Choirs invited to take part in a cappella festiva

Choirs Invited to Take Part in 2012 Voices Festival

Following the announcement of the Voices Festival 2012, award winning vocal group Sense of Sound is offering Choirs from all musical backgrounds the opportunity to take part in the Voices Festival on Saturday 17 March.

The Voices Festival is a three day celebration of a cappella singing set to take place at Liverpool’s Bluecoat and Black-E arts centres from Friday 16 – Sunday 18 March. Choirs at the Bluecoat will take place in the Hub at the Bluecoat.

Sense of Sound is looking for choirs of all shapes, sizes and musical backgrounds to perform a maximum of three a cappella songs as part of ‘Choirs at the Bluecoat,’ which will celebrate the diversity of a cappella singing. Members of the public will be able to come along, listen to the choirs and enjoy the music for free.

In order to apply, choirs should get in touch with Saphena Aziz, Director at Sense of Sound on Saphena@senseofsound.net.  A YouTube or Sound Cloud clip would be an advantage as some evidence of your work will be needed.

Saphena Aziz, Director at Sense of Sound said: ‘’I’m really looking forward to the ‘Choirs at the Bluecoat’ day as part of the Voices Festival. 15 choirs performing one after the other throughout the day will truly showcase and celebrate the diversity of the a cappella genre. We’re looking for all types of choirs from religious choruses and beat box groups to choirs who’ll perform popular numbers or classics in an a cappella arrangement to take part. It’s exciting to be searching for the choirs to take part in this year’s festival and to be able to offer such an incredible platform to showcase new talent.  It’s great to use this opportunity to invite other talented singers to be involved in the festival.”

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!

Other events taking place over the duration of the festival include a National Conference for Singing and Health at the Bluecoat, 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 March 16^th, as well as a special performance from the most heard beat boxer in history, Shlomo on March 17^th. Bringing the festival to a close on Sunday, March 18^th will be a free day of family fun with singing workshops 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.

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

Choirs at the Bluecoat

The Bluecoat

Saturday 17 March

10am-4pm

FREE

For more information click www.senseofsound.net

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Sense of Sound get Liverpool singing with a cappella festival

Sense of Sound is delighted to announce the Voices Festival, a three day celebration of a cappella singing, set to take place at Liverpool’s Bluecoat and Black-E arts centres from Friday 16 – Sunday 18 March.

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!   

On Friday 16 March, Sense of Sound will open the festival with a National Conference for Singing and Health.  Through a number of presentations from top vocal experts, the one day event will provide an opportunity to share best practice and discover the latest breakthroughs.  Perfect for health educators and researchers, speech therapists, vocal coaches, singers and anyone with an interest in singing or health, the conference will feature 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.

Saphena Aziz, Director at Sense of Sound said: ‘’I’m delighted to present this ground breaking conference as part of Liverpool’s decade of health and wellbeing.  A great number of discoveries have occurred in the past few years, showing that singing has a fantastic, positive effect on health. This conference will allow practitioners to come together to share ideas, allowing us all to learn and keep this exciting field of health and wellbeing moving forward. ’

The renowned Sense of Sound Singers and special guest star Connie Lush will pay homage to Joni Mitchell with an a cappella concert at the Black-E on the evening of Friday 16 March, with support from acclaimed group Barbieshop.

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.

On Saturday 17 March, Choirs from around the region will have the chance to perform in the Bluecoat Hub. This free day of music offers an 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. More details on how choirs can get involved in this will be announced shortly.

Shlomo, the most heard beatboxer in history and Southbank Centre Artist in Residence, is set to play The Black-E on the evening of the 17 March.

Shlomo pushes the boundaries of beatboxing as an art form, using his incredible vocal skills to make music with people from all kinds of musical backgrounds, including Björk, Martha Wainwright, Damon Albarn and Jarvis Cocker. He comes to Liverpool to show off his huge range of original songs and well loved classics.

