. Merseyside choirs have been invited to perform in the Bluecoat Hub venue, and is a free event offering the opportunity to enjoy the musical diversity of a cappella singing. Members of the public are able to come along, enjoy the music and take part.

Choirs that will perform on the day include The Raucus Caucus Recovery Chorus; Vox Voices; Singing Our Socks Off; Liverpool Community Choir; Liverpool Harmonic Gospel Choir; Indigo Vibe.

The tempo of the day is then ramped up as the world-renowned Olympic beat-boxer, Shlomo, takes to the stage at the Black-E arts venue. Possessing vocal skills that have to be heard to be believed, Shlomo has performed on a world stage with Icelandic artist, Björk, at the Athens Olympic opening ceremony to 4.5 billion viewers across the globe. His fans range from Jools Holland to Jarvis Cocker and he has worked with the likes of Martha Wainwright and Damon Albarn to name a few. This exciting and astonishing talent will wow a lucky Liverpool audience for one night only.

Shlomo is also in Liverpool to work alongside the Voices Festival to provide a workshop for local youth workers to learn more about his skill and how it can connect and inspire the young people of the city.

A FREE day of family fun will take place at the Bluecoat on Sunday 18 March. With interactive activities for all ages taking place throughout the day, this is any budding singer’s opportunity to take part in workshops covering many musical genres, with an a cappella twist.

The festival will end with a massive ‘Big Sing’, which will take place in the Bluecoat Hub on the afternoon of Sunday 18^th. Everyone is invited to come along and join in the fun!

Sense of Sound Co-Director, Saphena Aziz, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to present Voices Festival to the city of Liverpool this year. The festival incorporates everything from interactive events, incredible performances and access to learning more about the benefits of singing. We hope to showcase the diversity of a cappella singing over the course of the festival, and look forward to the many spectacular performances we have lined up.”

Sense of Sound Co-Director, Juliet Russell, said: “March is an exciting month for Sense of Sound with the Voices a cappella festival and the launch of the new BBC series The Voice. I was one of the vocal coaches on the show and it gave me the opportunity to do what Sense of Sound is passionate about; developing and showcasing fantastic singers, as part of what promises to be a groundbreaking television singing competition.

“We have an inspiring line up for this year's festival. Joni Mitchell is one of my all time favourite singers and songwriters and this celebration of her work and life feels very special to be involved with. This show is for anyone who loves Joni and her music or who loves to listen to contemporary choral music. Shlomo is someone who has turned beat-boxing into an art-form. What he can do with his voice is incredible, so musical and entertaining. Don't miss it!’’

The Voices Festival is produced by Sense of Sound and the Black-E, more information can be found at www.senseofsound.net.

FESTIVAL INFORMATION

Voices Festival

Friday 16 – Sunday 18 March

The Bluecoat & The Black-E

www.senseofsound.net

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Olympic beat-boxer comes to Liverpool

 

Olympic beat-boxer Shlomo comes to Liverpool

Shlomo, a World Record holding beat-boxer and Southbank Centre Artist in Residence, is set to perform at the Black-E, Liverpool on Saturday 17 March.

Shlomo has worked for years to push the boundaries of beat-boxing as an art form and used his incredible vocal skills to make music within all kinds of musical genres. Now, he comes to Liverpool for a one off performance as part of the Voices Festival of a cappella singing, produced by Sense of Sound, which takes place from Fri 15 – Sun 17 March. 

Shlomo’s fascinating live performance technique utilizes a loop pedal to sample his voice on the fly, enabling him to create and rework a huge range of original songs and well loved classics

Demonstrating the breadth of his abilities, Shlomo’s amazing talent has lead him to make music with the likes of the Mighty Boosh, Björk, Martha Wainwright, Damon Albarn, Jarvis Cocker, Bill Bailey as well as appearing on Later with Jools Holland. 

Classically trained as a drummer and percussionist since the age of eight, Shlomo took up jazz drums in his teens. In 2002 he moved to Leeds to study Astrophysics, but his beat-boxing quickly got him noticed and he joined the award-winning hip hop group Foreign Beggars soon after, heading on tour across the UK, Europe and Canada.

In August 2004, Shlomo was invited by Icelandic singer Björk to beatbox on her all-vocal album Medulla. The track, ‘Oceania’, was commissioned to be performed at the Olympics Opening Ceremony in Athens and the performance was subsequently nominated for a Grammy Award. An estimated audience of 4.5 billion viewers saw this performance, making Shlomo the most heard beat-boxer in history.  In 2011 Shlomo represented the UK at the World Loopstation Championships in LA where he defeated finalists from 12 other countries..

Shlomo commented: "I'm delighted and excited to be performing at the Voices Festival. Sense Of Sound is a fantastic movement and I think it's going to a brilliant event. I will be sure to bring my baddest beats and basslines!"

Saphena Aziz, Director at Sense of Sound said: “We are delighted to welcome Shlomo to Liverpool as part of the Voices Festival. It’s tremendously exciting to have this innovative and highly-respected artist performing – we look forward to his appearance greatly.”

Other events taking place over the duration of the festival include a National Conference for Singing and Health, an a cappella concert featuring The Sense of Sound Singers and Connie Lush celebrating the music of Joni Mitchell at the Black-E both on Fri 16 March and a day of a cappella performances from 15 of the region’s choirs on Sat 17 March. Bringing the festival to a close on Sunday, March 18^th will be a free day of family fun with interactive activities for all ages throughout the day and will end with a massive ‘Big Sing’, which will take place in the Bluecoat Hub on the afternoon of Sunday 18^th.

Sense of Sound is one of the most unique and inspirational companies in the UK today. Led by four female directors; Jennifer John, Saphena Aziz, Juliet Russell and Perri Alleyne-Hughes, the organisation aims to create and produce amazing ways to celebrate singing and the Voices Festival is no exception. From hip hop to barbershop and contemporary jazz to choral, the Voices Festival will showcase the full (vocal) range of a cappella singing styles, giving plenty of opportunity for everyone to interact, get involved and get singing!

Catch Shlomo’s performance on ITV1’s Daybreak by clicking  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNzW39nxMgw&feature=player_embedded#!

More information on Shlomo can be found at www.shlo.co.uk

The Voices Festival is produced by Sense of Sound and the Black-E, more information can be found at www.senseofsound.net.

PERFORMANCE DETAILS:

Shlomo in Concert

The Black-E

Sat 17 March, 8pm

Tickets: £10/£8 – Student and Under 16s Special: £5

To book tickets call 0151 709 5109 or alternatively click www.senseofsound.net

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