Live Box is Back, and On the Move
LIVE BOX GOES OUTER NATIONAL
BIRMINGHAM’S LIVE BOX SPARKS ANNIVERSARY BUZZ The Live Box with Soweto Kinch marks its ninth anniversary with a stunning line up of musicians and performers from across three continents.
High priest of neo-funk Anthony Joseph and his Spasm Band will kick off the four month anniversary fest – celebrated at venues in Birmingham, Leicester and London The new season also includes performances by Deodata Siquir, the Scandanavia based lion of African Jazz; Soweto Kinch returns as emcee of the Battle in the Box – the raucous open night spots for the brave and the talented; there will be music from songwriting talent Michael Olatuja, whose compositions – according to one critic – “speaks a potent language that soothes the soul.”; Jamaican born singer, dancer and songwriter Sparlha Swa bring to the event a flavour reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Tracey Chapman. There will also be performances from spoken word artiste and Whitbread winning author Patrick Neate ; Pianist Robert Mitchell – hailed by the Guardian as “A young virtuoso of McCoy Tyner-like precision”, and, Hoxton based jazz education scheme Jazz Alive.
Developed by three-time MOBO Award winner Kinch, the Live Box has been – over the years- a launching pad for a broad range of artistes from across the Midlands and beyond. Originally based at the Drum in Aston – but now branching out with performances across Europe- the project offers both emerging and established artists the opportunity to develop and perform their work. It also provides a space for audiences of all ethnic backgrounds, ages and cultural tastes to interact and relax. Rappers, dub-poets, jazzmen and torch singers have all shone on the Live Box stages. Some very famous and long established performers have performed too – jazz greats Wynton Marsalis and Cleveland Watkiss included.
Yet according to Kinch, a key aim of the Live Box is to nurture “the brilliant raw, the vulnerable gifted who without support would probably do something else.” Handsworth Clarinettist Shabaka Hutchins; neo-soul songstress Julie Dexter, also from Handsworth but now decamped to Atlanta to record and produce, and the striking London based singer-songwriter Eska Mtungwazi are among many to have honed their performing skills at the Live Box.
The 2009 season starts September 12th with shows in London and Birmingham until December 13th. Check http://www.nucenturyarts.co.uk/livebox/ for full details.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ROY @ SGP ON 07814677875 OR DON @ NU Century Arts ON 07956876328