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!

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

Singing and Health - A National Conference

The Bluecoat

Friday 16 March

10am – 5pm

Tickets:  Individuals: £40 Organisations: £55

EARLY BIRD OFFER Book before 20^TH February to receive a discount on delegate price

 Individuals: £30 Organisations: £45

How to Book: You can book in person at the Bluecoat Tickets and Information, School Lane, Liverpool. Alternatively, book by calling 0151 702 5324 or click www.senseofsound.net

The Sense of Sound Singers & Connie Lush perform the hits of Joni Mitchell

The Black-E            

Friday 16 March, 8pm

Tickets: £12.50/ £10.00 concessions

How to Book: You can book in person at the Bluecoat Tickets and Information, School Lane, Liverpool. Alternatively, book by calling 0151 702 5324 or click www.senseofsound.net

Choirs at the Bluecoat

The Bluecoat

Saturday 17 March

10am-4pm

FREE

For more information click www.senseofsound.net

Shlomo in Concert

The Black-E

Saturday 17 March, 8pm

Tickets: TBC

How to Book: You can book in person at the Bluecoat Tickets and Information, School Lane, Liverpool. Alternatively, book by calling 0151 702 5324 or click www.senseofsound.net

Family Fun Day with the Sense of Sound Singers

FREE

The Bluecoat

Sunday 18 March

For more information or to book a place click www.senseofsound.net.

Voices Festival Big Sing

The Bluecoat

Sunday 18 March

4-5pm

FREE

For more information click www.senseofsound.net

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Kevin Critchley Outfit plays the Masque Liverpool

Live With Choir And Extended String Section

Kevin Critchley Outfit

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Bird

Shy And The Fight

Deafen The Creatures

There is going to be a very exciting show at The Masque Theatre in Liverpool on Friday 21^st October.

Kevin Critchley Outfit will be performing with Sense Of Sound Singers and an extended string section in an ambitious live show on an unprecedented scale for an unsigned band.  The night will see KCO unveil their new band name and launch a limited edition EP containing live recordings and material from a forthcoming studio album. 

With a performance at Chester Rocks described as the “...highlight of the day...” (Liverpool Live) as the band “...stole the show...” (Radio City), KCOhave continued to up the ante with a support slot for Sharon Corr on the Liverpool leg of her UK tour.  Their line up - cello and violins alongside drums, piano, bass, guitar and vocals-  results in a truly original sound that blends film soundtrack, world music and energetic acoustic rock.  

Singing alongside KCO will be members of Sense of Sound Singers.  The choir have been previously involved in performances with Brian Eno, Damon Albarn and Massive Attack in support of Greenpeace, Seal and John Bon Jovi at The Royal Variety Show and grand finalists for BBC “Choir of the Year” competition.  

Amongst the special guests on stage with KCO are violinists Christoph Demetriou (Shrek 2/Counting Crows, Seal, Jessicas Ghost) and Greta Svabo Bech (Picture Book), as well as backing vocals from Norwegian singers Kaya and Grethe Børsum.

The night will also showcase three other diverse acts that KCO have chosen especially for this event.   Deafen The Creatures are an acoustic/electronic 4 piece whose singer Elle won MOJO’s “New Voice Award 2011”.  Shy & The Fight, from Chester and Wrexham, recently had airplay on BBC Radio 1and featured on the Jack Wills summer advertising campaign this year and whose more soulful nu-folk has made the band firm favourites with BBC Radio Wales.  Finally, Bird will be performing their unique brand of atmospheric folk, which fuses influences as broad as PJ Harvey, Portishead, Bat for Lashes and Kate Bush.

KCO have also had the pleasure of supporting artists as diverse as Seth Lakeman, Mark Morriss (Bluetones), Ian McNabb, Amsterdam and Mica Paris.   

www.KCOmusic.com

Tickets can be purchased from www.glasswerk.co.uk / www.ticketwerk.co.uk

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